On Friday, March 21, 2014 07:23:40 Steve Radonich IV wrote:
> So I have been reading through this discussion topic and taking in
> everything that has been said in the debate of Consensus vs Voting. I have
> given this a lot of thought and feel that I may have come up with a
> solution to this whole issue. I have tried to keep it in line with sticking
> to consensus as much as possible, while providing a way after long and
> careful debate to move forward with a Membership application or Proposal
> while still having some that disagree. I would love to hear feedback on
> what everyone thinks of it, and am more than willing to go into further
> detail about my choice for certain decision in crafting this proposal. I
> will copy it into the message below, as well as link to a PDF form if you
> find it too difficult to read in the e-mail. Formatting on the email will
> probably be messed up so I would recommend looking at the PDF as it make is
> much easier to read. PDF version is available here:
> http://ubuntuone.com/2FaD11sRVOEzUOObTDvq0P
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 1.) Membership applications or
> Proposals may be accepted by the Membership of SYNHAK as              long 
as no
> Member, in good standing, blocks any such action. If a SYNHAK Member,
> in            good standing, wishes to block a Membership application or
> Proposal the reason to                        block must fall under one of 
the following
> categories:
> 
> 
> 
>               A.) Make a specific reference to any
> violation of SYNHAK Code, Policy or By-Laws                           that 
the Proposal or
> potential Member might be in conflict with
>               B.) Make a specific reference to any
> violations of 26 US Code Section 501(c)(3) or                                 
Section 509(a)(2)
>               C.) Make a specific reference to any
> violations of Federal, State, or Local law or                                 
        regulations that
> are applicable
>               D.) If it is a Proposal, make an
> alternate Proposal, or modification to the Proposal in                        
        question,
> that aims to correct any issues with the current one
>               E.) If it is a Membership
> application, explain verifiable evidence as to why that person
>                               does not deserve to be a Member based on any 
personal or
> professional                                  experience you have with the 
person in question
> 
> 
> 
>       Failure to meet any of the criteria
> above would result in the Proposal or Membership application  process
> to continue as stated in the SYNHAK By-Laws.
> 
> 
> 
>       2.) Should the preceding criteria be
> met the issues should be discussed among the attending                        
membership
> at the meeting until no further constructive comments/opinions are
> made,                         and the discussion continued on the member 
mail list in the
> week leading up to the next                   meeting.
> 
>       3.) During the following meeting (the
> “2nd meeting”) the issue will be brought up again:
> 
>               A.) If all issues or complaints have
> been properly dealt with, and the Member or                                   
Members, in good
> standing, withdraw their block on a Membership application                    
        or
> Proposal then the process is to continue as stated in the SYNHAK
> By-Laws.
> 
> 
> 
>               B.) If however, the Member or
> Members, in good standing, do not withdraw their block                        
        due to
> their belief their reasons stated in the previous meeting were not
> properly                              addressed. The Membership application 
or Proposal will
> be blocked for another                                week with further 
discussion at the
> meeting with the Members in attendance, and                   on the members 
mail
> list.
> 
> 
> 
>       4.)  During the following meeting (the
> “3rd meeting”) the issue will be brought up again:
> 
> 
> 
>               A.) If all issues or complaints have
> been properly dealt with, and the Member or                                   
Members, in good
> standing, withdraw their block on a Membership application                    
        or
> Proposal then the process is to continue as stated in the SYNHAK
> By-Laws.
> 
> 
> 
>               B.) If however, the Member or
> Members, in good standing, do not withdraw their block                        
        due to
> their belief their reasons stated in the previous meetings were not
> properly                      addressed the following will take place:
> 
> 
> 
> 
>                       I.) A final discussion period will
> take place where all further issues will be                                   
discussed until
> either:
> 
> 
> 
>                               1.) A consensus is met in favor of,
> or against, the Membership application                                        
or Proposal.
>                       or
> 
> 
> 
>                               2.) 15% or more of the attending
> Membership move to have a show of                                             
hands of those in favor of,
> or against, the Membership application                                        
or  Proposal. The
> following can happen based on the show of                                     
        hands:
> 
> 
> 
>                                       a.) If 86% or more of the
> Membership in attendance is in favor of                                       
                the Membership
> application or Proposal then the process is                                   
        to continue as
> stated in the SYNHAK By-Laws.

Bylaws don't say anything about proposals. Sure they say we've got the right 
to vote on membership applications, but I'm no longer comfortable with that 
route. The questions asked interview process have the possibility of having no 
real impact.

I imagine asking someone questions and finding out that they're a raging 
transphobe, but the majority of the people present at the meeting who fail to 
understand the gravity of my concerns think "haha, they're funny".

I certainly would not be comfortable with their membership without being able 
to block and then further getting to know them.

> 
>                                       b.) If 15% or more of the
> Membership in attendance is against the                                       
        Membership application
> or Proposal then it is blocked for                                            
        one more week.
> 
> 
> 
>                       II.) The decision of the Membership
> in attendance is carried out with no further                                  
argument or
> discussion on the topic at hand.
> 
> 
> 
>       5.) If the Membership application or
> Proposal is blocked again with a 15% or more vote of the
>                       Membership in attendance then the issue will be 
discussed in the
> meeting, and on the                   member mail list, for a maximum of 4 
weeks
> after the vote during the 3rd meeting.                        During each
> meeting leading up to the 4th week the issue will be put
> up for discussion                     following the same process as outlined 
in
> section 4. Should it reach the 4th week the                   Membership
> application or Proposal will be put up for a vote, requiring a
> minimum of                    76% or more of Membership in attendance vote 
in favor
> to pass, or 25% or more of                    Membership in attendance vote 
against
> it to fail.


I'm still not convinced that voting is an effective method of getting the 
support of everyone.

Again, if 50% support a decision for something such as "replacing the ceiling 
in the palm room" (you know, the crappy half), 49% vote against it, and the 
only people able or willing to invest any effort into replacing the ceiling 
and seeing the job through vote against it, how does the ceiling get replaced?

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