My previous email (re: constitution, OGB and CGs) touched on a fundamental assumption in our constitution - that the Community and the OGB are expected to work *together* to develop and execute a shared vision for the organization.
The theory is that the OGB is expected to lead with vision, and to communicate that vision to others in the community. Then, those others will get motivated to propose the formation of Community Groups with a charter to take on responsibility for (part of) that shared vision. The OGB then ratifies that shared understanding by formally chartering a Community Group. Yeah, it also gets to deal with hand holding and arbitration when CGs go bad, but that should only be a minor part of their job. Where are we today? IMHO, we (OS.o) are stuck in a stupid hole. We don't have the right set of communities. The ones we have are more or less dysfunctional. The OGB has convinced itself that it has no real power or authority to fix or change things, and that all it is allowed to do is to react to issues brought up by others. Further, there isn't much visible coordination, cooperation or trust in evidence between the OGB and Community Groups or members - see the several recent (poor) interactions with various community groups & members who are trying to make progress on their own vision in the absence of such leadership. The result is a set of frustrated OGB and Community members. If we expect to be (or become) a healthy community, we *must* dig ourselves out of this hole and get to a place where the community and the OGB are in sync and *able* to work together in a harmonious and trusting environment. The question is, do we need to wait until after the next OGB election cycle before we start working on fixes, or are there things we can start NOW to remedy things? Sooner is better than too late... -John (is there an OGB meeting tomorrow?)
