RE: [oic] OIC TC 2012-04-03 Meeting Minutes - Absent Members

["Dennis E. Hamilton" <dennis.hamilton@acm.org>]

The list of absent members is primarily to help make transparent and auditable the status for Voting Member qualification.  There is no requirement in any OASIS procedures to provide it.  It is not part of Robert's Rules either.

(PS There is definitely no need to mention Observers in attendance unless one asks to have their attendance recorded.  Observers are by definition silent.  That is probably the only statement an Observer can make at a meeting [;<).

For persistent non-voting members and for absent members who are not Voting Members at the start of a meeting, it is probably safe to remove them (since a previous minute will reflect any loss of Voting Member status).

Another reason to show the list of absent Members has to do with the viability of the TC.  Note that, at 5 Voting Members, the OIC TC is at the brink of non-viability.  That *is* a reflection on the level of commitment to sustaining the TC.  Having many persistently-absent Members is not a problem.  There is no requirement that Members be active and Voting.  The basic characteristic of being a Member is that one can participate to any level one chooses.  That's all Member status signifies.  I don't think it is our job to manage the public perception.    

I suppose one other consideration is that all of the Members (not Observers and OASIS Staff) are "obligated" with respect to IPR.  That is probably not an issue for the OIC TC, since Committee Specifications and OASIS Standards are not produced.

 - Dennis



-----Original Message-----
From: oic@lists.oasis-open.org [mailto:oic@lists.oasis-open.org] On Behalf Of Hanssens Bart
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 03:58
To: oic@lists.oasis-open.org
Subject: [oic] OIC TC 2012-04-03 Meeting Minutes

OIC COORDINATION CALL
Date:  Wednesday 3 April 2013
Time:  13:30 - 14:20 UTC

 
1. LOGISTICS

The chat room: http://webconf.soaphub.org/conf/room/oic
(doesn't count for attendance) 
 
The call-in numbers: 
https://www.teleconference.att.com/servlet/glbAccess?process=1&accessCode=84367726&accessNumber=2158616239
 
Meeting agenda also provides the pass codes and the commonly-used call-in numbers
https://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/oic/201304/msg00000.html

The action items (log-in required):
http://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/oic/members/action_items.php


1.1 ROLL CALL AND QUORUM CHECK

The 4/5 voting members present did satisfy the 3/5 quorum requirement for start of the meeting. 

    MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
    * Bart Hanssens, Fedict (Chair)
    * Dennis Hamilton, Individual
    * Louis Suarez-Potts, Individual
    + Chris Rae, Microsoft
    * Péter Rakyta, MultiRacio

     [* = Voting Member at start of meeting (4)
      + = becoming Voting Member at conclusion of meeting (1)
      = = Persistent Non-Voting Member (0)]
 
    OBSERVERS IN ATTENDANCE
      Regina Henschel, The Document Foundation

	  
[ ... ]

Louis explains the gist of his mail concerning the (long) list of Members Absent.
This list is currently present at the start of each Meeting Minutes.
Louis thinks this may give a wrong impression, e.g. that the members listed
are not interested in ODF anymore (while they just may lack the time to dial in).
Other Members may have a new assignment, or may have moved to another company.

Bart will read the OASIS TC policy to check if such a list must be part of the Minutes,
he assumes that providing a list of Members in Attendance is sufficient.
If that is indeed the case, he will remove the list of Members Absent.
He will send a friendly mail to the Members to remind them about the TC Membership,
but also emphasizes that all Members are free to join the calls as much (or as little)
as they want / can.

[ ... ]