7. About a board

Legal aspects

• A board should be established by law, act, etc.

• A board should have terms of reference, mandate, responsibilities, members, Chair, Secretariat

• Keep the documentation up to date

• Is board advisory or has it ultimate decision-making role?

• Are names legally binding?

 

Who should sit on the board?

• Representatives of leading government department involved in names

• Other government departments - users

• Regional representation

• Non-government ... from interest group, qualified individuals

• Individual experts (local history, archives, linguistics, cartography)

• How long should they sit there?

• How many members? Financial factors? Frequency of meetings?

 

Secretariat support

• Technical/professional support

• Focal point for national toponymic activity

• Leadership; organization; communication

• How many people?

•  It depends on whether other staff for data base, media contacts, some committee preparations

 

More...

• Other principles?

• Board looked to for unbiased judgement

• Decisions are important to future generations

• Integrity and effectiveness of board at stake

• Slow and sure!

• Try to refrain from political interference