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Re: [802SEC] +++ 10 Day EC Email Ballot +++ Exec Secretary T&L Funding



Geoff:

The concerns are mine, not necessarily those of the SASB, BoG, etc. as I have not discussed them with other groups.  Those opinions are though those of the SASB Chair (hence why I added the title to my signature on the previous post), not just Bob Grow a participant in 802.  So as a consequence of my fiduciary responsibilities to IEEE-SA, I will express my concerns with any of those you mention below as I feel appropriate to determine if those concerns resonate with others in governance activities. 

The effect of the motion would I believe be seen by some as similar to practices the SASB is working with other Sponsors to halt.  I am concerned how it will be viewed by 802 participants.  I have other concerns not appropriate for this public reflector.

There may be better ways to accomplish the objectives Mr. Hawkins includes in his rationale than the method proposed in the motion, but I felt it important to express concern as there was no discussion prior to a tide of votes began on the motion.

Your proposed split of the question would at least allow consideration of alternatives and better discussion of ongoing real and perceived problems.  Electronic process doesn't really support division of the question, were the motion written in a divisible way.

My major purpose was to cause a pause for thought, something I hope has now been accomplished.

--Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Thompson [mailto:thompson@ieee.org] 
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 3:10 PM
To: Grow, Bob
Cc: John Hawkins; STDS-802-SEC@LISTSERV.IEEE.ORG; Geoff Thompson
Subject: Re: [802SEC] +++ 10 Day EC Email Ballot +++ Exec Secretary T&L Funding

Bob-

Does your position mean that the IEEE-SA (SASB, BoG, staff, legal) might 
decide that this is an inappropriate use of 802 treasury funds?

I share your concerns.
Also, I have severe misgivings as to how this motion would sidestep the 
specific issues that we are supposed to consider at March reelection 
time, i.e. that before members of the EC are reconfirmed in their 
positions that they have support in place.

Therefore, I believe that (at least) the question should be divided into
     - Support for the March meeting
     - Support for any meetings after that (to be considered at the 
March meeting, not by mail ballot)

Geoff Thompson
802 EC Member Emeritus

On 1/11/10 11:52 AM, Grow, Bob wrote:
> John:
>
> I'm not comfortable with the form and timing of this motion.  My concerns do not relate to the considerable effort the Executive Secretary put in to 802 meeting planning, or that there is real value in those services.  I am though bothered by the lack of consideration of the slippery slope it puts the EC on, the modifications it creates for conflict of interest issues previously discussed by the EC, the precedent it creates within IEEE-SA, etc.
>
> Bob Grow
> Chair, IEEE-SA Standards Board
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ***** IEEE 802 Executive Committee List ***** [mailto:STDS-802-SEC@ieee.org] On Behalf Of John Hawkins
> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 7:06 AM
> To: STDS-802-SEC@LISTSERV.IEEE.ORG
> Subject: [802SEC] +++ 10 Day EC Email Ballot +++ Exec Secretary T&L Funding
>
> Dear EC members,
>
> I should have brought this up in November, but alas it didn't get
> done. Apologies in advance for cluttering your inboxes with another
> email ballot.
>
> Paul has delegated the conduct of the IEEE 802 EC 10-day ballot on the
> following motion to me.
>
> Motion:
> The EC approves the use of IEEE 802 resources for reimbursement of
> reasonable and customary expenses (e.g. airfare, hotel, meals, etc)
> for Buzz Rigsbee, the IEEE 802 Executive Secretary, for the following
> plenaries, or until he is replaced, whichever is sooner:
>
>      - 2009 November plenary
>      - 2010 March, July, November plenaries
>
> Such reimbursement will be not to exceed $1,000 per plenary, averaged
> over the period
>
> Moved:  John Hawkins
> Seconded: Steve Shellhammer
>
> Start of ballot: Tuesday 12th January, 2010
> Close of ballot: Friday 22nd January 2010, 11:59PM EDT
>
> Early close: As required in subclause 3.1.2.2 'Electronic Balloting'
> of the IEEE project 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee (LMSC) Operations
> Manual, this is notice that this ballot may close early once
> sufficient responses are received to clearly decide a matter.
>
> Rationale:
>
>   - As most of you are aware, Buzz has now formally retired from Boeing
> and therefore has lost them as source of support for attending our
> meetings. Fortunately for us, Buzz is willing to continue his service
> as Executive Secretary for the IEEE 802. Given the complexity of this
> function, and the significant time and commitment involved, this is a
> positive for us.
>
>   - The motion proposes that we cover his expenses, at least in part.
> Mostly these would consist of airfare and local transportation, but
> may also involve hotel/meals in certain instances. Note that hotels
> often "comp" Buzz's room expenses given his role in negotiating
> contracts on our behalf, but there could be an exception here or there
> so I'm leaving the motion open to that possibility. Note also that we
> are limiting the commitment to actual expenses, not to exceed $1,000
> per plenary on average and would be limited to the listed sessions
> requiring new approval thereafter. This is modeled after the approach
> we used with supporting Arnie's T&L a few years ago, and certainly is
> a level we can handle within our current budget.
>
>   - I have communicated with Paul and Buzz and we agree that this is
> not a long-term solution, as Buzz will someday  desire to "retire"
> from IEEE 802 as well. We agree that a succession plan is needed and
> are investigating the best way forward there. This will be a difficult
> function to fill with a volunteer, as it involves little
> technical/standards work, and yet consumes significant time and
> commitment. Since Buzz is willing and able, I think this is a wise
> investment of a limited amount of our funds in the short term.
>
> Regards,
> John
>
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>    

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