(3861) Sun 9 Jun 02 19:12 By: Bob Short To: All Re: P4 draft text St: ----------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:105/38.0 c2fbddab @PID: CDRMAIL v1.22FD Part 1 of 2 This file contains extracted text from the Policy 4 amendment proposal as submitted by Bob Short, Dale Shipp, et al, referencing the sections to be amended (denotated with preceding **). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Remove the following sentence (There are no differences between this version and 4.06 except the statement above.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.3.1 FidoNews FidoNews is a weekly newsletter distributed in electronic form throughout the network. It is an important medium by which FidoNet sysops communicate with each other. FidoNews provides a sense of being a community of people with common interests. Accordingly, sysops and users are encouraged to contribute to FidoNews. Contributions are submitted to node 1:1/1; a file describing the format to be used is available from 1:1/1 and many other systems. Should be changed to: 1.3.1 FidoNews FidoNews is a weekly newsletter distributed in electronic form throughout the network. It is an important medium by which FidoNet sysops communicate with each other. FidoNews provides a sense of being a community of people with common interests. Accordingly, sysops and users are encouraged to both read and contribute to FidoNews. Contributions may be submitted to the FidoNews Editor through the contact method(s) listed at the beginning of each issue. A file which describes the current format for submissions is available from the same address(es), and from many other FidoNet systems. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.1 Initiation A referendum on policy modification is invoked when a majority of the FidoNet Regional Coordinators inform the International Coordinator that they wish to consider a proposed new version of Policy. **Be amended as follows: 8.1 Initiation A referendum on policy modification is initiated when at least 5% of eligible voters, as defined in section 8.3, inform the International Coordinator that they wish to propose a new version of Policy. The International Coordinator will then inform all Coordinators of the request. The means of notification is via netmail to the Zone Coordinators, who must then forward it down to the Regional Coordinators, and they to their Network Coordinators. Notice is also sent via the International Coordinator to the FidoNews Editor to include in the next weekly issue. Eligible voters will have two weeks from the date the request is published in the FidoNews to respond to the International Coordinator. A vote is required when a majority of the responding Coordina- tors reply that they agree to consider a new amendment or version of Policy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.2 Announcement and Results Notification Proposed changes to Policy are distributed using the same structure which is used to distribute nodelist difference files and FidoNews. Results and announcements related to the referendum are distributed by the coordinator structure as a part of the weekly nodelist difference file. The Interna- tional Coordinator provides copies to the editor of FidoNews for inclusion there, although the official announcement and voting dates are tied to nodelist distributions. If it is adopted, the International Coordinator sets the effective date for a new policy through announcement in the weekly nodelist difference file. The effective date will be not more than one month after the close of balloting. **Be amended as follows: 8.2 Announcement and Results Notification Proposed changes to Policy are distributed using the same structure used to distribute the weekly nodelist difference files and FidoNews. Announcements, proposals and results related to the referendum and balloting are distributed by the Coordinator structure as a part of the weekly nodelist difference file. The International Coordinator provides copies to the editor of FidoNews for inclusion there, although the official announcement and voting dates are tied to nodelist distributions. If it is adopted, the International Coordinator sets the effective date for a new policy through announcements in the weekly nodelist difference files and in the next issue of FidoNews. The effective date will be not more than one month after the close of balloting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.3 Eligibility to Vote Each member of the FidoNet coordinator structure at and above Network Coordi- nator is entitled to one vote. (Hub coordinators do not vote.) In the case of the position changing hands during the balloting process, either the incumbent or the new coordinator may vote, but not both. If a person holds more than one coordinator position, they still receive only one vote. Network coordinators are expected to assess the opinions of the members of their network, and to vote accordingly. A formal election is not necessary, but the network coordinator must inform the net of the issues and solicit input. The network coordinator functions as the representative of the rank and file members of FidoNet. **Be amended as follows: 8.3 Eligibility to Vote Each member of the FidoNet coordinator structure at and above Network Coordi- nator is entitled to one vote. (Echomail