Talkboard is considering Term Limits - seeking your input
Dec 13, 2011, 1:04 pm
#31
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Anything missing on either side?
Pros of term limits as proposed:
Overcomes inherent incumbent advantage, ensuring new blood and fresh ideas in each TB seat every four years at the most.
****I don't see it as an inherent incumbent advantage. There are some people whom, after being voted into office, I'm sure folks, after seeing their voting record or participation record, would never vote for again.
Motivates TB members to be active rather than passive stewards of FT as their time to serve is limited.
****How? There have been 1 termers who have been more passive than some several termers.
Prevents a permanent class of TB members from emerging/prevents posters from using long-term service on TB as a CV-builder for their travel blogs, services or other for-profit ventures.
****There was only 1 former TBer who this can be referring to - none other have done this...and FWIW, the members elected that person by a landslide every time.
Ensures that TB members spend at least one year out of five experiencing FT from the perspective of a poster rather than a TB member/poster.
****Don't think this is as necessary for TBers as it is for Moderators.
Ensures that no weirdo masochists use prolonged service on the TB to get their sick jollies.
****Okay...no argument here!
Pros of term limits as proposed:
Overcomes inherent incumbent advantage, ensuring new blood and fresh ideas in each TB seat every four years at the most.
****I don't see it as an inherent incumbent advantage. There are some people whom, after being voted into office, I'm sure folks, after seeing their voting record or participation record, would never vote for again.
Motivates TB members to be active rather than passive stewards of FT as their time to serve is limited.
****How? There have been 1 termers who have been more passive than some several termers.
Prevents a permanent class of TB members from emerging/prevents posters from using long-term service on TB as a CV-builder for their travel blogs, services or other for-profit ventures.
****There was only 1 former TBer who this can be referring to - none other have done this...and FWIW, the members elected that person by a landslide every time.
Ensures that TB members spend at least one year out of five experiencing FT from the perspective of a poster rather than a TB member/poster.
****Don't think this is as necessary for TBers as it is for Moderators.
Ensures that no weirdo masochists use prolonged service on the TB to get their sick jollies.
****Okay...no argument here!
Dec 13, 2011, 1:09 pm
#32
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^^^^^^^^^^^
(And I add my amen to Eastbay1K's comment with love and respect to a few members of the current TalkBoard who I consider good friends.)
Who's to say the fresh blood can't reach out to the crustiest, oldest, and most dedicated former TB members for advice and counsel?
(And I add my amen to Eastbay1K's comment with love and respect to a few members of the current TalkBoard who I consider good friends.)
Who's to say the fresh blood can't reach out to the crustiest, oldest, and most dedicated former TB members for advice and counsel?
Dec 13, 2011, 1:55 pm
#33
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Dec 13, 2011, 3:31 pm
#34
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Voters are typically going to vote for people that are already elected or posters that have been on the boards for a long period of time with high post counts
Strongly in favour of term limits.
You need fresh ideas and new input from a variety of posters.
Strongly in favour of term limits.
You need fresh ideas and new input from a variety of posters.
Dec 13, 2011, 5:45 pm
#35
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How many of the current Talk Board members have held office for two or more terms? Is it more than one?
Dec 13, 2011, 6:28 pm
#36
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In favor of term limits. The proposal seems like a decent number (4 years on, must take 1 off)
We've never had a shortage of candidates to run for TB election. You can't convince me that name recognition doesn't have a major effect on the results.
We've never had a shortage of candidates to run for TB election. You can't convince me that name recognition doesn't have a major effect on the results.
Dec 13, 2011, 6:48 pm
#37
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Thus why I believe no one should serve more than two terms total... taking one year off will not stop them from getting re-elected. So you would probably have someone serving 8 out of 9 years... not much of a term limit... 
Dec 13, 2011, 6:58 pm
#38
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2006 - techgirl, Spiff, Jenbel, bhatnasx
2007 - gleff, Cholula, lucky9876coins, Punki, kokonutz
2008 - Spiff, bhatnasx, skywalkerLAX, nsx
2009 - gleff (replaced by UA_Flyer), lucky9876coins, Markie, B747-437B, Radioman (replaced by jackal)
2010 - Spiff, Cholula, SkiAdcock, bhatnasx
2011 - goalie, kokonutz, nsx, jackal, RichMSN
I couldn't find anything concrete as to who was elected in years prior to 2006 or if anyone prior to the 2009 election was replaced by another member, but perhaps someone else could shed some light on those.
So interestingly enough, all of this year's "winners" would have been eligible if the rule was "two terms on, one year off", and the only ones who would not have been eligible to run again would have been gleff and lucky9876coins if they were to attempt to run. I think the rest of the data speaks for itself.
Dec 13, 2011, 8:11 pm
#39
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Here's one more take - term limits are pretty useless, IMO. Some countries have had term limits for decades - doesn't materially make a difference to the voters; some states have put term limits in place - it merely changes the game, and eliminates people who are invested in the long urn or have contributions to make because of longtime experience.
The people elected are more important than term limits, but the idea of term limits is great window dressing - but that's all it is.
The people elected are more important than term limits, but the idea of term limits is great window dressing - but that's all it is.
Dec 13, 2011, 8:24 pm
#40
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Dec 13, 2011, 10:27 pm
#41
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Term limits isn't a new idea.. As I wade through condo by-laws and community association by-laws, it is actually quite common..
The reasoning is interestingly similar to some of the opinions in this thread.. To give everyone a chance to serve.. but usually, its one term off and on again for another term or up to three, what I've been reading.. this an aside to what FT does..
But I agree with the notion, it only could be window dressing before the inevitable happens.. that worthy directors are re-elected to serve..
The reasoning is interestingly similar to some of the opinions in this thread.. To give everyone a chance to serve.. but usually, its one term off and on again for another term or up to three, what I've been reading.. this an aside to what FT does..
But I agree with the notion, it only could be window dressing before the inevitable happens.. that worthy directors are re-elected to serve..
Dec 14, 2011, 1:50 am
#42
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Spiff and Cholula have both served more than two terms. Cholula took a one year break after his second term and is currently in his third.
I can not tell you how many terms Spiff has served, but he was on TB before I was elected my first time (in 2004) and has remained on since.
I can not tell you how many terms Spiff has served, but he was on TB before I was elected my first time (in 2004) and has remained on since.
Dec 14, 2011, 6:53 am
#43
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I agree with term limits with a break in-between to start the counter running again. I like the idea of having new ideas/positions on the board.
Dec 14, 2011, 7:15 am
#44
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Spiff and Cholula have both served more than two terms. Cholula took a one year break after his second term and is currently in his third.
I can not tell you how many terms Spiff has served, but he was on TB before I was elected my first time (in 2004) and has remained on since.
I can not tell you how many terms Spiff has served, but he was on TB before I was elected my first time (in 2004) and has remained on since.
Dec 15, 2011, 7:07 pm
#45
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For housekeeping reasons, please follow the discussion on a specific initiative the TB is considering:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkb...rm-limits.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkb...rm-limits.html