[Foundation-l] Board restructuring and community

[Samuel Klein]

On Mon, Apr 28, 2008 at 11:55 PM, Michael Snow <wikipedia at verizon.net>
wrote:

Speaking more generally, I am wondering how to incorporate some of the
> comments (not only yours) seeking not just more consultation, but more
> setting forth by board members of their "true positions" as Sj put it.
> This latter expectation strikes me as running counter to the obviously
> strong expectation that we should be representing the community, however
> that is defined.


I assume that everyone in the discussion was doing their best to represent
the best interest of the future of the projects (including the community)
and that the community representatives were trying to represent the specific
interests and views of the community.

I would like to know what the competing issues at hand were, and your take
on what is in the community's interest, regarding the reason to
 - make a quick decision,
 - move for extensive expert representation rather than relying on advisors,

 - change the status of the two newest community seats.

Open debate and friendly criticism among decision makers gives me great
faith in process and shows through the texture of discourse behind core
decisions.  Closed debate and facades of unanimity are frightening, and
remind me of deeply closed cultures, not of shining happy families of
consensus.

In order to represent the community, it seems like we should be required
> to keep an open mind, listening to different perspectives before making
> a decision.


Agreed.


> ...making snap judgments
> and only moving from them by overwhelming force of argument doesn't seem
> like the right approach, so I'm looking for feedback. What is a good
> balance between board members forming and advocating their positions, as
> opposed to reserving judgment until they feel like they've gotten the
> community's input?


I trust you to both communicate your current position, and to remain open to
the community's input to form your community-representative position.
Indeed, if you are acting as a true neutral judge on the community's behalf,
it is likely that your personal position will regularly differ from your
position as community representative.  I would hope that your arguments and
actions as a representative on the board would align with the latter
position, not your personal one.

SJ