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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNoSpacing>Dear HOTties,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>As the membership knows, I sometimes find it easier to talk in metaphors about the discussion around what HOT is/who we are, so…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>Imagine HOT as an ice-breaking ship… since this ship set sail, Mikel Maron has been our captain. But so far the roles of his crew have only been loosely assigned, maybe a few engineers to keep the engine running. And we have been slowing getting further stuck in the ice; Mikel probably saw it coming but did not have the crew and controls to prevent it. Unfortunately we got stuck, but just for a second, and collectively figured out how to back the ship up. Now, before we get moving forward again, we need to make sure the controls are in place, and the crew knows what they are supposed to do. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>But in the spirit of our debate, I do not want the Chair to become the ‘first mate’, yelling down from the bridge to tell you what to do. No, I think here is another opportunity to maybe do things differently. I want the Chair to be more like an advanced control system that facilitates any of the crew to pick the assignment they are most interested in (and maybe nudges people to pick the stuff that no one wants to do, like swabbing the deck); and I need your help to build it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>Even if you consider yourself ‘just’ a HOT volunteer, I want to know what you would want out of the Chair of Voting Members if you were to become a Member. Many Members have already expressed their idea that my role would also, at least partially, include ‘stewarding’ all of our global community. Whoa, big shoes to fill; so instead of me timidly creating my own expectations of this control system to how my skillset fits into the roles and responsibilities; I want to step back and ‘just’ facilitate building the roles and responsibilities as they need to be, for anyone crazy enough to want to fill the role.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>Therefore, I ask each and everyone one of you to give a few moments of thought to what the Chair of Voting Members should be responsible for, and what/if any ‘powers’ that person should have – again, try not to think of me, but the ‘control system’ for the MemberShip ;)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>=Russ<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'>Russell Deffner<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'>Chairperson of the HOT Voting Members<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>Members have additional methods of contact if you want to discuss further, global community please email me at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><a href="mailto:Russell.Deffner@hotosm.org">Russell.Deffner@hotosm.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'>The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><a href="http://hot.openstreetmap.org/">http://hot.openstreetmap.org/</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>