Procedure for approving small dictionary updates
Herbert J. Bernstein
yaya at bernstein-plus-sons.com
Fri Feb 5 17:41:48 GMT 2010
Dear James,
To avoid offending people in the process of ensuring active DWG/DMG
membership, I would propose that COMCIFS adopt a uniform policy of
terms for both chairs and DWG/DMG members. Here is the policy I
would suggest:
1. That COMCIFS recognize DWG/DMG chairs for 3 year terms ending
immediately after each IUCr meeting, with successors to be
desgnated by COMCIFS at each IUCr meeting or on any vacancy. Someone
filling a vacancy would serve only to the end of the orginal term.
2. That each DWG/DMG chair propose a list of DWG/DMG members to COMCIFS
for 3 year terms ending one month after each IUCr meeting, with successors
to be recommended by the incoming DWG/DMG chairs at or immediately after
each IUCr meeting or on any vacancy. Someone filling a vacancy would
serve only to the end of the original term. In addition, any DWG/DMG
chair whose term is ending would automatically be offered a seat as a
member of the same DWG/DMG if they are interested in serving.
3. That there be no restriction on chairs and DWG/DMG chairs succeeding
themselves and no minimum or maximum number of members of a DWG/DMG, and
that COMCIFS would reserve the right to add appropriate, interested
members of the community to any DWG/DMG.
4. That the COMCIFS secretary maintain an online list of all DWG/DMG
chairs and members
5. While it is desirable to DWG/DMGs to work by consensus, if decisions
are to be made by majority voting, on email ballots a plurality of those
voting will be sufficient to decide a question, with those who do not
respond within 6 weeks of posing a question deemed to have abstained.
For meetings at IUCr meetings a majority of those DWG/DMG members in
attendance at the IUCr meeting will constitute a quorum, and a plurality
of that quorum sufficient to carry a motion.
6. COMCIFS may act at any time to revive a moribund DWG/DMG by replacing
chairs and/or members as needed to ensure proper fucntioning.
=====================================================
Herbert J. Bernstein, Professor of Computer Science
Dowling College, Kramer Science Center, KSC 121
Idle Hour Blvd, Oakdale, NY, 11769
+1-631-244-3035
yaya at dowling.edu
=====================================================
On Tue, 2 Feb 2010, James Hester wrote:
> Dear COMCIFS members,
>
> A six-week period (actually considerably longer than that) has now expired since
> the modifications to the fast-track procedure suggested below were proposed. As
> no critical comments were received, I declare them to have been accepted.
>
> James.
>
> On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 4:26 PM, James Hester <jamesrhester at gmail.com> wrote:
> I would like to suggest some common-sense refinements to the
> fast-track procedure:
>
> (1) If all members of a DMG have responded to a proposal before the
> six-week time limit, there is no requirement to wait six weeks
> (2) If all voting members of COMCIFS have responded to a proposal
> before the six-week time limit, there is no requirement to wait six
> weeks
>
> I would also ask the chairs of the various DMGs to periodically
> (perhaps once a year) check on the willingness of their members to
> continue in the role, to avoid situations where ghost members hold up
> these types of processes.
>
> James.
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 12:30 PM, James Hester <jamesrhester at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> Dear COMCIFS members,
>
> The following proposal for fast-track approval of minor
> dictionary
> updates has now been approved, as a six-week discussion period
> has
> expired with no unresolved comments. Note the following
> changes to
> the original proposal arising from the discussion:
>
> (i) the time-limit for making comments will be six weeks,
> rather than
> one month as was originally suggested.
> (ii) following the conclusion of the 6-week comment period, the
> Chair,
> or designee, will explicitly state to the COMCIFS list that a
> proposal
> has been approved.
>
> I will coordinate with Brian to update the website with
> information
> about this new procedure.
>
> Best wishes,
> James.
>
> On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 5:48 PM, James Hester
> <jamesrhester at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Dear COMCIFS members,
> >
> > Currently the procedure for making any changes to the
> dictionaries
> > requires putting those changes to a formal vote on the
> COMCIFS list.
> > This may be seen as heavy-handed for small updates and
> additions.
> > Following discussions with David B I would like to propose
> the
> > following fast-track procedure for dealing with minor updates
> to the
> > dictionaries:
> >
> > 1. Anybody can propose a change to the core dictionary either
> through
> > the IUCr web site or by contacting the chair of the
> appropriate DMG.
> >
> > 2. In conjunction with the DMG chair, they can work out a
> proposal for
> > new dictionary code.
> >
> > 3. This code is then submitted to the DMG for comment and
> eventual approval.
> >
> > 4. The change is then posted to the COMCIFS discussion list
> for
> > comment within a given time limit.
> >
> > 5. If no comment is received, or if all the comments are
> resolved, the
> > change is accepted, otherwise it is refered back to the DMG.
> >
> > I suggest that a 'small change' is one that creates no new
> categories
> > and affects no more than two definitions.
> > A one month time limit for initiating comments seems about
> right to
> > me, as it should allow those that happen to be on holiday to
> make it
> > back in time.
> >
>
>
>
>
> --
> T +61 (02) 9717 9907
> F +61 (02) 9717 3145
> M +61 (04) 0249 4148
>
>
>
>
> --
> T +61 (02) 9717 9907
> F +61 (02) 9717 3145
> M +61 (04) 0249 4148
>
>
>
>
> --
> T +61 (02) 9717 9907
> F +61 (02) 9717 3145
> M +61 (04) 0249 4148
>
>
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