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Steward Procedures

(Drafted by Alyaza, minor edits by Tenna)

Steward Expectations

  • Some time available to at least read proposals and provide any input you feel is necessary.
    • Having time to skim chats would also be useful. Efforts will be made to synthesize or copy over any important points to a more accessible venue.
  • The willingness to speak up, even if you may be the only one who will for an issue you feel needs addressing.
    • The point of a consensus system is to incorporate everyone's concerns - otherwise, there's no sense in it versus regular voting.
  • An openness to changing your mind when others give feedback.
  • The willingness to sometimes make compromises, especially about ideas you feel attached to, without feeling attacked or taking it personally.
  • The ability to handle and regulate some level of frustration.
    • It is likely at least some conversations in the process will be painful, irritating, frustrating, or long-winded, and this will grate on you.
  • The ability to work in good faith with people, even if you may not personally like them.

Principles of the Decision-Making Process

Zapatista principles of "good government" that are the basis of everything else so far:

  • to serve others not oneself;
  • to represent not supplant;
  • to build not destroy;
  • to obey not command;
  • to propose not impose;
  • to convince not defeat;
  • to go below (listen to the people we are building this for) not above (towards the accumulation of our own power as a group)

This is with the ultimate goal of working for the survival of the collective Website League, and fulfilling any responsibilities that are defined by communities in the League.

Adding Stewards

There are three ways to become a steward:

  • A person (or group of people) apply to start a new node, and voluntarily ask to become a steward.
    • This will require vetting the node itself (for adhering to our requirements), and each member of staff that wants to be a steward.
  • Staff of an existing node nominate a new staff member to become a steward, or a staff member asks to become a steward.
    • This will require vetting the individual.
  • A steward nominates a new member based on other criteria.

Consensus will be sought on all additions to the group, regardless of the method of joining; if no consensus is reached, they will not be added.

If no consensus can be reached, but the situation is deemed extraordinary (such as a crisis or emergency), a vote may be taken instead. This would require a 2/3rds majority to pass, and any person(s) added by vote must eventually go through the typical process to remain a steward.

Last edited Friday, November 8th, 2024 03:10:08 UTC

This proposal was brought to a vote on September 21st, 2024. It passed with 17 endorsements, 1 non-objections, 0 minor objections, 0 stand asides, 0 major objections, and 1 abstain.

Minor edits have been made by Tenna to reflect a change from "decision-making group" to "stewards", as well as minor changes to structure. No changes to facts/mechanical process have been made.

Viviridian added a hyperlink to a page with instructions on how to seek consensus on Loomio.

Original Document: Google Docs: Proposal 4 (Procedures of the DMG)

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