From merope@Radix.Net Tue Sep 25 18:55:53 2001 Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 18:55:51 -0400 (EDT) From: merope Reply-To: merope To: Daily Board Show Subject: Daily Board Show, 9/25/2001 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: O X-Status: Takin' it to the streets...its Your Daily Board Show! *warning* contains editorial content. Read at your own risk! Monday 24 September 2001: Holly Timm finally gets around to providing information on the version(s) of RRoO that she uses. She doesn't believe, however, that "these are LAWS that you can be tried and convicted for not following -- they are procedures laid out to make sure business flows orderly and considerately. We are NOT the Parliament or the Congress -- folks won't live or die or be sentenced to life in jail if we make a mistake in PP. We can spend more time debating the PP of something than we can spend debating the actual problem. PP can be used to "tie-up" business if allowed so that nothing can be accomplished." She does believe that "we can apply common sense and using Roberts Rules and other sources including individual experience in various kinds of meetings as guidelines and come up with ongoing procedures that work for the format we work in." Tuesday 25 Sept 2001: Teresa Lindquist asks Holly to clarify when she "will be using the standard and accepted reference and when [she] will be using "common sense" and "individual experience" while conducting this meeting?" She also asks whose common sense and invididual experience will guide the Board members. Gracefully sidestepping the question, Holly responds that she hopes that Board members will "will consult various sources, consider our format and use common sense to do what is workable." She says she is open to suggestion. Kathy Heidel, responding to a message originally sent to the -ALL list, posts some information regarding amending our bylaws to specify a parliamentary authority [as if] or adopting a "special rule" to do so. She notes "It appears that Teresa and Roger have assumed that we "must" use RoOR when in fact we are instructed by the Bylaws to use "Parliamentary Procedure"...In my opinion only, the PP method is more flexible and elementary, it is used by numerous groups around the globe. Cyberspace is...relatively new and in many ways uncharted...RoOR being written in 1915 and updated occasionally has not taken the Cyberspace problems in to full consideration, yet. And we have not amended the Bylaws to use RoOR, or voted to adopt RoOR by any of the prescribed methods as instructed by RoOR, this will have to be done first. So for the time being the plebian PP will have to suffice." She provides an online source of information on parliamentary procedure and quotes from it: "We must learn to run a meeting without victimizing the audience; but more importantly, without being victimized by individuals who are armed with parliamentary procedure and a personal agenda." She notes "This statement really hit home, because this is exactly when all of the Rules and Regulations are wheeled in to this forum." Richard Harrison agrees with Holly's suggested procedure and notes "Robert's Rules of Order isn't some sacred scripture that we are compelled to literally interpret and follow to the letter. It is a tool for getting our work done." He suggests that the Board develop a set of standard procedures for future use. Jana Black thinks Holly's idea "makes perfect sense" [big surprise]. She notes "Robert's Rules are not intended to bog down progress but to assure a respectful, practical attitude in our Board working environment as we approach the business before the Board." [They can't do that if you don't actually use them though.] She also likes Richard's idea of "recording procedure" for future reference. Kathy Heidel asks Teresa why the question was asked [presumably she means the question I asked on the -ALL list about untabling old motions], "Before we all go traipsing down this path any further with you". She doesn't believe the question is idle and feels Teresa is "springing the trap". Holly asks Teresa to provide a list of all past motions that were tabled. She notes "a little *housekeeping* is a sensible thing to do." Teresa reminds her that the Board has a secretary for that sort of thing. [sheesh...all I wanted to know is what book to buy... but its pretty clear there's no point in spending any money on a book when I can just use my "common sense" for free. Its no wonder the Board bangs around like a bat in need of a hearing aid.] In Executive Session: --no activity === The More Things Change Corner: Well, it looks like business as usual with the "new" Board. We'll use RRoO when it suits us, and ignore it when it doesn't. Not that I'm wedded to Robert's Rules or anything, but it seems clear that some sort of order other than "common sense" [which is usually in noticeably short supply around the Board list when the topics get "interesting"] would benefit the meeting greatly. The Tim Era is not all that far behind us and Holly's stated policy is not all that different than the sort of "chairmanship" he practiced for two and a half years. Namely, beat people on the head with the rules when they work in your favor, and pretend they don't exist when they are inconvenient. And whenever possible, interpret creatively. Really, I wait with bated breath to see "common sense" and "individual experience" in action the first time there is serious conflict over something. Holly is the chair, so I reckon its her "common sense" and "individual experience" that will carry the day in any case. And really, that's no different than what Our Esteemed Former National Commander did. Over and over and over again. Election, er, "Poll" News: Passwords