From merope@Radix.Net Wed Apr 7 09:02:42 1999
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 09:02:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
To: usgw_all@listbot.com
Subject: Daily Board Show Special Report
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The squeaky wheel gets the grease....its A Daily Board Show Special
Report!
*warning* contains editorial content. Read at your own risk!
News From the Front Corner: A Roving Reporter writes that a vote has been
called on Motion 99-8 and three Board members have voted thus far. [I
believe this is the amended version of the motion which would appoint
Linda Lewis as representative for the Tombstone Project; its not clear to
me whether the version of the motion that is being voted includes the
Archives representative replacement as well. The most recently amended
version removes the Archives representative position, with the suggestion
that motion 99-7 be "untabled" and voted on after Motion 99-8 is
completed.]
At least one Board member is soliciting input from State Coordinators on
her regional list on what her vote should be on this motion. Linda Lewis,
in her VA SC hat, has urged her representative to support her appointment.
No word yet whether CC input is desired on this issue.
As posted yesterday to the SE/MA regional list and forwarded to the
USGW-CC-L list, at least one Board member is appearing a little frustrated
with his colleagues' inability to handle quickly what has heretofor been a
simple task --appointing replacement Board members. He writes, "Come on
people, dragging this out is not helping anyone. Either Linda will
represent the Tombstone Project or she won't. Your decision is not going
to get any easier." [Amen.]
The Gathering Gloom Corner: Rootsweb's archives problem is making waves
among its paying customers. Its reported that several listowners have
asked about the lack of archives since approximately March 27th and have
been told that RW is "working on it". The new threaded archives system
has also been affected [an apparently unrelated problem], although RW was
loath to recognize it until a listowner informed them that he had several
days worth of digests that were not appearing in his archives. Some
customers have found the RW response to be less than forthcoming. Writes
one: "... we are all grown up and intelligent people, who would understand
if told that "we are working on the problem", but not to admit that there
exists one, this is beyond me. This problem apparently started around the
23 of March and has not been handled. Well, I for one would like to be
kept informed of problems, so we can tell our subscribers what to do."
It is interesting how even paying customers with legitimate concerns about
RW's service or lack thereof feel the need to preface even the mildest
complaint with the assurances that they are not meaning to cause trouble
and they love RW. The above author is careful to say he doesn't want to
be seen as a troublemaker and signs himself as a "sponsor and RW
supporter". He is almost immediately chastised by a fellow listowner and
told not to roil the waters. [waiting 11 days to voice concerns about lack
of list archives hardly seems like jumping the gun, but we all know what
happens to people who complain about RW.]
Turning Over a Rock Corner: We hear through the grapevine that RW is in
Top Secret negotiations with an unnamed Web page software editor on a Very
Secret Project [although apparently no so secret as to prevent Brian from
boasting about it on an open channel]. Something about server extensions.
It's not Front Page, because Microsoft is not forthcoming with their
source code and doesn't keep current with Linux. But, with Brain's usual
gift for hyperbole, we are all assured, "It's like Front Page on
steroids." We wait with bated breath.
But For The Grace of God Corner: Terry Davis, one of our ASCs [although I
couldn't tell you for which state] and her family lost everything in the
tornado that touched down in Louisiana last week. Some USGW folks are
helping to pull together some help for her and her family; contact Ellen
Pack (MS) or Megan Zurawicz (MO).
"We like a man to come right out and say what he thinks--if we agree with
him."
---Mark Twain
This has been a Daily Board Show Special Report
-Teresa Lindquist
merope@radix.net
-----------------
Daily Board Show, (c) 1999 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved
From merope@Radix.Net Thu Apr 8 13:10:51 1999
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 13:10:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
Reply-To: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
To: usgw_all@listbot.com
Subject: Daily Board Show
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Back in black...its Your Daily Board Show!
*warning* contains editorial content. Read at your own risk!
Tuesday 6 April 1999:
The NC calls for a vote on this version of 99-8: "And Whereas the
Tombstone Project has submitted the name of Linda Lewis to be their Board
Representative and whereas I believe that although at times it may seem
otherwise, Linda Lewis does have the best interests of the project at
heart, I further move to appoint Linda Lewis as the Tombstone
Representative."
Three members vote "aye" on Motion 99-8.
Big News Corner: It seems that the Board will be losing another member.
As inadvertently related on the USGW-CC-L mail list yesterday, serial
resigner Beth Wills is apparently going to leave the Board. Although Beth
herself has not replied to email asking if this is indeed the case [she
only talks to me when she wants to chastise me, it seems], it has been
substantiated by more than one source at this time. Also she has
apparently discussed this on her Michigan state mailing list.
