[LVS] Council Pre-Meeting Agenda (16/11/2019)

[Memery]

Hello all!

Well then, what a meeting that was. I think at one point everyone in the hall wanted to hit me.

We made it through but I have to be honest notes may take a while. When they are done they will be found here: https://zedwork.co.uk/wiki/Zedling_Coun ... 2019-11-02

For the next meeting, we already have a topic to discuss current host responsibilities and the offering of that role to new members. Whilst its a nice tradition, it's a little difficult for a new member. Previous options have been to add a new role (Chair) that takes up a lot of these responsibilities whilst the "host" simply picks the location.

If this is something you want or don't want, post below! All discussion is good next meeting we can argue about it for 45 minutes again!

Lots of love,
Memery

[Forseth]

Good work holding the meeting together Memery. Without a guiding hand we probably wouldn't have reached a conclusion during that meeting.

[Dax23333]

I think that meeting demonstrated what a good idea that is.

If there was not somebody to actually lead it it would have gone nowhere.

[Zedwick]

I would suggest the "chair" role takes on responsibilities for discipline/strikes primarily, but the host still provides both the location and arranges the order of the agenda. The chair would also be the primary point of contact for the host, whom they can turn to for guidance in what they should be doing next. I think giving new members the opportunity to shape the procedure for the meetings has historically brought new ideas to the meeting structure. Otherwise, I think we will end up with the same few putting themselves forward to run every meeting.

The "chair" doesn't necessarily need to be just one person, assuming they're only maintaining order and handing out strikes. We could say the Council Elders can hand out strikes during a meeting. The 5 longest serving members present in the meeting could be authorised to hand out strikes; During the last meeting that would have been Zedwick, LadyBountiful, SneakySkeleton, Dax23333 and Memery. This would mean that these members can also hand out strikes to each other, so none are "above the law".

[Forseth]

Unless we go with Zedwicks suggestion above

The 5 longest serving members present in the meeting

How do we select the chair for each meeting? End of the previous, like the host or beginning of the current one?

[KhasOrn]

Good work holding the meeting together Memery. Without a guiding hand we probably wouldn't have reached a conclusion during that meeting.

Absolutely agreed.

I think that meeting demonstrated what a good idea that is.

If there was not somebody to actually lead it it would have gone nowhere.

Absolutely agreed again.

Unless we go with Zedwicks suggestion above

The 5 longest serving members present in the meeting

How do we select the chair for each meeting? End of the previous, like the host or beginning of the current one?

I honestly thought it would be a simple as what I did the couple times I broke protocol (sorry) and asked Forseth to keep things moving because I didn't feel familiar enough with the system. The new duties allocations to the roles may make things a little different, but can't it be as simple as the host sub-contracting the role of 'sheriff' if they so desire?

For instance, what if I feel 'up to the task' and don't mind hosting and fulfilling the role of Chair at the same time? I'm not saying that's the case, but for more experienced members it's almost a non-issue, and the traditional random choosing of Host at the end of every meeting would alleviate any worry of a tyrannical 'striker' lol.

Host and Chair (if that's what we're going with - Host and Whip-Holder or Sheriff could work too )...sorry my mind wandered.

I suggest properly defining the roles of Host and Chair, but keeping them innately joined; only separated by the necessity of inexperience or the Host's request (keeping in mind [and trying to keep it Gen-X here ] that not all people are emotionally equipped to issue strikes). If this complicates matters too much in your (the Council's) eyes I'm okay with Zed's suggestion.

The "chair" doesn't necessarily need to be just one person, assuming they're only maintaining order and handing out strikes. We could say the Council Elders can hand out strikes during a meeting. The 5 longest-serving members present in the meeting could be authorised to hand out strikes; During the last meeting that would have been Zedwick, LadyBountiful, SneakySkeleton, Dax23333 and Memery. This would mean that these members can also hand out strikes to each other, so none are "above the law".

I haven't much of a problem with the idea of 'elders' giving out strikes, although it does give me a kind of dystopian sci-fi vibe, wouldn't that mean assessing the 5 longest standing members at every meeting, adding just a touch of further time-consuming red-tape?

[Neytan269]

The Chair

Regulate member's and visitor's behavior.

The Chair can strike the present member or visitor who breaks the Code of Conduct.

Guiding new hosts

The Chair shall guide and help Host when is needed. (In most cases, that WILL be needed.)

Senior council members can be elected for the Chair

Senior members are all who was council member since date which will be decided on the meeting.

The Chair shall be elected every [number of] meetings

Same as speakers in the House of Commons (UK), and the Chair shall be elected. The number of meetings that the Chair can hold her position will be decided at the meeting. The Chair can be reelected.

