Punki - it is probably a sign that past TalkBoard make-ups have been healthy and robust, as evidenced by the mere fact there WAS a free and open vote on such a matter as a "read only" Talkboard forum.

I imagine that is why Randy established TalkBoard - to seek wide-ranging input from member elected representatives, rather than make all policy himself.

I'd have to say in my 2 years on Talkboard Randy encouraged us to discuss whatever we wished that members had raised, and to vote on them how we wished if matters became motions.

He never once came in and told TB members how to vote, or influenced a vote, which is to his great credit.

No Talkboard vote - even if successful, gets implemented until it has gone to Randy first for info, before being posted up publicly.

I am pretty sure there were no votes that Randy ever "vetoed", and that is a sign the Talkboard has worked exactly in my view as he planned it to.

Democracy in action. The members voted in the TB members they wanted, and those members voted and debated as they saw fit. It works well.

There has been a remarkably diverse range of folks voted into recent Talkboards. Radical and Conservative, young and old, male and female. And spread all over the place - England, Israel, Australia and Germany as well as the USA.

My term is ending and new terms are beginning. I feel sure Talkboard will continue serving the members the way it was meant to do, and I wish all the new members well. ^

The same old predictable handles will never be happy with anything any TB achieves, but positive things will get achieved all the same. As with all kind of government - anywhere. @:-)@:-)@:-)

But, that's just my view.