[IndiChix] [Grrltalk] COC and Policy for Chapters

[Vid Ayer]

Hello Folks,

In the last 3.5 years of this local chapter's existence,  this last
year of 2008 has been the most tumultous in terms of personal stress
and abuse as a result of  volunteering time in this project. Anyway
I'll avoid personal details and instead try to dispense some fallacies
*once again* :


On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 10:55 PM, Gayathri Swaminathan
<gayathri.swa at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Don't think making grrtalk archives public is necessary.
>
> The problem LinuxChix-India is facing is a very simple problem. The local
> chapter needs a new domain name to better associate with it's parent
> organization LinuxChix. The problem stems/hinges on the "how" part.


1] As for a new domain name the linuxchix.in has not been squatted on
in the last 3 years [1] and as of writing this mail its still
available. But that is NOT the issue here.  [1]
http://mailman.linuxchix.org/pipermail/indichix/2005-December/000293.html

The moot point is, the domain owner of  linuxchix.org.in , is
incommunicado, MIA and is not responding to mesages sent by multiple
people in the past week. Secondly, another member, Mr. Atul Chitnis,
has threatened to fork the group on the grounds that LC has no
policies and that multiple chapters can exist. This will endup
confusing newcomers, is unhealthy, etc... but I am told that the name
can be easily (mis)used without being involved at a grassroots level
within Indichix. That would be very unfortunate and currently we
cannot prevent forks unless we get upstream support (in terms of
policy making).  Hence, LinuxChix-India is NOT facing a very simple
problem and attempts at communication to transfer the domain ownership
to active 'Chix have come to naught. Last year I had suggested that
one of the TresChix name can be added (if others agree) as one of the
3 names for ownership.

Since Linuxchix is famous by its own accord and we have many esteemed
personalities from the Libre software world involved, watching and
subscribed to the lists, it would help to have local chapter policies
laid out clearly so that there is no ambiguity with respect to domain
ownership, etc....   Transparency and openness helps the community
grow manifold and its the easiest way to bring in newcomers and
encourage them to take on responsibilities, not just usurp others
grunt work.


>
> Handling the technical/ communication parts of this move needs explanation,
> forming protocols, informing volunteers/ contributors. The
> founders/administrators of LinuxChix-India need to work on these details and
> consistently inform members of the organization.


2] As for the  technical aspects, that comes after #1 has been
resolved. I dont speak for others and am not the group leader either
but I do know that the people (men and women) who have contributed to
the existing wiki and Barkha and Aneesha have been maintaining it
deserve to know its future.
A community project is run by active volunteer participation and if
you feel we have not communicated about certain aspects, it would be
nicer if you could outline what those aspects are? Could you elucidate
specific areas (if they are technical/server related issues, local
activities related, planning related, activism/talks, courses , or
something else). Specifics would help us understand where there are
communication gaps as opposed to a general statement like "you need to
do more". ......... Please explain  what?


> The threads cited in your email got way out-of-whack as a result of past
> references/ancient history. If there were policies forbiding such
> "unhealthy" discussions the list administrators could have warned the
> concerned member ( as Hassath did).

3] Gayathri, we do have a nettiquete  but no policy other than the "be
polite, be helpful" motto.  None of my emails had any past links and
nor were they confusing and yet Mr.Atul Chitnis had a flamefest going
and was busy abusing me in an effort to shut me up by raising red
herrings and obfuscating. As a list member I didnt see you make an
effort to stop the "unhealthy" abuse he was indulging in (provided you
felt he was doing the wrong thing) like some other list members who
spoke up. You dont have to be a list admin to stop bad behaviour. Its
a community responsibility, not an admin issue. There is a difference
and a big one at that. YMMV.



> LinuxChix-India has a lot of work ahead this year in terms of strengthening:
>
> - why it exists
> - how to encourage participation
> - reforming guidelines/protocols for communication.

These were all available at the wiki pages on [ linuxchix.org.in ]
until yesterday. As of today the website/wiki pages we were using has
become inaccessible. Can someone find out from Barkha and Aneesha what
the problem is?

-- 
Vid
|| http://www.svaksha.com ||
|| You are what your deepest desire is ; As you desire, so is your
intention ; As your intention, so is your will ; As is your will, so
is your deed ; As is your deed, so is your destiny | ~Upanishads ||