Re: [oclug] OCLUG mailing list changes

Brett,

I think the reality of life, is in this particular case, the more logical
choice.

Put another way, there is no way one can 'force' OCLUG board members to
conduct all board conversations over the list.  Many board discussions
are discussed in person, on the phone, and via IRC. 

Unless one intends to post all OCLUG board member's IRC discussions,
post audio recordings of all board related member's phone conversations,
and visually/aurally record all in-person board meetings, the point is
rather moot.

In other words, why is email so special, compared to in person meetings,
IRC, and phone calls?

What *is* important is a compilation of board meetings, in the form of
minutes.  It is also *exceptionally* important that the person in charge
of such minutes, ensures that they understand the importance and
strictness of their job.  There is no 'consensus' by a board as to what
goes into the minutes of a board meeting.  Any such attempt to stifle the
official board minutes, is what you should be truly concerned about.

If it occurs at a board meeting, it *must* be recorded.  Period!

This allows for the open forum that you are looking for, in that any
discussion -- including objections/points raised by other board members,
or other individuals present, makes it into the official minutes.

If this methodology is followed, there is indeed the openness and
transparency present that should be required.  Heck, this is the
traditional method by which boards of various organizations have kept a
record of the official discussions for -- well, centuries at least.

Naturally, there will be discussions 'off the record'.  Discussions
before and after the board meeting officially starts and ends.
Discussions that take place in elevators, on phones, in person, and
through email.  People must be free to air ideas informally, without
concern that every sentence uttered will be taken out of context, and
spewed about with malice.

So, back to the beginning.  How does one create a record of board
discussions (outside of board meeting minutes), if that record only
consists of a voluntary board list, and not phone calls, emails, personal
conversations, IRC discussions, and the like?

In short -- you don't.  You only create a partial record, which only
displays what the board chooses to discuss there.



On Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:09:29 -0500 (EST)
Brett Delmage <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Thu, 28 Jan 2010, Ian Ward wrote:
> 
> > Also a number of lists are simply idle, or could be better served
> > with email aliases.
> 
> > Messages to the oclug-board list address will be forwarded to the
> > board-members email alias, and we will publish that email address on
> > the site as the best way to contact all board members.
> >
> > We welcome your comments on this plan or anything else related to the
> > group. Please send them to [email protected] to reach all of
> > us.
> 
> Hi Ian, thanks for your notice.
> 
> Unless I misunderstand this, this change seems to reduce the
> transparency and openness of the OCLUG board, moving its discussions to
> the virtual backroom. Or will board discussions be posted in another
> way?  If the board list was only understood as a way to reach the
> board, as opposed to a way for members to follow OCLUG policy and
> planning, then I think some have missed the point.
> 
> Perhaps the board list was not used by many, but it did offer those 
> members who were interested a way to find out to some degree what was 
> going on. Furthermore, the board list archives provide a history of
> past actions and policy discussions and one way for new board members
> to catch up in one place.
> 
> I do not see why there cannot be a board email list AND alias.
> Certainly other groups I have run email lists for have used both
> successfully, and I have not seen any confusion.
> 
> I hope you will reconsider this.
> 
> I am deliberately posting my response to the main list, as it is not my 
> desire to send it into the backrooms of OCLUG. The federal
> conservatives are the market leader there - no sense competing.
> 
> Brett
> -- 
> OCLUG general discussion list
> [email protected]
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