Process: It sucks

[laceblade]

I don't think I've stated it publicly because I assumed people would know where I stand, but to be clear:
I do not want Elizabeth Moon to be a Guest of Honor at WisCon.

There is no doubt in my mind that Elizabeth Moon will not be a Guest of Honor at WisCon.


Decision-making processes in a huge amorphous BLOB of people really, really sucks. It sucks even more when people are spread out geographically.

I get weirded out when people say things like "WisCon thinks" or "WisCon says" - what does that even mean? I consider WisCon to be its entire membership, not just the ConCom. Even if it is the ConCom, who could possibly define what the ConCom thinks? I certainly have no idea.

I think everyone on the ConCom acknowledges that the initial decision was made too quickly. The initial decision will not stand forever.

WisCon has never released eCube statements immediately after its meetings. This is because it is at the meeting that we decide what to write, which articles need to be posted, etc. So there is a delay between the meeting and the posted statements.

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As for SF3 resolutions:
SF3 is WisCon's parent organization. It has a legal/IRS status that WisCon does not. SF3 cannot "make" the WisCon ConCom do anything.

The SF3 statements went up as soon as SF3.org was available (we were/are in the process of transitioning to a new website).
ETA: In conversation elsewhere, I acknowledge that this could have happened more quickly, and I apologize that it did not.

While SF3 cannot "make" WisCon do anything, I would like to point out that almost every person who is a member of SF3 is also a member of the WisCon Convention Committee.

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Lastly, the next eCube update will contain a list of "help wanted" positions, or spots that are open on the ConCom.

If you think that the ConCom needs new blood, I strongly encourage you to consider volunteering. I myself will be one person asking for an apprentice/co-coordinator.

Comments

[joannkatana]

May I link this to other places?

[heyfoureyes]

Decision-making processes in a huge amorphous BLOB of people really, really sucks. It sucks even more when people are spread out geographically.

Yup. Also a non-profit, mostly volunteer venture.

It's easy to make decisions when in fact one is making them in a top-down hierarchical way. But I have never known the ConCom to work like that.

[maevele]

Being pissed is what's finally gonna get me to join concom. I am somewhat reassured by this post.

[trinker]

For the benefit of people who will probably see your journal for the first time as a result of link roundups, could you please state what your position is in relation to WisCon?

[antarcticlust]

It's so easy for people who aren't involved in the process to be critical; they don't comprehend the bureaucracy and work and time and pain involved in a decision-making process like this. It sucks! I also think of "Wiscon" as applying to the entire membership - and I hope that those helping to steer the Queen Mary in the future will feel that way, too. I just want you to know that I am so appreciative of the work you and others on SF3/The ConCom have done. There is a lot of ignorance of how WisCon works in general, and things aren't as transparent as they could be. I hope that will change in the future.