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[802SEC] idea on new rules for membership in startup WGs




Dear ExCom,

On Friday, I had some stimulating discussions with Geoff, Jerry, and 
Mark on what would be a good set of membership rules for startup WGs. 
Some things said during the rules debate also played a role in my 
thinking. After reviewing the current rules again, I now have a very 
definite idea of a set of changes that would satisfy my concerns and 
would, I believe, also satisfy the other concerns I've heard. This 
proposal is simple, and it is philosophically compatible with our 
existing membership rules.

Here is my proposal:

(a) In 5.1.3.1, delete the first sentence and the following word 
("All persons participating in the initial meeting of the Working 
Group become members of the Working Group. Thereafter,").

(b) At the end of that first paragraph of 5.1.3.1, add the following:

"In a new WG or TAG, all registered attendees may vote until such 
time as the first WG or TAG memberships are established."

(c) In 5.1.2, change "Initial appointments, and temporary 
appointments to fill vacancies due to resignations or removals for 
cause, may be made by the Chair of the LMSC, and shall be valid until 
the end of the next Plenary session" to:

"Initial appointments, and temporary appointments to fill vacancies 
due to resignations or removals for cause, may be made by the Chair 
of the LMSC. Temporary appointments shall be valid until the end of 
the next Plenary session. Initial appointments shall be valid until 
the end of the Plenary session in which the first WG or TAG 
memberships are established. Officer elections shall be scheduled for 
that session."
============================================================

Normally, the sequence would be:

(1) WG initiated at Plenary #0. Interim Chair appointed.
(2) WG holds interim session. Everyone votes.
(3) WG meets at Plenary #1. Everyone votes.
(4) WG holds interim session. Everyone votes.
(5) WG meets at Plenary #2. Membership is attained at start of 
session by those who have participated in Plenary #1 and in one of 
the two interims. Only those members vote. Elections are held, and 
confirmed by EC. Elected officers assume office at end of plenary.

Note that this would accommodate the CS rule that "voting privileges 
shall apply to all eligible attendees at the initial three meetings" 
(i.e., sessions). However, participation in just one of these three 
sessions would not suffice for membership. Membership would be earned 
the normal way, and there would be no elections until there were 
members. The Interim Chair appointment would become four sessions, 
instead of two under the current rules.

I submit that this system could take a lot of the politics out of the 
WG startup period, giving the group time to settle.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Roger