Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 07:04:33 -0500
To: WSFA List <wsfalist at wsfa.org>
From: Elspeth Kovar <ekovar at worldnet.att.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Concerning the draft of WSFA minutes; WSFA lists
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
I just got back from another trip to the ER with Fribble so rather than
having had a chance to work on this I'm going to have to be blunt. I'll
try to break it into segments as it's a bit long. And, please, let's stay
out of the whole issue of Yahoo itself.
-------------------------------------------
Sometime last week, having heard that Ernest had been elected secretary, I
asked if he would send me a copy of the minutes. He did, with the subject
line "Re: [wsfa-forum] WSFA Meeting, November 4, 2005" The "[wsfa-forum]"
confused me until I read the following part of the minutes, which I quote
as written:
_______________________________________________________
Discussion of the WSFA list and the appropriateness of a non club member
acting as list manager/moderator was brought up. It was pointed out that
the list was for present and past members of WSFA, and suggested that Keith
should change the name to reflect his proprietorship. Suggestions were made
that we consider changing to an announcements only list. Steve Stiles
offered to take a look at running the list on other software than Keith's,
which he has pointed out is only usable by him.
Rich Lynch's motion was seconded, and put to a vote. There were nine in
favor, no opposed, and nine abstentions.
Madeline called that we shut does the list for a month or so to cooling
down period. It was tabled pending the appointment of a new webmaster and
list manager.
Ernest suggested that the notion of a moderated list was worth revisiting.
Rebecca suggested that we consider having an ombudsman, to act to keep
interpersonal issues from getting out of hand. Multiple lists with varying
degrees of moderation suppression were suggesting.
It was moved that the Secretary, Steve Smith and Barry Newton comprise a
committee to handle the web platform and to decide how to handle the list
issues. Ernest asked for a month to work on it in committee before
reporting back.
_______________________________________________________
This was news to me and, it seems, to everyone who wasn't at that
meeting. (That Keith is *not* the proprietor of the WSFA list should go
without saying, as we're all well aware of it, but it seems that the
discussion and/or the minutes didn't reflect that.)
I don't know who brought it up, do know that it was Steve Smith rather than
Steve Stiles, don't know what Dick's motion was, what was voted upon, or
who was at the meeting to vote on it. I did just now look up this
"wsfa-forum" in Yahoo and it turns out that there have been 29 messages
posted to it, most of which have an impact on WSFA business. Anyone can
read them but, not being a member, I can't post there. Nor was I aware of
and, not being a member again couldn't take part in, a "live chat" that
apparently took place last Thursday. (As an aside, the list also has a
strange WSFA logo, apparently decided upon by the members of that group.)
Since I can't post this message to "wsfa-forum" would someone who is a
member please do so for me?
Meanwhile, would those involved in "wsfa-forum" please be so kind as to
post here as well so that the rest of us will have some idea of what is
going on? That includes people who, for whatever reason, are not willing
to subscribe to "wsfa-forum".
Most importantly Ernest, the drafts of the minutes must be posted here. As
it is several things which I heard from other WSFA members have been left
out of your current minutes and perhaps people here could refresh your
memory. (It's also Bob MacIntosh, not "Bob MacKenzie", something no one on
the "wsfa-forum" seems to have caught.)
-------------------------------------------
What is clear is that the first post to "wsfa-forum" was made at 9:08 AM
the Sunday after the Third Friday meeting where our previous Secretary had
to resign, not by the person who set up the list. The Monday before the
First Friday meeting a discussion started about who might be the next
Secretary, which concluded after First Friday. Also after the First Friday
meeting there was a post about the meeting itself:
"I've got the email addresses of the folks who came for the first time.
I'd like us to follow up and make sure they don't escape our evile plans.
How about our newest trustee volunteering to give them emails? Also, I
know that they would appreciate a ride up to the next meeting. Seems
like something we could do more of, and I'll be happy to share rides . . ."
("evile plans" is not to be taken as a conspiracy by people on
"wsfa-forum", rather as the usual sort of remark many of us make concerning
getting people involved in WSFA.) Other than
"The newest trustee would be happy to send some emails tonight.
Pop them to me personally.
And I have room in my carpool for one more."
there is no follow up so I have no idea of if this was done or, if so, what
they said.
And, last Sunday:
"Well, we've been running the wsfa-forum list long enough to have a pretty good
idea of what it offers.
Yesterday I met with Gayle, Paul and Drew, and we looked at some of the
features
available to moderators.
The one we liked was the ability to mark a member as moderated, so that their
posts require approval before posting.
Since you van select multiple moderators, with limited authority over the list,
we should be able to nip flamish behavior pretty quickly.
Should we open the list to all? Should it be a public list, or just a WSFA one?
I'd like as many inputs on this as possible.
Also, I didn't get Steve Smith's email address in our chat session the other
night, and I need to add him in."
-------------------------------------------
In other news, from the draft of the minutes it seems that Alexis has
volunteered to be acting secretary at Third Friday, Ernest being out of
town. Might I suggest that someone unbiased do the job instead? Obviously
we're going to have to revisit this issue rather than unknown people acting
quickly to make a number of substantial changes and 9 people -- with 9 for
their own reasons abstaining -- deciding things for the whole club, and
especially doing so in a bare two week vacuum between the meeting where our
past Secretary had to resign and these decisions taking place.
Elisabeth A. Kovar
For those who wish to read the uncorrected draft of the minutes the link,
which doesn't require being a member of "wsfa-forum", is
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wsfa-forum/message/24
There were no substantial corrections.
EAK