[Foundation-l] Board restructuring and community

[Michael Bimmler]

On Mon, Apr 28, 2008 at 3:23 PM, Guillaume Paumier <guillom.pom at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi,
>
> On Mon, Apr 28, 2008 at 3:10 PM, Florence Devouard <Anthere9 at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >  However, I expected the chapter members to react, if only to share
> >  interjections such as "how are we going to decide on the representants
> >  ???". The only reaction I saw was the very negative feedback from
> >  Lodewijk. I am *genuinely and honestly" puzzled by the near absence of
> >  reaction. I do not know what to think of it.
>
> Perhaps chapter members are not reacting because they've heard about
> this restructuring on foundation-l yesterday as everyone else, and
> they're still trying to figure out whether this is a good thing or
> not. At least, I am. This proposal looks like a giant leap forward,
> but I think chapters need time to fully understand its full
> consequences.
>
>
Well, same here (This is my personal opinion not the opinion of my chapter
etc.etc.)

I had written a longer email on this yesterday but it focused more on the
communication-consultation part of the whole episode, so my substantial
response was probably hardly noticeable.

For the record, I am principally supportive of the idea to have chapters
appoint members.
I'm not yet quite sure about the selection process (who nominates people?
chapter boards in corpore or single board members or even all chapter
members?) and the 'election' itself (one vote per chapter? if yes, how to be
determined etc.) but...

...as Guillaume pointed out quite correctly: We heard of this yesterday too.
I first thought I myself might have missed something, but from Lodewijk's,
David's and Guillaume's reactions I discern that they, too, have been
surprised.
It cannot be really expected from us to come up with reactions in less than
48 hours after the first and only notice about it.

You (Florence) said " (...) if only to share interjections such as "how are
we going to decide on the representants ???".

Well, I know why I personally didn't react with such an interjection: I
would have considered it pointless. We have a chapters meeting in May where
at least most (though unfortunately all)
of the chapters will be represented. I think that this is the first
opportunity where we can have a real intra-chapters dialogue on this because
prior to that, the individual chapter boards have to agree on their own
position.

Lack of response is neither a sign of "We're soooo not interested" nor a
sign of "We dislike this" but rather a sign of "Okay, we're pretty baffled
right now...but give us a few weeks time and we'll somehow get in touch with
each other and formulate ideas.".


-- 
Michael Bimmler
mbimmler at gmail.com