In addition to the 3 branches, I think we need more localized, regionalized, and branded representation. I think there should be local elections for sub-representatives within each brand forum (United, American, Starwood, Hilton, etc. etc.). Then sub-sub representatives elected for geographical regions within those brands. I then thinks we also need to elect an oversight committee to play the role of impartial watchdog. These watchdog committee members would not be moderators, TalkBoard members, industry representatives or even members of FlyerTalk at all.

This would, among other things, prevent say a Talkboard member who is strictly an American Airlines person, from recommending anything having to do with decisions made that might effect the United Airlines forum, where they clearly would have no business sticking their little noses into.

We also need a Synergy task force to bring all the various aspects together and to share with each body all the others hard work and suggestions. This task force could also write lots of big papers and policies and procedures and recommendations that would keep everyone busy for weeks and weeks.

Mostly we need lots of folks empowered by "popular vote" to create a bureaucracy and counsel to fix and improve a very simple little internet bulletin board that doesn't need much fixing to begin with. At least that couldn't be fixed or improved with much less trouble by 2 appointed people sitting over coffee on a weekend sometime.

There's much much work to create here, whether we need it or not! We need more rules and lots of 'em! We need interpretations of those rules. We need precedents, examples, variations.

As funny and unproductive and inefficient as I found all of this TalkBoard stuff last year, this year I find it doubly hysterical. All the hype, logos, posturing, egos, banners etc, etc. Jeez. Am I the only one out there willing to say this all looks soooooooooo silly!

I'm all for community involvement and appreciate anyone that contributes ideas to Randy on the efficient operations of the board itself. And those that contribute their time as Moderators. Those folks are Saints.

But the best contributors to the Community of FlyerTalk are those that contribute to what the core asset of FlyerTalk is...the active participation in the many Frequent Traveler forums. Helping out those newbies. Those in need. Helping each other ferret out the inside track, the hidden benefit, the circuitous loophole, the straight scoop and sometimes even the dirty poop. That's what we need more of, IMHO. Not more non-travel forums. Not more bureaucracy. Not more about FlyerTalk "business." Not more TalkBoard. We got more FlyerTalk "business" than we can handle, IMHO. It's diverting attention and energy from the most important asset of FlyerTalk...active travel forum participation!

I remember FlyerTalk.

I guess I just don't understand how it only took a handful of people relatively very little time and trouble to get 95% of FlyerTalk right, right out of the can. But now we seem to need a board and elections and all manner of other crap just to fine tune it or improve it in some manner!!

Remember that story of the camel, as that which came out of a committee that was trying to design a horse?

Hat's off to all of you candidates that sincerely want to give something back to the Community. Really, I mean that. A noble and worthy sentiment. I just don't think this is the best way to do it. And frankly, some of you look a bit like prostitutes out there touting your wares for votes. A few are even stinking up their own good names a bit as a result, IMHO.

Randy...can't you just appoint someone on your staff to assemble all the FlyerTalk suggestions sent in from anyone and have a pow-wow with them once a month to pick-out the ones that sound good to you, implement them, and see how they pan out? If they don't work out, pull 'em?

Why the need for a TalkBoard? Why all this? Because of the way it's set up, they're not representative of anyone other than themselves. They certainly don't represent me! That's not something I agreed to in membership or is a condition of membership. So why the vote then??? Anyway, isn't a good idea a good idea, no matter who it comes from? Isn't all of this "overkill."

I know I'm fighting an uphill battle. The monster has been unleashed and probably can't be stopped. It now has a life of it's own. Sort of like the TSA and Homeland Security.

IMHO.

Now, back to topic. If I believed any of this TalkBoard stuff was really important (which I do not), there would be absolutely no question, not even for an instant, of whether or not Moderators should or could be TalkBoard members. IMHO, it not only should be allowed, but it should be an absolute prerequisite that any candidate must have contributed some time as a Moderator before being allowed to serve on TalkBoard. No "outside directors" here. Serve some time in the trenches before being made an officer. That would be my opinion.

Moot point though, as I think TalkBoard is pretty much unnecessary, unproductive, sometimes counter-productive, and a totally inefficient application for the particular standing model.

I've said my piece...now I'm headed back over to United and Starwood and maybe a quick pass by Continental and FlyerTalk Dining...all where I can really make a contribution to what the Community of FlyerTalk should be about, IMHO. Might even learn a few new tid-bits myself, along the way, thanks to other contributors and participants.