Chair and Host can be one council member

If the Chair decides to host the next meeting, and his term as the Chair continues for that meeting, he/she will be the host and the Chair of the meeting.

If the Chair is not present at the meeting, the Deputy Chair will replace the Chair.
Deputy Chair would be most Senior member at the meeting. (In many cases, founder members)

Zedling Greens Questions

Last 10 to 15 minutes of the meeting, the council members can ask one question to the Greens.

This is just a suggestion. Many times happened that someone has a question for the meeting. So, after 90 minutes would be nice to add a few more minutes for questions.

Mayors can ask 2 questions

1 question can be related to anything on the server, but second question has to be about their warp and Mayor duties. Both questions can be used for Mayor duties.

Mayor's rights

I would like to ask do we have anything written anywhere what Mayors can do with their warps? If not, can someone make it?

[Spectatre]

I like the idea that the Chair is there for oversight/discipline purposes, and the host still runs the meeting otherwise. Host picks the location, announces topics; Chair maintains order and guides the host if they get lost. That allows for newer players to have a go at being host (you're only going to get experienced at hosting if you have opportunity to practice), while having someone more experienced to keep the rabble from rousing.

If chair is going to be an individual person in a meeting, I think that can be decided in the same way Scribe is - by volunteer, just before the meeting gets underway.

If it could be any of a group of people, 'Elder members' is a perfectly good way of deciding Chair-ability - another option would be that any Guardian/Zriend has strike power. It happens to empowers the same people as in Zed's example, but happens to be a shorter sentence that is easier for host/players to work out during a meeting.

[Zedwick]

I had imagined that the host would check the list of members on the wiki, and the first 5 present members are the elders. They'd announce it at the start to remind everyone to be on their best behaviour, and to let them know who they can message if they're having problems with anyone's behaviour. It would probably be a bit much to expect new members who are hosting to know to check that, though, so perhaps it should fall to the first elder to announce this at the start of the meeting. This would almost always be me, but if I am absent then that would be Lady, and if we're both absent then it would be Sneaky etc. The elders and their order won't change very often, so I should think we'll be likely to know who the present 5 elders are at a glance fairly easily.

I don't think it should be put to the Guardians/Zriends explicitly, as that would put control over how the council conducts itself beyond the council's control. Though the 5 I listed are all guardians and Zriends, they are members of the Zedling Council first in this instance.

Mayor's rights

I would like to ask do we have anything written anywhere what Mayors can do with their warps? If not, can someone make it?

I don't believe we have a document outlining it in detail, but in general the server rules apply unless permission is given by those who choose to build within your town by agreeing to town rules as you have written them.

For example, if you want to be able to remove unimaginative builds which are purely built out of cobblestone, you will need town rules which state when and why a build may be removed. "All builds must be nice looking, with effort put in to add detail." "The mayor may choose to remove a build which is not up to standard" (and ideally: "You will have 2 weeks to improve your build if a mayor tells you it is not up to standard").

This would not directly give you the power to remove the builds built by other players within your town's borders if they break your rule, however you can then submit the town's rules as evidence when speaking to a Guardian to request permission to remove another player's build. We may impose time frames and encourage you to ask them to resolve the issues. Having rules residents were made aware of and agreed to when moving into the town, which explicitly sets out the circumstances a build would be removed, greatly improve the chance a Guardian will make a judgement in your favour when a resident of the town breaks those rules.

Ideally you should maintain a wiki page for your town and keep it up to date with the town rules as written on your town's rule board in game, which would also help to prove when the rules were active/updated in case there is a dispute.

[AlyCatMeow]

Hi guys, so sorry I missed the last meeting, especially given how opinionated I have been on the matter. I look forward to reading over the notes to get a grasp of what outcome was decided upon. I trust the wise and good council acted in LVS' best interest.
I think this idea for a "chair" role sounds fantastic. Speaking from experience, I did poorly my first time hosting because I simply did not have a firm enough grasp on the method. If it weren't for ABP's patient help and guidance, the entire meeting would have been rubbish.
I know I personally would have benefited even more so to have someone more experienced dispensing of appropriate reprimand when necessary and even gently guiding me, the host, in the right direction with the agenda (as ABP was doing with me via private message)
As for the details of who assumes this role and how that is decided; I personally think a council elder should be in that role (I believe someone mentioned this previously, I apologise for not knowing who, it was a lot for me to read) and how that's decided, I say let the beardly omnificence choose (aka, Zed just pick someone you think is council elderly enough lol)
Hope my input is in some way valid.
And may I just say, I'm glad to be back. I missed you all. <3