On Feb 1, 2012, at 4:12 AM, Thomas Dalton wrote:
Last time, the chapters decided to keep the process
very confidential
in order to allow free and frank discussion of the candidates. It was
felt that it would be good to have confidential discussions, in
contrast to the public ones that are associated with the community
elected seats, because that might attract different candidates than
would stand for the community elected seats (ie. candidates that don't
want lots of discussion about every good and bad quality they have
happening in public - the selection process can involve a much greater
intrusion on privacy than actually serving on the board does).
FWIW, as I think back to Board conversations in 2008 (it was my first meeting),
Thomas's comments are quite close to Board's rationale in creating the chapter
seats in 2008.
The hope was to attract/identify Board candidates who could add a lot of value to the
movement but who, for one reason or another, would NOT typically be candidates in
election. That might be because they aren't well-known in the editing community that
decides elections. Or as Thomas mentions that they wouldn't be interested in going
through the sometimes grueling election process.