TalkBoard Topics - Proposed recommend to Amend TB Guidelines

In the interest of the spirit of a post I made in the TB forum a few days ago, the following is a post I made in the private TalkBoard forum:

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Based on tom911's question & my response here - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/16307110-post56.html - I'd like to make the following recommendations to change the TalkBoard Guidelines:

Change section 4.D.i., currently:

D. Public Notice Procedures
i. Once a motion has been put before TalkBoard for a vote the Vice President/Secretary shall post a new thread in the public TalkBoard Topics forum announcing the vote along with the voting end date as quickly as feasible.

to a revised section 4.D.i.:

D. Public Notice Procedures
i. Once a motion has been put before TalkBoard for a vote the Vice President/Secretary shall post a new thread in the public TalkBoard Topics forum announcing the vote along with the voting end date as quickly as feasible. Once that thread is posted, the TalkBoard Vice President/Secretary will submit a request to the FlyerTalk Host or representative to create an site-wide announcment of the vote with a link to the discussion/voting thread in the TalkBoard Topics Forum. The Announcement will be available until either voting is completed and a decision is made or the voting period ends
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I'd like to invite any commentary or thoughts - I feel like this is a no-brainer. (note - this is not a motion at this time - it's a suggestion that can be developed).

Intriguing idea.

me likey!

Excellent suggestion, but be prepared for opposition from the Moderators who believe that only they should be able to originate "notices" or "announcements".

Excellent suggestion, but be prepared for opposition from the Moderators who believe that only they should be able to originate "notices" or "announcements".

Curious why you think that? I certainly have no objections to the proposal.

Curious why you think that? I certainly have no objections to the proposal.

Then you obviously aren't one of the Moderators who think that way! :)

Some of your colleagues definitively are though...

Then you obviously aren't one of the Moderators who think that way! :)

Some of your colleagues definitively are though...

Can you actually point to instances where this has been said?

To get back to OP's proposal I think it makes abundant sense and wish it well as effective communication should always be worth consideration.

Here is another moderator who has no problem with this proposal.

I am all for anything that will increase general membership awareness of and participation in Talkboard discussions/debates/votes.

me likey!And me likey as well ^

I don't get the moderator comment since it's the CD or IB who make sitewide announcements, not individual moderators. Also it's a TB item on TB communicating with members so has nothing to do w/ mods. But some folk do like to bring up those black helicopters ;) :p :D

I'm supportive of this since I think it willl increase general membership awareness of and participation in Talkboard discussions/debates/votes. Well hopefully anyway!

Cheers.

I'd like to see the motion amended to preclude Talk Board members from voting immediately. How about a waiting period of at least 7 days to hear member comments and consider viewpoints that might not have been raised on the private Talk Board forum? Doesn't make much sense to solicit member input in a voting thread if you're in a rush to vote. Alternatively, you could have a discussion thread for a fixed period (7 days?) before starting the voting thread/announcement to give members a chance to let Talk Board members know how they feel on the topic.

I'm glad to hear the Talk Board is considering better communication with the membership by posting voting announcements across all forums. This is a very positive step.

Tom in Rome

I'd like to see the motion amended to preclude Talk Board members from voting immediately. How about a waiting period of at least 7 days to hear member comments and consider viewpoints that might not have been raised on the private Talk Board forum? Doesn't make much sense to solicit member input in a voting thread if you're in a rush to vote. Alternatively, you could have a discussion thread for a fixed period (7 days?) before starting the voting thread/announcement to give members a chance to let Talk Board members know how they feel on the topic.

I'm glad to hear the Talk Board is considering better communication with the membership by posting voting announcements across all forums. This is a very positive step.

Tom in Rome

I think it's good to think about things before going in to vote - however, some things are up for dicussion for a month or two before they go to vote. Our own internal TB policies require that something that is up for vote must be an active internal or external conversation for at least 48 hours before a motion can be made and seconded. That's a waiting period designed to allow for some thought. If someone is passionate about something or if they want to start the voting off, then that's their right - I wouldn't want to legistlate that & hold up the process even longer if it's not necessary. Some votes may require immediate, timely actions.

Personally, my view is different... we vote for the Talkboard members to be our representatives. I trust them to do what they believe is in the best interest of Flyertalk overall. I do not feel I need to be consulted on ever possible motion they are voting on...

I would also not want to see timeframes drawn out by having a week of "comment" before voting can begin... because I would assume the 2 week voting window will still apply. When I was on Talkboard, we had these discussions... but did not want to make the change. We did not want to shorten the 2 week voting window... since many of us travelled and could miss a week without checking in.

At the end of the day, I placed my trust in Talkboard members when I voted for them (or others did). I may not agree with all their perspectives, but I respect their duty to represent my viewpoints when they vote.

One option that could be considered would be to have a "Talkboard" section in the Flyertalk email newsletter that comes out every couple of weeks. Highlight the work the board does... and include links to any discussions.

One option that could be considered would be to have a "Talkboard" section in the Flyertalk email newsletter that comes out every couple of weeks. Highlight the work the board does... and include links to any discussions.

Another excellent idea to improve communications with the members, particularly those that are unaware of a Talk Board forum or the Talk Board.

A year ago when Talk Board solicited input for their annual meeting I did raise the topic of better communication with the membership. SkiAdcock posted publicly that she would support a newsletter once or twice a year, but I can't recall any single Talk Board member offering to support that, and don't know what they've decided, if anything, on the private Talk Board forum. As it's been a year and I haven't seen any newsletters, separately or as part of Talk Mail, maybe the idea got shot down.