[svlug] Bickering - solution

[Edward Cherlin]

[Sigh] I find that in discussing contentious matters it is helpful to
adopt a practice that I am told is built into the grammar of Navajo.
That is, to note the source for each statement make. As in the phrase
"I am told" above. We can discuss the truth or relevance of these
statements, as long as we don't attack the person'

On Dec 26, 2007 10:57 AM, Paul Reiber <reiber at gmail.com> wrote:
> Greetings from Brazil, and Happy Holidays!
>
> I concur w/ Edward that things have GOT to change, if SVLUG is to
> survive and thrive.

Thank you for your support, but you seem to have missed something. (My
personal judgment)

> The idea that it's OK for someone to be a "helper" or "volunteer"
> while simultaneously
> working AGAINST the efforts of other volunteers is absurd.

Never mind that. We have people who work against their own efforts.
(Personal observation)

> I'm
> similarly exasperated - even my simplest moves to try to improve
> things within SVLUG have been met with criticism from the peanut
> gallery.

That's because you, Paul, have not recognized that your job as LUG
President is not Maximum "When I want to hear *your* opinion, I'll
tell it to you" Leader. (Exaggerated statement of conclusion from
unstated evidence) The President's job *in my opinion* is 1)
facilitating the plans approved by the membership; 2) Cat
Herder-in-Chief. There are only a few ways to herd cats. One is to
find out which way they are headed, and run to the front. This works
when all of the cats are already headed the same way. It accomplishes
little (opinion), but as long as you don't try to take too much
credit, it is entirely acceptable (to me, anyway; YMMV).

Those who are really good can work out where the cats actually want to
get to, collaborate on finding out how, and let the cats think that it
was their idea in the first place to head there. (See quotations
below) Because it was, apart from a bit of confusion starting out. (My
observation)

As you all know I am running for Vice President of SVLUG on a Peace
platform. I wish to revise my candidacy at this time. If elected I am
to be known as Minimum Leader. I am accepting suggestions for my
official hat.

You can get a lot done if you don't mind who gets the credit.--Harry Truman

When the Sage rules, the people say, "We did it ourselves!"--Laozi, DaoDeJing

Are you part of the solution, or part of the precipitate?--Steven Wright

> We tried the "whoever shows up for the governance meeting can define
> SVLUG" approach, and with that model, we couldn't even agree on _one
> sentence_ as a group, in over 2 hours.
>
> With that in mind, I've decided I need,

There you go again. No, the question is what *we* need, and we have to
decide it, if it is going to be decided at all, not you. (My summary
of group consensus)

Practical application of these theoretical principles to the proposal
below is left as an exercise for the reader.

> and therefore I'm creating, an
> "advisory council" - input from random members is valuable, but input
> from a select set of advisors will be much more valuable.
>
> Here are the details I've worked out so far:
>
> ANY member of SVLUG can apply for a seat on this council.  (Join &)
> email the volunteers list with the reasons you'd like to be on this
> council, and list your qualifications.
>
> I'll work with a small handful of others to select the council members
> in January when I return.
> We´ll ensure that each member is indeed on board to assist SVLUG as an
> advisor, and then we'll share the list with the rest of SVLUG.
>
> This advisory council will be able to provide feedback and advice
> regarding what we do and how.  Regular SVLUG members and current
> volunteers will be urged to speak their minds to the members of the
> council, rather than having everyone bombard me at once about every
> issue.  The council members are free to "specialize" - i.e. one might
> be primarily concerned with SVLUG's servers, another with SVLUG's
> outreach programs, etc.
>
> After this council is in place, I believe we'll be able to make more
> rapid progress with the adoption of such crucial things as a motto,
> mission statement, and bylaws.
>
> I expect that this will meet with some criticism and resistance, but
> I'm not going to let that dissuade me.  I know _some_ people will be
> smart enough to look past the "procedural issues" and simply apply,

Sorry, Paul. The procedure *is* the issue.

Please note that you have just called your opponents in this matter,
including me, "stupid" for not being smart enough to go along with
your unilateral decisions. I yield to nobody on this list in my
righteous indignation over this slight, but I don't consider it a
sufficient reason to be insulting back, and I **suggest** that others
consider adopting a similar practice.

> and those people will have the opportunity to help define SVLUG's
> future.
>
> I´ll only be checking email every week or so while down here, so
> please don't expect that any replies to this message will be met with
> a timely response.
>
> Best regards, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
> -Paul Reiber
> President, SVLUG

-- 
Edward Cherlin
Speak software and carry a big cluestick; you will go far.
With thanks to Teddy Roosevelt, and the West
Africans who originated the proverb he quoted