Elect My Dog Corner: In order to explain why she just can't blindly vote
for Linda Lewis for Tombstone Rep, one Board member explains, "Now what if
the motion read: And Whereas the [XXXXX] Project has submitted the name of
[Adolph Hitler] to be their Board Representative and whereas I
believe that although at times it may seem otherwise, [Adolph Hitler]
does have the best interests of the project at heart, I further move to
appoint [Adolph Hitler] as the [XXXXX] Representative. Would you still
vote the same?" [Well, if you knew you were voting for Hitler, then this
would be an issue. But since you're not voting for Hitler, and you know
it, invoking such an extreme example is a bit disingenuous, don't you
think? Take it to its logical conclusion...suppose everyone whose advice
you ask tells you to vote for Hitler. Would you still do it? No? Yes?
Linda is indeed a controversial figure, but it should be possible
to discuss her suitability for office without raising the spectre of
Adolph Hitler.]
Into the Void Corner: Since you're reading the DBS, you've probably
figured out that the RW Archives are apparently archiving again.
Unfortunately it appears that posts to mailing lists between approximately
March 26 and April 6 are *poof* gone for good. While the loss of
the official records of the meetings of the Advisory Board of the USGenWeb
Project would be of little concern to most, I am sure, this loss of 12
days worth of mail also apparently includes such popular powerhouses as
ROOTS-L. [we won't dwell overlong on the fact that RW was informed of
this problem on April 4 --and _should_ have been aware of it much
earlier than that-- but apparently chose to discount it because of
the source. *shrug*]
"The only way a reporter should look at a politician is down."
---H.L. Mencken
This has been your Daily Board Show.
-Teresa Lindquist
merope@radix.net
-----------------
Daily Board Show, (c) 1999 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved.
From merope@Radix.Net Fri Apr 9 08:46:17 1999
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 08:46:16 -0400 (EDT)
From: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
Reply-To: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
To: usgw_all@listbot.com
Subject: Daily Board Show
Message-ID: <Pine.SV4.3.96.990409061231.22187A-100000@saltmine.radix.net>
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Beachward bound...its Your Daily Board Show!
*warning* contains editorial content. Read at your own risk!
Wednesday 7 April 1999:
One more Board member votes "aye" on Motion 99-8, which will appoint Linda
Lewis as Tombstone Project representative.
Old News Corner: Since some of the missing messages posted during RW's
archives downtime are starting to appear, I'll recap briefly some of the
business:
On Apr 1, the NC called for discussion on the amended Motion 99-8. Some
members doesn't like "packing so much" into one motion; another doesn't
mind and prefers completing the business swiftly. On Apr 2, the author of
the original motion amends it to drop the Archives representative, but
requests reactivating Motion 99-7. This amendment is seconded, and the
group breaks for Easter.
On Apr 1, a Board member posts a "personal statement" that the Board is
not "maliciously" discussing resolution of the census issues behind
anyone's back, and that many Board members rightfully have qualms about
appointing someone who "is "snubbing their nose" at the strongly
worded recommendation issued in the Official Statement by the
Board regarding the Census issue." The board member also takes exception
to the NC's message [reported previously] to the Tombstone project,
stating, "This statement was not exactly the truth, and not fair to the
rest of the board members, nor to the people on the receiving end of this
statement. A decision made by the board is done by a vote held in
public, and no vote had been asked for nor held regarding this
situation."
On Apr 2, Beth Wills resigned from the Board for the second or third time,
posting the following: "I no longer have the time, energy nor inclination
to sit back and watch our NC play word games. It doesn't take a rocket
scientist to see that our leader's support lies not with the board as a
group, but with individuals. While it is apparent that while some
individuals prefer to ignore board directives, Mr. Stowell stands back and
plays word games rather than addressing the issue or taking a stand. The
thinly veiled apology that was due to board was just one more sampling of
the word play that I have been observing over the past few months. Once
again, the board, as a group, have been made to look like a bunch of
fools. And the best part is that, it didn't take an uninformed
non-member of the board to do it." [It never has.] She goes on to
wish the rest of the Board members well and good luck in the remainder of
their terms. [A sad situation. A NC they don't like and can't control.
Guess quitting is the only solution. We'll just point out briefly that
the NC is elected project-wide; the only people whose support he needs to
be concerned about are his constituents.]
Happening Elsewhere Corner: Despite the invoking of the name of Adolph
Hitler, Linda Lewis seems to be the solid choice for tombstone rep by the
members of the SE regional mailing list. As one astute member of that
list notes, "No one has presented any just cause why the Tombstone
Project's choice should not be approved by the Board. I should think that
their choice should be approved UNLESS there are *extreme* circumstances
... it does appear that it all boils down to a personality conflict where
in one or more board members and Linda conflict and nothing more. This is
not, in my opinion, cause to reject the wishes of the Tombstone Project."
Sun, Sand and Surf Corner: The DBS staff will be taking a few days R&R at
the beach. There may or may not be a DBS the next couple of days,
depending on if it rains. <g>
"We like a man to come right out and say what he thinks--if we agree with
him."
