GITBOOK-1208: Neil Burgess Jan 14 update Overview

Author: neil.burgess

README.md

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ We believe in leading by serving. Collaboration is key, and we work hand-in-hand
 
 ### Inform, not dictate
 
-Our role is to inform and empower our members, not to dictate actions or decisions. We provide the resources, information, and support necessary to drive progress but recognize that progress is ultimately delivered by our members. By supporting members to make informed decisions, we aim to achieve better outcomes on-chain and ensure that the direction of Cardano is shaped by those who are most invested in its success.
+Our role is to inform and empower, not dictate. We provide the resources, information, and support necessary for progress, while recognizing that our members ultimately deliver it. By enabling informed decision-making, we achieve better on-chain outcomes and ensure that the direction of Cardano is shaped by those who are most invested in its success.
 
 ## Our 2026 focus
 

intersect-overview/intersect-committees.md

@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@ Find all detailed committee spaces [here](https://committees.docs.intersectmbo.o
 The bi-weekly committee reports can be found [here](https://committees.docs.intersectmbo.org/committee-overview/readme/committee-reporting)
 {% endhint %}
 
-Intersect is designed to be steered by its members so the future of Cardano is community-led. The membership body provides this steering via standing committees. Standing committees are designed to be community-led, with community members taking an active role influencing the future of Cardano.
+Intersect is designed to be steered by its members, ensuring Cardano's future is community-led. Elected members provide this direction through standing committees, where they take an active role in shaping Cardano's development.
 
-Intersect will initiate seven standing committees in 2024, covering the functional operations required to steer the delivery of "[continuity](https://www.intersectmbo.org/news/cardano-continuity)", provide steering direction to the drafting of Cardano's constitution,  support the internal membership, and more.  A standing committee is expected to be a permanent fixture, although, changes may be required as the committees mature and the objectives evolve. The [governing board](intersects-structure/intersect-governance.md) will review proposed changes and support the membership.  
+Intersect has seven standing committees and a steering committee made up of the chairs of the other seven. These committees handle specialized areas like civics, membership and community, technical steering, open source, product development, budget oversight, and growth and marketing. 
+
+If changes are required, the [governing board](intersects-structure/intersect-governance.md) will review proposed changes and support the membership.
 
 Working groups typically roll up into one of the seven committees. Working groups are, for the most part, temporary functions that support a committees' wider objectives or to expand expertise by seeking contributions from outside of Intersect. Working groups can be on any subject and are by nature less formal than standing committees.
 
-You can an overview of the committee and their respective ways of working [here](https://intersect.gitbook.io/intersect-committees-groups). You can also find: 
+An overview of the committees and their roles is in the [Intersect documentation](https://intersect.gitbook.io/intersect-committees-groups). You can also find:
 
 * Committee Maturity Standards
 * Committee Guiding Principles
@@ -51,8 +53,3 @@ You can an overview of the committee and their respective ways of working [here]
 {% endcontent-ref %}
 
 👉🏻 Info about committee elections can be found [here](../intersect-membership/intersect-voting-events/intersect-elections-2024/) 👈
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intersect-overview/intersects-structure/README.md

@@ -19,14 +19,14 @@ Intersect was incorporated on July 13, 2023.
 Cardano on-chain governance needs off-chain discussion and coordination to properly serve the people. We are a member-based organization (MBO) because our mission and value depend on collective ownership, shared governance, and community participation. 
 
 * Members aren’t just customers or beneficiaries, they are stakeholders.
-* Members bring diverse perspectives, expertise, and lived experiences. Better problem-solving, more representative governance, and fewer blind spots in decision-making.
+* Members bring diverse perspectives, expertise, and lived experiences, leading to better problem-solving, more representative governance, and fewer blind spots in decision-making.
 * The organization exists to serve its members, not to maximize profit or external shareholder value. So incentives stay aligned with the long-term goals of the community.
 * A member-based structure amplifies collective advocacy. The organization can influence policy, standards, or industry direction with the weight of its membership behind it.
 * We give voices to each members via our one-member-one-vote voting 
 
-Intersect is simply an aggregation and coordination point. Without the people, who have the expertise, who are interested and passionate about making Cardano better, Intersect can’t provide any value. So Intersect as an organization needs to ensure its structure is easy to navigate and use, so that these people can connect their effort and provide value to the ecosystem.
+Intersect is simply an aggregation and coordination point. Without passionate, knowledgeable members, we provide no value. Intersect as an organization ensures its structure is easy to navigate and use, so that these people can connect their effort and provide value to the ecosystem.
 
