Briefly, from my mail list experience (very limited, since March). I tried
taking a vote on an issue this summer about which a few people felt strongly
and ended up with under 10 votes out of 140 list members. I ended up
deciding the issue myself, since there wasn't anything close to a quorum. I
have no idea how most of the list felt, whether they didn't have an opinion
or whether they didn't want to quarrel publicly with those who were
advocates. I told them if we couldn't get a quorum, we'd table indefinitely
until we could get one, but I wasn't entirely happy with this solution. I
should say also that I gave the list members the option of voting
"privately" to me in email for tabulation, so actually there was an
alternative to a public vote.
Linda
Linda Scheimann
Co-Coordinator, Washington Co. WIGenWeb Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wiwashin/
List Administrator,
Washington County WI MailList
http://personal.myvine.com/~gebhard/genealogy/maillist.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: MAK <makkuehl(a)yahoo.com>
To: <WIGEN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2002 3:34 PM
Subject: [WIGEN-L] Re: WI SC election term limits and voting
Tina recently threw out an election topic for
discussion -
Upon reflection, a few thoughts came to mind that
may not been adequately addressed in our past
discussions on various topics (to include but not
limited to policy, decision making and voting)
utilizing the WI Admin mailing list and/or MIRC
forums.
- First, we have a great group of WI CC's who are
very productive and pro-active within their
county(s) - with great ideas; however, many of
them prefer to remain silent. Upon checking the
email archives for our Mailing List, it becomes
apparent that only a few percent of the WI CCs
provide PUBLIC input on important decision making
topics. This could create a FALSE sense of
"MAJORITY" - how can we collectively determine
(really know) what the other 50 or so people do
or don't want - is it fair to automatically
assume majority rules when not even 1% could end
up voicing an opinion and/or voting?
-Second - while all the WI CC's may be required
to be on the mailing list - even less participate
on MIRC chats for a variety of reasons. Lack of
access, or not available at the time/place - so
if MIRC is not logged and posted to the mailing
list - not everyone has equal access and or input
to the information which was passed and
discussed.
-Third, most votes are done "CLOSED" - Should all
the WI CCs know HOW each CC voted and/or WHO
voted and did not vote? Closed voting can give
the voter a the sense of safety, equality, and
privacy in the voting system. Open voting can
raise a whole lot of issues, such as pressure to
vote, cohersion on who to vote for. While there
are many CCs who feel comfortable to voice
opinion - there are just as many (or more) who do
not - Should they be forced to do so in a public
forum to get their opinion to "count"?
Fourth - As it was pointed out quite recently,
the Mailing List sometimes promotes an US against
THEM attitude - vice a this is an idea/concept
which needs to be discussed, let's share and come
to some consensus as a collective group. How can
we collectively promote a good dialogue of
discussing - yet do not come across as
"attacking" our fellow CC? Or become defensive
when our ideas are opposed?
Finally - What are our alternatives, if any???
Should alternate solutions be considered -
something like the YAHOO.groups - where polls can
be set up, so that issues can be addressed with a
YES/NO vote and done in a CLOSED forum. Or get an
outside mediator who can post emails to the
Mailing List for consideration without disclosing
the identity of the CC???
Guess I am sorta thinking out loud and wondering
if anyone else has similiar concerns???
R/S MAK
--- WIGEN-D-request(a)rootsweb.com wrote:
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