[atlarge-discuss] Webmaster/Team Motion before the "Panel"

["Jeff Holt" <jefftttt@txucom.net>]

Begin Quote:

Whereas there is currently no webmaster for the icannatlarge.org
website, and
Whereas frequent updating and management of the site is a clear
requirement, and
Whereas the workload like will need more then 1 person.
 
It is decided [should read as "moved"- JH] that a Web Committee will be
formed of a minimum of 3 persons and a maximum of 5 candidates. That the
committee members decide who of them will be official "Webmaster".  That
the Webmaster and the committee have to governed by rules, and that
these rules at a minimum contain the following:
 
1. That the Webmaster be responsible for the functioning of the website
in all respects.
        (note: removed technical, the sysadmin is basically responsible
for that and a webmaster does not per se have access to f.i. apache)
 
2. That the webmaster is responsible for the databases built by the
membership. He will guard the members' privacy, unless compelled to
share data with their elected Panel when so instructed by majority vote.
 
He/She will provide regular data backup to ICANN's At Large elected
directors, to be held by them in escrow, to ensure the data's survival.
If ICANN has no longer At Large elected directors, the backup will be
sent to an elected Trustee. [should "regular" be defined? Weekly?
Bi-weekly? Monthly?]
        {note: I think "back-ups" will be somewhat redundant if
mirroring will be used, also considering the size of the site the
sending of the back-up might become a liability. Furthermore we can have
on or off-site backups (i.e. on other servers with the same host) }
 
3. That the webmaster is responsible to keep the website up-to-date.
 
4. That the webmaster keeps a public record of the time he spends on
webmaster duties.
        (note: I see no reason for this, it remains a volunteer non-paid
function and the time he/she uses is not relevant for anything.)
 
Discretion of Webmaster
 
5. That the webmaster may update non-controversial text, design or code
on his own initiative.
 
(note: problem I have here is the non-controversial statement, reason is
that this is a very personal measure which does not really allow for
much breathing room. I would feel more for pages that represent the
panel (official pages) which will only see updates from panelmembers and
can never be changed by the webmaster and member(-organization) pages
which would be free of content, only exception being that the overall
look to the site should not change in order to remain recognizable)
 
6. That the webmaster may appoint a Forum Administrator to manage 
all aspects of the website community Forum. Forum administrators may 
be removed by the webmaster or by direct intervention of a Panel 
majority.
 
 
Limitation of Webmaster Discretion
 
7. That the webmaster must refrain from implementing any change or 
update that may be controversial among the membership and must at 
all time first seek Panel majority approval for such changes.
 
8. That the webmaster will immediately upon being ordered to do so 
by formal majority of the Panel:
        a. remove text or design elements
        (note: as long as they are not on member pages)
        b. change text, links or make other simple changes.
        (note: see a)
 
9. That direct instructions to the webmaster by the Panel are under 
responsibility of the Panel Chair and must be posted on the discuss 
list and in the web Forum with the names of the supporting Panel 
members attached.
 

END Quote.

 

The "notes" above are from Abel Wisman except where noted as JH.

 

DISCUSSION:

Much like a newsletter or newspaper, this Website would benefit from
specific job description with an "Editor-in-chief" or "Executive
Webmaster" coordinating the overall effort.  To require each and every
individual on the team to be responsible for the entire effort seems
unreasonable.  Suggested departments would include the Forum Admin,
Graphics Editor, News Editor, Database/Mailing List Administrator, and
Forms/Polling Technician. 

 

Additionally, at some point it will be evident that there will be a need
for a budget to support the Web site.  Where will this funding be found?
Features and storage, while dropping in price almost constantly, still
cost money.

 

Regards T'all,

 

Jeff Holt 

The Tall Tejas Traveler

 

Life is Too Short.....

NOT to be Tall!

www.tejas-info-services.com