have gone out and, despite a few reported instances of people being unable to access the voting, er, "polling" place, all seems to working correctly. They have had to provide a new form due to unspecified problems with the voting software, and this new form does NOT return a vote confirmation. So be very careful to check the right box. If you didn't receive a password and think you should have, contact your EC representative. Remember, the Board is only interested in the opinions of people who have been local coordinators in the SW/SC region since prior to September 10. === Today's quote was sent in by a reader: "This project is so important, we can't let things that are more important interfere with it. Doing it right is no excuse for not meeting the schedule." ---Advertising/Marketing manager, United Parcel Service This has been your Daily Board Show. -Teresa Lindquist merope@radix.net ------- Daily Board Show, (c) 2001 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved. From merope@Radix.Net Thu Sep 27 06:15:18 2001 Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 06:15:16 -0400 (EDT) From: merope Reply-To: merope To: Daily Board Show Subject: Daily Board Show, 9/26/2001 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: O X-Status: Barbarians at the gate...its your Daily Board Show! *warning* contains editorial content. Read at your own risk! Wednesday 26 Sept 2001: Sundee Maynez notes that Motions 01-19 and 01-11 are tabled. Teresa Lindquist submits a more extensive list of tabled motions and also lists some errors on the official votes records pages. Holly Tim notes "Although it is part of the Board Secretary's job to keep track of motions this board tables it is not her job to comb history unless we specifically request her to do so." Teresa was asked to do it because she "seemed to think it was urgent". Holly says she will have the webmaster review the errors. [Actually, all I did was ask a general question about procedure regarding tabled motions on a general interest list. No urgency at all and no "agenda" either.] Nate Zipfel comments that it is not "beneficial to the smooth operation of the board to state that you were "doing their job"." Pam Reid doesn't think "these items" were ever part of the Board Secretary's duties and that she is the webmaster. She says she is not ashamed of her mistakes and notes that usually people point out webpage errors to her privately. She states "I don't think that pointing out the errors (whoever made them) in a snotty fashion on the public list serves any purpose at all." [Actually, I sent a couple of these to her a couple of weeks ago. The private route has been ineffective.] Kathy Heidel asks if it is possible for Sundee to list how each member votes when she posts her Board summary. Thursday 27 Sept 2001: Sundee has no problem including vote information with the Board report and asks if Holly would mind her doing it. Teresa posts the duties of the Board Secretary as listed by motion 99-2, which passed in February 1999. In Executive Session: --no activity === Spam Alert Corner: Somehow or other I seem to have been subscribed to something called Rootsweb-announce-l. Today it sent me some UCE that starts like this: "Supercharge Your RootsWeb Experience By Trying Ancestry.com...We hope that you are fully enjoying all of the incredible benefits that RootsWeb has to offer. RootsWeb is a free service which is funded and supported by Ancestry.com and the RootsWeb community. If you like what you've seen on RootsWeb, you can embrace its continued development - and supercharge your own search - by joining Ancestry.com." and goes on to offer a 7 day free trial at Ancestry and to tout all the wonders of a paid Ancestry subscription. Also on the spam front, the New Zoo Review today warns us of impending UCE that all subscribers to that ad rag will receive on Friday Sept 28: "ROOTSWEB PRODUCT WATCH REVIEW is now available. This Friday, September 28, RootsWeb, in partnership with Ancestry.com, will send a one time e-mail to RootsWeb Review subscribers. This new e-mail will include new and exclusive products available from the Shops@Ancestry.com." Fortunately, with this one you can subscribe to it if you want to continue to keep getting it. You've been warned. I just point these out because it still causes some cognitive disarray whenever I'm reminded that Root$web is nothing but a gateway to Ancestry and is becoming more so everyday. I mean, really, the "Root$web Product Watch Review"? To hawk stuff at Ancestry's online store? And using Root$web to sell Ancestry subscriptions? What is this world coming to? === Today's quote was sent in by a reader: "We know that communication is a problem, but the company is not going to discuss it with the employees." ---Switching supervisor, AT&T This has been your Daily Board Show. -Teresa Lindquist merope@radix.net ------- Daily Board Show, (c) 2001 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved. From merope@Radix.Net Fri Sep 28 11:53:41 2001 Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 11:53:40 -0400 (EDT) From: merope Reply-To: merope To: Daily Board Show Subject: Daily Board Show, 9/28/2001 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: O X-Status: Leaving no stone unturned...its Your Daily Board Show! *warning* contains editorial content. Read at your own risk! Thursday 27 September 2001: Tim Stowell asks whether the Board is "waiting on the replacement of the SW CC Rep before proceeding to other business." Sundee Maynez claims she is fulfilling the duties of the Board Secretary as posted yesterday and "it is not my job to comb history unless you ask me too." She thinks the details of her job need to be rewritten. She also notes that does not mind "looking through