[HOT] Message from HOT Chair - what's my role?

[Russell Deffner]

Dear HOTties,

 

As the membership knows, I sometimes find it easier to talk in metaphors
about the discussion around what HOT is/who we are, so.

 

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.  

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 ;)

 

Thank you,

=Russ

 

Russell Deffner

Chairperson of the HOT Voting Members

Members have additional methods of contact if you want to discuss further,
global community please email me at:

Russell.Deffner at hotosm.org

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team

http://hot.openstreetmap.org/ 

 

 

 

 

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