[802SEC] idea on new rules for membership in startup WGs
Dear ExCom,
On Friday, I had some stimulating discussions with Geoff, Jerry, and
Mark on what would be a good set of membership rules for startup WGs.
Some things said during the rules debate also played a role in my
thinking. After reviewing the current rules again, I now have a very
definite idea of a set of changes that would satisfy my concerns and
would, I believe, also satisfy the other concerns I've heard. This
proposal is simple, and it is philosophically compatible with our
existing membership rules.
Here is my proposal:
(a) In 5.1.3.1, delete the first sentence and the following word
("All persons participating in the initial meeting of the Working
Group become members of the Working Group. Thereafter,").
(b) At the end of that first paragraph of 5.1.3.1, add the following:
"In a new WG or TAG, all registered attendees may vote until such
time as the first WG or TAG memberships are established."
(c) In 5.1.2, change "Initial appointments, and temporary
appointments to fill vacancies due to resignations or removals for
cause, may be made by the Chair of the LMSC, and shall be valid until
the end of the next Plenary session" to:
"Initial appointments, and temporary appointments to fill vacancies
due to resignations or removals for cause, may be made by the Chair
of the LMSC. Temporary appointments shall be valid until the end of
the next Plenary session. Initial appointments shall be valid until
the end of the Plenary session in which the first WG or TAG
memberships are established. Officer elections shall be scheduled for
that session."
============================================================
Normally, the sequence would be:
(1) WG initiated at Plenary #0. Interim Chair appointed.
(2) WG holds interim session. Everyone votes.
(3) WG meets at Plenary #1. Everyone votes.
(4) WG holds interim session. Everyone votes.
(5) WG meets at Plenary #2. Membership is attained at start of
session by those who have participated in Plenary #1 and in one of
the two interims. Only those members vote. Elections are held, and
confirmed by EC. Elected officers assume office at end of plenary.
Note that this would accommodate the CS rule that "voting privileges
shall apply to all eligible attendees at the initial three meetings"
(i.e., sessions). However, participation in just one of these three
sessions would not suffice for membership. Membership would be earned
the normal way, and there would be no elections until there were
members. The Interim Chair appointment would become four sessions,
instead of two under the current rules.
I submit that this system could take a lot of the politics out of the
WG startup period, giving the group time to settle.
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Roger