NASA Asked CASIS To Stop Paying Its Board Of Directors

Keith’s note: In a 7 March 2019 letter from NASA Space Station Director Sam Scimemi to CASIS CEO Joseph Vockley, Scimemi states that NASA believes that “the CASIS Board of Directors size and scope should be reduced. In addition to the subject if the Board’s compensation addressed in CASIS Cooperative Agreement Modification 14, we recommend reducing the number and composition of the directors per the enclosed proposed revisions to your bylaws. We also believe that based on CASIS’s performance since the NASA letter, dated November 16, 2017, that the ad hoc advisory committees created by the Board, including operations, business development, science and technology, and STEM education, are no longer required. The Board should retrun to a governing manner of corporate management and oversight in order to comply with the CASIS bylaws.”
“Recommended Changes to CASIS, Inc. Bylaws
3.02 (2) The Board shall consist of not fewer than five (5) and not more than nine (9) managing directors with at least fifty percent of the exact number to be scientific of which shall be determined from time to time by the board.
3.10 Compensation of Directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties to the Corporation in reasonable amounts but will not receive compensation for their service on the Board.”
On 10 April 2019 Vockely signed off on a cooperative agreement modification which says that “The CASIS Board of Directors will not be compensated for their time in participating as a Board member (Travel expenses will be paid). This is consistent with best practices for non-profit Boards of Directors”.
Hmm … this change in policy states that not paying board members for their time “is consistent with best practices for non-profit Boards of Directors”. If so then why did CASIS pay their board members in the first place? Where they not in compliance with best practices for non-profit Boards of Directors by virtue of making these payments? NASA highlighted issues with the CASIS board in a 16 November 2017 letter. CASIS replied to NASA about the issues raised by NASA on 22 January 2018. Apparently CASIS did not move on these issues thus requiring NASA to send another letter on 7 March 2019.
If you look at the most recent CASIS 990 form filed with the IRS for 2017 Part VII (pages 7 and 8) “Compensation of Officers, Directors,Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, and Independent Contractors” you will see what the CASIS board members are paid an average of $40,000 a year and senior members of CASIS staff are paid from $200,000 to over $300,000.
Eleven CASIS board members are listed in the latest 990 form. With one exception the board members were paid between $38,000 and $41,000 a year for 8.00 hours a week of work. For the sake of analysis, let’s assume an average of $40,000 a year for those 10 people serving on the CASIS board. If you assume a 52 week year that’s 416 hours per year or $96/hr. If you assume a 2,080 hour annual work year that rate is equal to an annual salary of $200,000.
In an earlier story from 2015 “Examining Staff and Board Member Salaries at CASIS” I noted that the 2013 990 form showed that CASIS board members were paid an average of $49,750 a year for 6.00 hours of work a week or $159.45 an hour. This hourly rate is what someone with a salary of $330,000 earns. So … CASIS board members took a big pay cut. But they were still being paid as of the last IRS filing.
The current board listed by CASIS shows 9 board members – the maximum number that NASA requested. Given that the 990 form filed by CASIS claims that these board members work 8 hours a week (i.e. one work day) is significant. That means they devote 20% of a standard work week – every week – to CASIS. Exactly what that work is or how it is confirmed as having been accomplished is not mentioned by CASIS. I have been on the board of directors of two space-related non-profit organizations (no compensation whatsoever) so I have an idea what is involved in board responsibilities and why people serve on these boards.
At this level of payment and expected workload CASIS board members were contributing significant labor to CASIS more akin to what a consultant would offer – beyond what you might expect a board member to be offering. That point is now moot since the board members are doing it for free – assuming that CASIS has complied with NASA’s request, that is. Of course there is also the question of whether the board’s responsibilities have changed now that they are not being paid – or if they are still working one day a week for CASIS. I’d ask – but CASIS does not respond to any NASAWatch inquiries.
But wait: there is a press event with Jim Bridenstine and Joe Vockley on Wednesday at the ISSRDC event. Alas, offsite media can only use social media to suggest questions.
– 17 November 2017 Letter from NASA to CASIS Regarding Complaints About CASIS Activities
– 22 January 2018 Letter from CASIS To NASA Regarding Complaints About CASIS Activities
– Earlier posts about CASIS