Hi,

On Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 10:58 AM, Eric Hellman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 1. There's a point of fact that is still being disputed/discussed: whether formalization
>  is required by potential fiscal sponsor. It's straightforward to answer this before any
>  poll is conducted -  ask the potential fiscal sponsors to weigh in on the question.

DLF/CLIR has responded to this question, and the ALA/LITA section of
the FCIG report also speaks to this question.

Regarding the broader question of whether Code4Lib can seek a fiscal
sponsor as an unincorporated organization, I agree with Jonathan and
others that it is possible. Here's some additional light reading in
support of that point: [1] [2].

> 2. There's been conflicting suggestions as to the voting method. (Approval vs. ranked).
> The scary word "quorum" has been mentioned. There also needs to be some discussion
> and consensus on exactly what the options to be voted on will say. Probably this works
> better with issues in a github repo.

I like Coral's suggestion [3] to hold a single vote that poses several
questions. As Coral mentioned just now, the FCIG is expecting
proposals from OLF and DuraSpace soon and will update the report as
they come in. My initial message this month [4] proposed 14 to 25
August for the vote. Based on the discussion so far, we may well be
able to hold a vote sooner.

I agree with the sentiment that some have expressed that the voting
period should be loudly announced. I also think that it should be at
least two weeks long.

> And I have to point out that right after asserting that Code4Lib "lacks a mechanism for
> calling the question", Andromeda invoked a Code4Lib mechanism for calling the question.

And I would like to emphasize that from my point of view, Code4Lib
already has a governance mechanism, or at least a decision mechanism,
and it's one that I think can suffice for the short- and medium-term.
We have used the Diebold-o-tron over the years to choose conference
hosts and local planning committees, thereby expressing trust that
each LPC would work to put on a good conference and responsibly use
any seed money that was passed on from the previous year.

It's not a far stretch to extend this sort of community vote to cover
the following questions:

* whether to incorporate, adopt a fiscal sponsor, or do nothing (and
in fact, I see no other way that this decision could be made by and on
behalf of the community)
* if need be, identifying and confirming people that the community
trusts to be point on incorporating and/or negotiating with potential
fiscal sponsors
* approving a MOU with a fiscal sponsor or bylaws in case we incorporate
* periodically choosing conference LPCs and/or named contacts with a
fiscal sponsor
* discussing and approving funding requests for Code4Lib activities
outside of the annual conference

In the long run, that sort of "committee-of-the-whole" — or at least
"commitee-of-those-who-care-to-vote" — decision-making may continue to
work well for us, or may need tweaking. In fact, I expect that there
will need to be tweaks and governance discussions (hopefully no more
painful than necessary). There's a difference between a group that has
no assets other than the time and energy that its members care to
spend on it, and a group that has collective control of a bank
account. Not accounting for and discussing that change would be a
mistake — governing ourselves takes work! and money complicates
matters! — but I also think that we don't need to figure out a whole
new governance structure all at once, though we may need to more fully
document how we currently make decisions.

[1] https://www.americanbar.org/publications/blt/2015/05/04_bradrick.html
[2] https://www.probonopartner.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Fiscal-Sponsorships-11.09.pdf
[3] https://lists.clir.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=CODE4LIB;7084ab47.1707
[4] https://lists.clir.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=CODE4LIB;5632c274.1707

Regards,

Galen
-- 
Galen Charlton
Infrastructure and Added Services Manager
Equinox Open Library Initiative
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