-Intersect members have the right to vote who sit in which committee and on the Intersect board, so deciding who has the right expertise for the task. Members, via their discussions and work, are the one providing the recommendations to bring Cardano, and Intersect with it, forward, playing a critical role in the ecosystem. Without their effort, today the Cardano ecosystem would not even have the right to self-govern.
+Intersect members have the right to vote on committee and board positions, ensuring the right expertise for each role. Through their discussions and work, members provide the recommendations to bring Cardano, and Intersect with it, forward, playing a critical role in the ecosystem. Without their efforts, today the Cardano ecosystem would not even have the right to self-govern.
 
 
 
@@ -44,6 +44,6 @@ When the membership or the Intersect sees a new need emerging, they might propos
 
 ### Membership
 
-Intersect membership provides different levels of commitments to the effort members want to give to Cardano. Within the Wyoming structure, it ensures voting rights, and so direct decision making, for Members.
+Intersect membership offers flexible commitment levels to accommodate how much effort members wish to contribute to Cardano. Within the Wyoming structure, membership ensures voting rights, and so direct decision making, for members.
 
-The different membership tiers, and the free associate subscription, give participants with different needs, a set of dedicated benefits to better provide their contribution to Cardano.
+The tiered membership system, along with the free associate subscription, provides tailored benefits for participants with varying needs, enabling them to contribute to Cardano in ways that work best for them.

intersect-overview/intersects-structure/intersect-governance.md

@@ -2,9 +2,13 @@
 
 ## **The governing board**
 
-Intersect’s initial governing board comprises five member seats. To establish operations, three board members have been appointed with representatives from seed funders and members, with [Input Output Global](#user-content-fn-1)[^1], Emurgo, and the COO as interim on the third seat. The third seat has been offered as an academic position to Wyoming University’s Blockchain Center of Excellence. The seed funder seats have a three-year term in consideration of funding given, whilst the academic seat will have a one-year tenure.
+Intersect’s initial governing board had five member seats. To establish operations, three board members were appointed with representatives from seed funders and members, with [Input Output](#user-content-fn-1)[^1], Emurgo, and the Chief Operating Officer as interim on the third seat. The third seat was offered as an academic position to Wyoming University’s Blockchain Center of Excellence. The seed funder seats have a three-year term in consideration of funding given, while the academic seat had a one-year tenure.
 
-The remaining two seats have been filled from Intersect’s membership, with elections held in the October 2024 election.
+The remaining two seats were filled from Intersect’s membership, with elections held in October 2024.
+
+Following the 2025 elections, the Intersect governing board now comprises seven members, four of whom were elected by the membership. Among these elected members, two will serve one-year terms while two will serve two-year terms.
+
+This election represented a significant milestone: for the first time, members directly elected a majority of the Intersect governing board.
 
 ### **Governing board meetings**
 
@@ -18,7 +22,7 @@ The Governing Board can be contacted via [board@intersectmbo.org](mailto:board@i
 
 ## **Intersect Professional Staff**
 
-Intersect is staffed by a team of experienced professionals with extensive exposure in the Cardano community. You can review teams and team members on the Intersect website ([here](https://www.intersectmbo.org/about-team)). Also below you can see the current org-chart.
+Intersect is staffed by a team of experienced professionals with extensive exposure in the Cardano community. You can review teams and team members on the Intersect website ([here](https://www.intersectmbo.org/about-team)). Also below you can see the current org-chart. \[ORG CHART IS OBSOLETE]
 
 <figure><img src="../../.gitbook/assets/May2025_Intersect_org-chart (1).png" alt=""><figcaption><p>May 2025 Org-chart</p></figcaption></figure>