Re: [boost] Boost Evolution

Subject: Re: [boost] Boost Evolution
From: Niall Douglas (s_sourceforge_at_[hidden])
Date: 2016-05-19 07:37:36

On 19 May 2016 at 4:32, Rob Stewart wrote:

> >bad for insiders), the steering committee somehow came to the conclusion
> >that their job wasn't to steer.
> 
> The SC's job, from the beginning, was to represent the community when
> necessary, which applies particularly to finances, to respond to
> requests for action or policy, and to make decisions for the community
> when needed for reasonable progress and consensus is elusive. It was
> definitely not formed as a governmental body directing the community. 

It's funny to see the same arguments rehearsed here again. Slightly 
different people, otherwise same arguments.

I'm going to disagree with your assertion though Rob. Looking through 
the original slides proposing the SC, it seems like a larger 
leadership role was anticipated. Dave expressed to me at the time of 
its creation that it was to become the new leadership, because he was 
getting tired of doing the never ending charge and it was becoming 
legally tricky for individuals to sign things for an org without 
having some sort of board. That original vision for the SC has since 
morphed into an administrative role for the SC *through the active 
choice of the SC* to disavow proactive leadership, but that's not 
your assertion here. The choice to not be proactive happened *after* 
the SC's creation, it was not explicitly planned to be totally hands 
off from the beginning.

You may remember I proposed some time ago for the Steering Committee 
to be renamed to the "Board of Trustees" as that accurately describes 
your chosen function. That would open the door for the creation of an 
actual Steering Committee which does Steering.

Unfortunately you all voted that proposal down, so it didn't happen.

> > Either the steering committee will step up
> >to protect the original vision of Boost, or the vision of Boost will
> >change to serve the insiders.
> 
> I don't know what you think the SC should be doing, but hasn't done, to
> "Make Boost Great Again," to borrow a current, but vague, campaign
> slogan. 

I'd really like David to send a formal proposal to boost-steering 
with a specific plan please. That forces you to explicitly refuse to 
act again, and maybe if we keep seeing the same formal proposal being 
made every year it'll finally get the message through to you that you 
need to stop sitting on your hands. David - you may find searching 
the previous posts to boost-steering about leadership of use when 
crafting your formal proposal.

Also David, if you decide to do this, feel free to run any such 
proposal past me beforehand. I can probably loop in a few others with 
an interest in this topic. I've given up on leading out any charges 
on this stuff after never ending recalcitrance and refusal to 
consider change, but I'm happy to assist you or anyone else in 
pushing for real change. I'd still much rather change from within 
than an inevitable eventual hostile fork.

Niall

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