FYI
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda Haas Davenport" <lhaasdav(a)cox.net>
I posted this message today on ABChat. If you are not subbed to
ABChat you can follow the discussion by reading usgenweb-all in
Rootsweb's threaded archives.
The AB is asking for imput from the membership about this
problem.
****
The Project's by-laws assign certain duties to the AB. Article VI
(Duties of the Advisory Board), Section 3, lists one of the AB's
duties as: "advising and mediating, if necessary, any grievances
or
appeals."http://www.usgenweb.com/volunteers/bylaws.shtml
Over the years, acting under this section of the by-laws the AB
has heard grievances and rendered recommendations to the parties
of a grievance. However, once the AB rendered its recommendations
it has been up to the parties of the grievance whether or not to
follow the AB's recommendations. The by-laws do not give the AB
the authority to enforce its recommendations.
This situation has resulted in frustration on both sides - the AB
and the members.
This AB was recently involved in a grievance filed by a CC
against an SC over the delinking of the CC. The AB members
hearing this grievance rendered a set of recommendation, one of
which was for the SC to relink the CC. The SC declined to
implement the recommendations, citing past precedent that an SC
has the right to delink any CC they wish and there is no
requirement for grievance recommendations to be implemented.
The decision of the SC resulted in yet more grievances being
filed and e-mails from members demanding that the AB "do
something."
The AB has discussed this situation in Exec (the place to discuss
grievances) and after extensive discussion has decided to bring
this issue of non-resolution of grievances to open discussion to
try to find a workable solution to the problem.
(message may be forwarded)
Linda Haas Davenport
NC USGenWeb Project