board77

Friends,

We are now opening the discussion and ratification of Our Key Principles. They are given below, and can be read in context here, 1st post: Actual Document

We will discuss from Mon Jun 6 ~5:00pm GMT to Thur Jun 16 ~5:00pm GMT. We will vote from Thur June 16 ~5:00pm GMT to Sun Jun 26 11:59pm GMT. Ratification requires a quorum of at least 39 votes and a super-majority of at least 2/3 of the votes.

The purpose of the discussion is to uncover controversial items and remove them before voting. Please speak freely. Thanks, Jn.

Key Principles

Free Exchange of Ideas: All forms of self-expression are welcome at board77. In our discussion forums we encourage conversation that is vibrant and thoughtful, sometimes deeply personal, opinionated, or humorous and lighthearted. In our collaborative writing forum we value cooperation and support for one another’s creativity. We encourage the exchange of views on the whole spectrum of subjects that pique our curiosity in our daily lives.

Diversity: We pride ourselves on having an international membership that is diverse in culture, gender, age and interests. We are tolerant toward other viewpoints and opinions without hesitating to express our own. We show appreciation for the differing skills, language abilities and life experiences that our members bring to the board. We listen to one another, make good-faith efforts to understand one another, and we treat one another respectfully at all times.

Fellowship: Our interactions on board77 demonstrate that fellowship transcends agreement on specific issues, and actually flourishes because of the different perspectives we bring to a discussion. The founders of the board met through a shared love for the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, and we remain mindful of the spirit of fellowship exemplified by Tolkien's Middle-earth, and the inspiration that world brings to so many who encounter it. We strive to keep this ideal of fellowship alive and available to the community at large with opportunities for old friendships to deepen and for new ones to begin.

Transparency: The atmosphere of fairness required to foster the free exchange of ideas requires that judgment regarding board behavior be the shared responsibility of all members. Administration and enforcement of by-laws is done as fairly and openly as possible. We see value in exercising power and dealing with challenges publicly, rather than behind the scenes, because this safeguards against the undermining of our principles by privately-made decisions. This approach requires courage and trustworthiness from our members, and a willingness to be frank and forthright in our dealings with one another.

Self-Governance: The members of Board77 believe that externally imposed and enforced rules can stifle free expression; our solution is to leave responsibility for governance in the hands of the members. No member of board77 is more important than any other member, and no single member or group of members ever holds absolute power. We are all responsible for participating in board governance and we are all accountable for our own actions.

THIS VOTE WILL REMAIN OPEN until Sunday, June 26, 11:59 pm GMT

I find it very interesting that there has been so much talk about the "Mission Statement" and nary a word about these Key Principles. And yet, to me, these are equally important. When the Mission Statement is read in conjunction with these Key Principles, I think everything becomes that much clearer.

I just pointed them out in the Mission Statement thread V.

Thanks, Eru.

But Darling V, what's there to discuss? For that matter, how can one discuss anything without making suggestions?

I think the commitee has nailed the list of values. Personally, I find the definitions superflous. In the Jury Room, I saw Idylle's one-sentence list, which I felt worked perfectly fine. IMHO, a simple list of values would've been best, but the current version achieves the same thing, since I suspect that most casual readers would just glance at the highlithted terms.

Edited for grammar

No discussion or disagreement from me.

These are absolutely perfect!

Utopian.

Well done! all of you hard-working committee members.
Very well done.

Hi, Sass!



VMan, with the exception of the third paragraph, second sentence, where I believe the word "spirit" should be swapped for the word "feeling", and, of course, the first paragraph, third sentence, where the word "pique" is just too cute, and the fourth paragraph, where the comma after "scenes" could be replaced by a semicolon and the word "because" could be removed, it's basically okay.






Just kidding, of course.



I will not pick nits here. This is really good, guys. You have created something really valuable, and I for one am grateful for your efforts.

Sheesh, Anth, I was about to haul out the Salmon, then realized it would be undemocratic and counter to our Key Principles and the free exchange of ideas (even bad ones).

Maybe all this mutual respect stuff is overrated.

Darest thou imply that the semicolon after scenes is a bad idea?



more

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.

.

*tries to restrain self*

*checks Key Principles list again*

*is momentarily moved by the principle of fellowship*

*rereads Primmy Dahling's post*

*is overcome*

I was concerned, Anthy, when I saw you had posted in this thread, that you would want the name changed from Key Principles to Key West.

BTW, I haven’t welcomed you back yet, so,

Welcome back. You look great in that picture.

Quote:

I was concerned, Anthy, when I saw you had posted in this thread, that you would want the name changed from Key Principles to Key West.

:cheers

Shall we start a poll?



And thank you, buddy. Blurry long distance shots are soooo the way to go!

[quote="Frelga"]But Darling V, what's there to discuss? For that matter, how can one discuss anything without making suggestions?

Suggestions are always welcome. If enough people agree and other people don't have major objections, they may even be implemented.

But I don't think the wording of these is quite as crucial as the mission statement.

The key principles themselves are fine with me. I don't think we need those paragraphs following them, but they aren't enough to make me vote it down.

We can vote now Voted

_______________
Resident witchâ„¢

Voted too.

Voted three.

Voted four yes.

(Ouch, bad pun. )

No emails that the vote has started this time?

Edit: there is a mail - got it just now!

(Too late though - I already voted everywhere )

Voted. Errr... five?

Well done, Anthy!
(This is actually a counting contest, you know! First one to lose count gets to pay a forfeit! )

FIVEfeit!


This is a FUN game...