Randy: (just catching up on email - have tons of read, but yet unanswered messages to get through..) Only last week did I learn that the documents were being discussed paragraph by paragraph. A more proactive consultation at a regional level, perhaps.. might have taken allow us to come to San Juan with less language left to negotiate, and a real understanding of the need to have the document concluded before the end of the meeting. A document was completed, however, as you state it could have been done better. For instance, a preamble that states the focus - the mission - of at-large would have been nice. Perhaps that is an idea for the LA meeting... If there's interest, then a working group could be created to revise existing related documents as well the existing by laws and see if we can can up with better language. If enough people are interested and they can work online in advance of the meeting, then - we'd have something to present to the board for their OK at the general meeting. regards Robert On 29-Jun-07, at 5:41 AM, RJGlass | America@Large wrote:
With regard to the current ALAC meeting, and the Proposed Guide to At-Large Structures Application evaluation, I have some concerns.
1) This document lacks any real substance or clarity in the area of what is desired of future ALSs. 2) There is no substantial improvement over the previous version. 3) There has not been substantial deliberation over the issues, rather issues are glossed over and accepted or changed as insignificantly as they have been proposed. 4) Too much time has been spent on procedural issues that could have been better focused on substance.
I am not trying to stand in the way of progress, rather I am convinced that not much progress has been made in the way of making a reformed application process of new ALSs. In preparing for future issues such as this, I would suggest more time and energy be used for making a quality document and clear up issues related to these documents. Unfortunately there has been so much going on that some things fall through the cracks. I'm afraid that this document is one which has been neglected.
-Randy Glass A@L