Coordinators do not vote.) In the case of a coordinator position changing hands during the balloting process, the outgoing incumbent votes. If the outgoing coordinator can not cast the vote for any reason, the new coordinator does so, according to the consensus arrived at by the previous coordinator. Persons holding more than one coordinator position still receive only one vote, casting their ballot as coordinator of the region or net with the greatest number of nodes. Network coordinators are required to assess the opinions of the members of their network, as are Regional Coordinators of their Independent members, and vote accordingly. A formal election is not necessary, but Coordinators must inform their members of the proposed change(s) and solicit their input. The Network and Regional Coordinators function as the representatives of the rank and file members of FidoNet. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of part one... Bob --- GEcho 1.00 @SEEN-BY: 24/905 240/2188 280/28 5003 5555 423/81 480/112 774/605 2411/413 @SEEN-BY: 2432/0 200 201 215 2443/1181 1601 2450/510 2476/418 @PATH: 105/38 360 106/2000 18/500 774/605 2432/200 280/5003 5555 * Origin: BS BBS - Get yer BS here... (1:105/38) ----------------------------------------------------------------- (3862) Sun 9 Jun 02 19:17 By: Bob Short To: All Re: P4 draft text (2) St: ----------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:105/38.0 c2fbda96 @PID: CDRMAIL v1.22FD Part 2 of 2 This file contains extracted text from the Policy 4 amendment proposal as submitted by Bob Short, Dale Shipp, et al, referencing the sections to be amended (denotated with preceding **). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.4 Voting Mechanism The actual voting mechanism, including whether the ballot is secret and how the ballots are to be collected, verified, and counted, is left to the discretion of the International Coordinator. Ideally, ballot collection should be by some secure message system, conducted over FidoNet itself. In order to provide a discussion period, the announcement of any ballot must be made at least two weeks before the date of voting commencement. The balloting period must be at least two weeks. **Be amended as follows: 8.4 Voting Mechanism The actual voting mechanism, including how the ballots are to be collected, verified, and counted, is left to the discretion of the International Coordi- nator. Ideally, ballot collection should primarily be by a secure message system, conducted over FidoNet itself, but must be publicly announced, and voting made available in an open and internationally available echomail conference. The echo tag, and moderator of this conference, is left to the discretion of the International Coordinator. In order to provide a discussion period, the announcement of any ballot must be made at least two weeks before the date of voting commencement. The balloting period must be at least 21 calendar days. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.5 Voting on a whole Policy Document Given that Policy is intertwined and self referencing, a relatively simple change may require several alterations of the document. In order to simplify the process, balloting is done on choices between whole documents, rather than individual amendments. In the simplest case, this means voting yea or nay to a new document. If a number of alternatives are to be considered, they must be presented as whole documents, from which one is chosen. **Be amended as follows: 8.5 Voting as individual ballots 8.5.1 In order to ensure clarity, an amendment proposal must include provisions amending all relevant sections and subsections. If it does not, it cannot be placed on a ballot. 8.5.2 Despite 8.5.1, if a ratified amendment conflicts with an existing section, the new provision shall be the operative provision. 8.5.3 Ballots are voted on individually although more than one ballot may be presented for a vote in a given voting period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.6 Decision of vote A Policy amendment is considered in force if, at the end of the balloting period, it has received a majority of the votes cast. For example, if there were 350 eligible voters, 100 of which cast a vote, then at least 51 affirma- tive votes would be required to declare the amendment in force. In the case of multiple policy changes which are considered on the same ballot, a version must receive more than 50% of the votes cast to be consid- ered ratified. "Abstain" is a valid vote in this case, effectively being a vote for not changing the current policy as it simply increases the number of votes required to ratify the proposed change. **Be amended as follows: 8.6 Decision of vote A Policy amendment is considered in force if, at the end of the balloting period, it has received a majority of the eligible votes cast. For example, if there are 100 eligible votes cast, then at least 51 affirmative votes would be required to declare the amendment in force. (repealing the second paragraph.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of part 2 Bob --- GEcho 1.00 @SEEN-BY: 24/905 240/2188 280/28 5003 5555 423/81 480/112 774/605 2411/413 @SEEN-BY: 2432/0 200 201 215 2443/1181 1601 2450/510 2476/418 @PATH: 105/38 360 106/2000 18/500 774/605 2432/200 280/5003 5555 * Origin: BS BBS - Get yer BS here... (1:105/38)