Is there some reason these things surface as full-blown proposals for a vote before, rather than after, we have a chance to kick the tires in this forum? Nobody can think of everything, and the comments here could have improved the wording before it was formally proposed. Seriously, Punki, what would have been the harm in asking for comments first, then editing the proposal to accommodate some of the concerns?
Punki, you and I have the very same idea of what makes a good ambassador. I have posted several times that the way to show one's qualifications to be an ambassador is to just do the job without any official title or sanction. The people I know who act as ambassadors do it for love, not for status. They might appreciate a title, but they certainly won't take their marbles and go home if they don't get a title.
I am wary of taking a concept that works quite well as an informal arrangement and converting it to a centralized, formal program. I can't see how a centralized group, any centralized group, could be in a better position than the forum participants and its moderators to know who has exhibited the necessary passion, dedication, and welcoming spirit to be a good ambassador. Frankly, I think FT would be better off forgetting the whole idea than having any centralized group appoint official ambassadors.
Ideally, ambassadors should select themselves by doing the job, and that would be the end of it. Members of the forum could call them ambassadors or greeters or nothing at all. I originally thought that having an official FT title would be a nice perk, but the current proposal has made me realize two flaws:
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If we can find a way to let each forum identify its ambassadors by acclamation (which would naturally be based on a history of value provided) renewable on some regular time frame, I could once again favor having an official title. But the best ambassadors will still be happy to do the job without a title.
Incidentally, I don't believe that TOS violation history has any bearing on qualification to be an ambassador. Some of the best ambassadors will come from the ranks of those who needed some time to rein in their rhetoric while retaining their original passion for FT. I say good for them: They have shown that they can make the necessary effort.