---Mark Twain
This has been your Daily Board Show.
-Teresa Lindquist
merope@radix.net
--------------
Daily Board Show, (c) 1999 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved.
From merope@Radix.Net Fri Apr 9 13:05:37 1999
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 13:05:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
To: usgw_all@listbot.com
Subject: News Flash!
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It has been conveyed to me by a most impeccable source that Linda Lewis
has NOT been appointed to the Board as representative of the Tombstone
Project.
-Teresa
merope@radix.net
From merope@Radix.Net Fri Apr 9 13:16:35 1999
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 13:16:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
Reply-To: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
To: usgw_all@listbot.com
Subject: News Flash, part 2
Message-ID: <Pine.SV4.3.96.990409130609.28886B-100000@saltmine.radix.net>
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Sorry, hit the 'send' key a bit too soon...
Motion 99-8, to appoint Linda Lewis as representative of the Tombstone
project, has been declared defeated by the NC. With more than 65 hours
passed since the call for vote was put out, four members had voted "aye"
and 5 members had "abstained by default" [they had talked about the motion
but for reasons unknown had not voted]. The remaining members had also
not voted.
The NC's action was taken in response to a member of Board II's request
that the motion be declared failed for lack of a quorum.
More evidence of the Board's dedication to "bottom up" management, no
doubt. If I were the Tombstone Project, I'd refuse to send them any other
name and refuse to accept whoever else they appoint. But that's just
me...
-Teresa
merope@radix.net
From merope@Radix.Net Sun Apr 11 20:52:33 1999
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 20:52:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
Reply-To: merope <merope@Radix.Net>
To: usgw_all@listbot.com
Subject: Daily Board Show
Message-ID: <Pine.SV4.3.96.990411193524.11701A-100000@saltmine.radix.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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When the cat's away...its Your Daily Board Show!
*warning* you know this contains editorial content. Read at your own
risk!
Thursday 8 April 1999
A Board member requests: "It has now been in excess of 65 hours since
voting began on Motion 99-8. I respectfully suggest this Motion has
failed to reach a quorum and should be declared failed."
Another Board member notes, "It appears to me that those of you not
voting, are in fact voting "no". If so, why not make it official. It is
just a vote, yes or no. [Actually, we've heard sub-rosa that those Board
members who did not vote did so in order to force the motion to fail for
lack of quorum. Very brave, indeed.]
The same board member who asked that Motion 99-8 be declared failed, posts
a Point of Order: "This Board has established precedent of a 48 hour
voting period for all motions. This motion has greatly exceeded the 48
hours and should be declared failed."
A roll call vote is requested; this call is supported. Another Board
member says she will wait to vote for the roll call to be done. She had
not previously voted due to ISP trouble.
Friday 9 April 1999:
The NC posts a note informing the Board he has resubbed Pam Reid back to
the Board list, as Tombstone rep. Her resignation was never voted on and
she sent him the following note: "This is to inform you that I have
decided to withdraw my resignation from the Advisory Board. I don't
believe that my resignation was ever accepted, so this withdrawal should
be legal."
As reported Friday, the NC declares motion 99-8 failed for lack of a
quorum, with four members voting aye, and the rest failing to vote at all.
The NC also posts that he'll inform Linda Lewis of the Board's rejection
of her as the Tombstone rep.
A Board member posts an apology to her constituents for failing to vote;
she was quite ill. [This was posted after one of her constituents made a
formal complaint against her to the Board.]
Pam Reid is welcomed enthusiastically back to the Board.
Well, here's a big suprise: Serial resigner Beth Wills has rescinded her
resignation to the Board [those in the know claim this is resignation
number 5 for Ms. Wills, seems she just can't let go, although she sure
appears to like storming out in a huff.] Reasons for remaining on the
Board include this: "I feel that my vote on important issues is necessary
to keep this project from falling into the hands of a small group of
people whose agenda remains, as of yet, unknown." [Ah yes, the
Conspiracy.] Also, she "will not tolerate any more snide remarks about
the board to any of the lists from other members of the board," and she
refuses "to be treated like a two-year old." [Fill in the obvious
suggestion here.]
Beth also posts the following "helpful" advice to the NC: "we can do
without the snide commentary. This was rude and uncalled for. Stop
treating the other people on this board like idiots and you might be able
to get together a quorum for a vote." [Name calling and threats...looks
like the Board is back to its old self. You can imagine what the secret
list is like if they are talking this way to each other in public.]
Pam Reid posts a message asking the group to update her. The web page
hasn't been updated since the end of February.
Ain't Misbehavin' Corner: Rootsweb has announced that the problem with the
mailing list archives is fixed and that all unarchived posts were added to
the indexer. Good job!
Off to watch the X-files, but they can't possibly be as weird as the
Board...
This has been your Daily Board Show.
-Teresa Lindquist
merope@radix.net
--------------------
Daily Board Show, (c) 1999 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved.