General

• We value each others’ time and contribution to this team by treating each other with respect.
• We maintain the highest standards of integrity and confidentiality in our relationships with each other and about our work together.
• We maintain transparency by being open to our constituents with nothing hidden.
• We nurture our mutual trust by demonstrating sincerity, competency and reliability in our work with each other. We “declare a breakdown” when we perceive a problem in any of these areas that support the nurture of our mutual trust.
• We demonstrate parity in our leadership representation and decision-making by endeavoring for equal representation between Mexican and foreign nationals.
• We avoid all appearance of conflict of interest by recusing ourselves from decisions in which we have a personal or professional interest. We do not use our leadership roles for personal advantage.

Our Meetings

• We are orderly and structured in our meetings and governed by Robert’s Rules of Order when procedural questions arise.
• We publish an agenda prior to a meeting and use the final agenda we agree on, to guide our discussions and to keep our meeting time commitments.
• We maintain a written record of our meetings by appointing a scribe for each meeting. The scribe is responsible for publishing the meeting minutes as soon after the meeting as possible, including
  • important decisions made
  • action items for follow-up with person(s) responsible and
  • expected date of completion

How We Communicate

• We are clear in our commitments (promises) and requests for assistance to each other.
• We let each other know as soon as possible when we see we are unable to keep our commitments and to make requests for help.
• We do not reveal any of the deliberations and/or decisions except as agreed to by everyone on the team. Typically, the chair(s) will communicate for the team to outsiders.
• We make sure that the subject line of our emails and our voice mail messages succinctly state our purpose.

How We Handle Decision-Making and Conflict

• We strive for consensus in our decision-making, rather than a simple majority vote. We deal with dissent by listening to each others’ concerns.
• We are inclusive, making sure that everyone contributes to discussions. We actively solicit input from those who have not previously spoken.
• When we have a disagreement, we discuss and attempt to resolve that disagreement with the other person, in person, and never by email. Together, we seek the assistance of the team leadership only if our efforts to resolve our differences are unsuccessful, one-on-one.

Revised: September 10, 2013