legalxml-sc — archive

[Donald Bergeron]

Here are my comments on the new Member
Section policy prepared for the Board of Directors.  I am preparing these
comments as an individual Member Section member and as former member and
initial chair of the Member Section Steering Committee.  I do not speak
for the Member Section Steering Committee.



I will use as my citation method the line
numbers provided for that purpose.  (Thank you)



·        
Paragraph
beginning line 45 -- in my correct in reading a limitation on the actions of
the steering committee where the rules of procedure are mute to on the topic?

·        
List
item beginning line 173 -- this wording could be construed as a requirement to
approve any Technical Committee which requests membership and meets the
requirements set forth TC membership in the member section.  I hope this
is not the case.  For example if a technical committee was defined whose
purpose was onerous to the majority of the member section and the requirement
for their addition may cause the collapse of the member section.  We always
must remember that technical committees are affiliations of volunteers. 
It must also be noted for example that the adoption of standards often is
significantly influenced by external organizations.  If those adoption
relationships are compromised by adding inappropriate technical committees to a
Member Section it could have a significant negative impact on adoption. 
We have to remember that a member section is a community and lives within a
community and the goals and constraints of that community effect the creation
and adoption of standards.

·        
List
item beginning at line 59 -- I kind of thing we've missed a major point. 
What is the purpose of the Member Sections?  The purpose of Member
Sections used to support the work of technical committees.  These
committees may exist or not exist at a certain point in time, but, the bottom
line goal is to support the technical committee or committees individually or
as a group.  It may be in the form of funding.  It may be in the form
of coordination.  It may be in the form of public relations.  You can
imply what I've said from the two items listed, but I think the concept of
support must be first and foremost and in clear language.

·        
Paragraph
beginning line 262 -- I believe it would be a good idea to provide for a co
chair structure which may be a good idea for Member Sections that are
public-sector private-sector partnerships.  We have not chosen to go that
route with the steering committee but some future Member Section may want that
option.  It is likely also a good idea to note that the group may elect
secretaries and treasurers or other elected roles to facilitate the work of the
committee.

·        
Provision
4.4 at line 293 -- wording similar to this man cover my concern raised at line
173







Regards, 

Don 

Donald L. Bergeron

Systems Designer

LexisNexis

donald.bergeron@lexisnexis.com

O 937-865-1276

H 937-748-2775

M 937-672-7781