Dear All,
Of the seven responses received to date, all seven are in favor of continuing the Forum. Richard Poynder and Thomas Krichel have each offered to moderate. Three of those who voted to continue also endorsed Richard Poynder (Alma Swan spontaneously, Helene Bosc and Barbara Kirsop when I had followed up their responses to inform them that Richard Poynder and Thomas Krichel had offered to moderate). Note that a straw poll of a list of 1000+ subscribers, most of whom never post, is not the same thing as an election. I will wait a little longer for responses, and post another compendium in a few days. If those who have been active contributors to the Forum across the years feel it should continue, it will continue. Stevan THOMAS KRICHEL: I think it should continue, as it appears to be the largest and most active forum.  I volunteer to do it. RICHARD POYNDER: Well I certainly vote for it to continue. I would even put my name down for the moderator's hat if it was felt appropriate for a journalist to run such a forum, and people believed I could do the job adequately ALMA SWAN: I am writing to nominate Richard Poynder as the new moderator for the AmSci Forum. I think he brings the right qualities - amongst them honesty, fairness, intellectual curiousness and efficiency - and is hugely respected as an independent, critical thinker on the issues that AmSci covers. I want the Forum to continue because it is a real discussion list rather than a bulletin board⦠HELENE BOSC: In memory of the remarkable work done by Stevan Harnad for Open Access through this list, during 14 years, I wish it continues... Richard Poynder would be a perfect moderator! BARBARA KIRSOP: If Stevan feels he can better operate in support of OA not as the moderator, then it would be great indeed if Richard Poynder would adopt the mantle. I think AMSCI should continue. I am somewhat in favour of a name change to highlight OA rather than the US - a name change could be a mini-re-launch perhaps and bring in new contributors - a fitting tribute to Stevan's past efforts. ARTHUR SALE: May I wish you the best as non-moderator. It is the right decision for you, I think. This may be a shock to you that I think that it is a plus, but I think we need to get new ideas into the OA transition, and you have done your bit and a lot more⦠and perhaps I can even convince you eventually that the Titanium Road is the way to go now! You will be bombarded with messages begging you to reconsider, but I do think it is the right decision. Then you can enjoy being yourself without constraint. No one person can bear the weight of the world, not even Atlas. IRYNA KUCHMA:The AmSci Open Access Forum is an active discussion forum (SOAF and BOAI are more like the announcement lists) and my answer is (1) definitely to continue. It's sad that you've decided to step down as a moderator. I wish I could help you with moderating it, but I am travelling a lot and sometimes not able to moderate the BOAI on timeâ¦. Hope you will find the ways to continue.