history." Holly notes that "new business may be brought before the Board if necessary" but it might be better to wait until the position is filled. She asks for other opinions. Jana Black says she "can go either way" but has nothing to bring up that cannot wait. Kathy Heidel posts some research she has done on various parliamentary authorities. She thinks that before the Board chooses a parliamentary authority it should address the Bylaws, since they do not designate with authority the Board should use. She quotes Cagle's Parliamentary Procedure WebPages: "The rules of order must be clearly established. It could be Robert, Sturgis, Cannon, Demeter, Riddick, etc. The important thing is to have a document which assures order under fire. Regardless of the rule book, an organization is ruled first by local, state, and federal laws; and then by its parent organization; followed by any adopted special rules of order; and finally by its adopted parliamentary authority." [Lookit that, no "common sense" or "individual experience" listed.] She is partial to "Alice Sturgis's The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure" herself. [Now do they see why I asked about which text the Board will adopt?] Friday 28 Sept 2001: Tim asks Holly if she's implying "that Board business will stop everytime there is a vacancy until a vacancy can be filled." [Poor Holly; if she'd said 'sure, go ahead and post some new business', Tim would probably have accused her of trying to ram through changes without the project members being fully represented.] Holly says she is not implying that all Board business will cease whenever there is a vacancy, but in this case it is just a matter of a few days and "we have several important issues such as the bylaws waiting in the wings that I think the new member should be here to participate in discussing." Tim asks Kathy if her list of rules that organizations must follow should include international law. Kathy says that is "a definite consideration" but "what I feel is important is for the Board to decide which Authority to follow, basically for a guide." Teresa asks Sundee Maynez whether she is filling the specific duties of the Board Secretary as listed in Motion 99-2. -- In Executive Session: --no activity === "Anyone who isn't confused really doesn't understand the situation." ---Edward R. Murrow This has been your Daily Board Show. -Teresa Lindquist merope@radix.net ------- Daily Board Show, (c) 2001 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved. From merope@Radix.Net Sat Sep 29 10:44:09 2001 Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 10:44:08 -0400 (EDT) From: merope Reply-To: merope To: Daily Board Show Subject: Daily Board Show, 9/29/2001 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: O X-Status: Where the rubber hits the road...its Your Daily Board Show! *warning* contains editorial content. Read at your own risk! Friday 28 Sept 2001: Sundee Maynez says she does not have the list passwords. Sundee notifies the Board she will be away for several days for personal reasons. Several Board members offer her their condolences and prayers. Jana Black says she will not be available to deal with the appointment of a replacement Board member until Saturday evening. -- In Executive Session: --A grievance is discussed. === "Poll" News: The poll for the vacant SW/SC LC representative seat has closed and theoretically at least, we should receive the results sometime today. Lights On But No One Home Corner: I, and apparently many others, received the latest Root$web UCE yesterday, the "RootsWeb Product Watch Review" we were promised in their _other_ UCE, the New Zoo Review. And it consists of a lovely subject line offering "20% off all items in RootsWeb Product Watch Review" and a blank message. Either there's nothing of interest at Ancestry's shops these days or someone fell asleep at the switch [and Root$web is so short-handed these days it would be understandable]. Of course, 20% of nothing is... nothing. Maybe that's the point. [We'll also note that the message didn't contain the promised instructions on how to subscribe, but there doesn't really seem much point in subscribing to it, so no loss.] === "Nature never makes any blunders; when she makes a fool she means it." ---Josh Billings This has been your Daily Board Show. -Teresa Lindquist merope@radix.net ------- Daily Board Show, (c) 2001 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved. From merope@Radix.Net Sun Sep 30 20:44:07 2001 Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 20:44:01 -0400 (EDT) From: merope To: Daily Board Show Subject: Daily Board Show, 9/30/2001 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: O X-Status: Howling at the moon...its Your Daily Board Show! *warning* contains editorial content. Read at your own risk! Saturday 29 September 2001: Holly Timm forwards the "poll" results to the Board. They are as follows: Don Kelly 13, Gloria Mayfield 24, Phyllis Rippee 34, Scott Burow 24 Teresa Lindquist moves "that the USGenWeb Advisory Board appoint Phyllis Rippee to fill the SW/SC local coordinator representative seat vacated by Ken Short." Kathy Heidel seconds the motion and Holly gives it number 01-31. Holly asks if any discussion is necessary. Several Board members indicate that no discussion is needed. Sunday 30 September 2001: Holly Timm calls for a vote on Motin 01-31 (Board seat vacancy). Thus far, two Board members have voted yes. -- In Executive Session: --no activity === "I can't say as ever I was lost, but I was bewildered once for three days". ---Daniel Boone This has been your Daily Board Show. -Teresa Lindquist merope@radix.net ------- Daily Board Show, (c) 2001 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved.