January 24, 2007 issue (79k ) of Outlook & Review 

The OSBA board learned about the Governance Committee's progress in creating a more "regionally powered" OSBA during its Jan. 19-20 meeting in Salem.

Committee Chair David Beeson (Silver Falls) reported that during its Feb. 2-3 meeting, the group plans to finalize a concept to share during OSBA's Spring Regional Meetings set March 5 through May 2 in 15 locations around Oregon (Regional Meeting schedule).

"You can eat an elephant, but not at one sitting," Beeson said, recalling an old expression and noting the group has held monthly two-day meetings since last October.

The group is leaning toward creating a governing body where boards in each region would elect their own director to serve. Regional boundaries, still being discussed, would likely change from the current Congressional Districts into what the group calls "communities of interest." The group is also discussing delegate assemblies, resolution and legislative policy committees, and vote-by-mail ideas.