liman@netnod.se:
* Should there be a way to forcefully relieve a Chair of his/her duties? Are we sufficiently convinced that the NomCom is able to weed out bad candidates, so the probability that this will be needed is so low that we don't spend effort on it here and now? Is it defined elsewhere?
This seems to be unnecessary detail IMO. The NomCom shouldn't need to turn to a document to tell the difference between good and bad candidates. If they do, the wrong people are on the NomCom. Likewise, the WG Chairs Collective -- assuming they have a role in the selection process -- shouldn't need another document whch tells them whether the NomCom's recommendation is or isn't a good one.
We should be able to trust those who will be assessing potential candidates to use their common sense and make rational decisions. Looking to a rule book or a prescriptive procedure would be a huge mistake. What do you do when something happens that isn't covered by the rules and procedures? And no, the answer to that rhetorical question is not to come up with a document which tries (and inevitably fails) to cover every possible scenario which might arise.
Umm, I think you're describing a different situation than the one I indended to address. I don't mean that there should be documenation in place to guide in the selection. I fully agree that common sense should be sufficient for the NomCom and WG Chairs procedures. I worry about the case where excellent common sense selected a perfect Chair, who over time (intoxicated by his/her unlimited powers ... ;-) turns into a less perfect Chair during his/her tenure?
Shall we deal with that problem if it hits us? The latter could work for me, as long as we all agree that that's the proposed way forward.
IMO, we don't need to over-engineer things or over-think the problem, especially for events that are highly improbable. We might as well write up something to define the process to follow after the Lizard People have taken control of the WG Chairs Collective and appointed the Loch Ness Monster as our new leader.
Well ... but yes. ;-)
If we ever get to the situation where someone has to be forcibly removed, it should be sufficient for the community to say "we don't want you any more - go". And it will be done.
I'm happy to have it that way, as long as it's not a surprise to anyone.
BTW, I think that would also deal with your concern about having to endure some years with an ineffective Chair waiting for their term to expire.
Agreed. It would. Cheers, /Liman