We know that you would prefer reading about new parts updates announcements instead of politics and bureaucratics, but unfortunately those things also have to be done and decided on in order to ensure the smooth running of LDraw.org.

As you know we have two elected bodies, the Steering Committee (SteerCo) as the overall governing structure and the LDraw Standards Committee (LSC) as the technical standards board charged with discussing, ratifying, and publishing LDraw.org file format specifications. Beside those two groups LDraw is run by other boards like the Content Management, the Helpdesk, the System Administration and last but certainly not least the Parts Tracker Administration. Since they each require specific skills and knowledge and also because they existed long before LDraw was turned into a democratic organization the volunteers occupying those positions never underwent an election and it has been tradition that outgoing members pass over the sceptre of their little kingdom to someone they thought could fill their boots.

The SteerCo has been questioned about the accountability of the "chairs" at LDraw. Are they appointed, elected, etc.? Are those positions sandboxes to play with "until I‘m bored with it?; a job for life", or is the site the community‘s window to the world? If these volunteers, the PT admins or the helpdesker do a bad job, is there a way for the community to "fire" them? A highly delicate issue as you can imagine.

We would like to take the time to say that these queries were not in anyway directed at any members currently or previously in any of these roles. Likewise the SteerCo action was not directed at any individuals. The issue at hand has more to do with unlikely future scenarios but is, like many of these things, more easily dealt with before a problem occurs than after it has happened.

LDraw‘s Bylaws are quite vague on this topic. The article "About the Organisation" says that "focused committees work underneath the Steering Committee as caretakers of the organization‘s resources" while the "Policies and Procedures [4]" in section 4.01 just rules on representational matters. The SteerCo therefore sat down and worked out some new guidelines. We think we have identified the ideal place for the accountability of – we called them "key positions" - and worded a motion to the current "Bylaws [5]":

As per Article 8 (Amendments) of the Bylaws alterations can only be made by "an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the entire Active Membership" so we must (and should) put this motion out to a general vote.

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Section 6.08: Appointed Key Positions

Key positions such as Parts Tracker Administrators, Content Managers, Help Desk or System Administrators are appointed by the Steering Committee from among the individual Members of LDraw.org. Appointments must be approved by 3 of the 5 members of the Steering Committee. Paying tribute to the fact that LDraw.org is a completely volunteer organization common courtesy is extended as a general rule and except for extenuating circumstances the Steering Committee shall get agreement from the active Key Positions about appointments of new ones. The Steering Committee might delegate the appointment to the active key positions. It will also function as intermediary if members volunteer for a Key Position. There shall be at least three (3) appointed Key Positions for the most sensitive area: The LDraw Parts Tracker.

Section 6.09: Removal of Key Positions

Key Positions are accountable to the Steering Committee and might be removed if someone fails to fulfill his or her duties. The Steering Committee has the obligation to report to the active Membership the circumstances for the decision.

Section 6.10: Vacancy and Succession of Key Positions

If any of the Key Positions cannot fulfill his or her duties, resigns, or is otherwise unable to fulfill then a replacement shall be appointed by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall consult the outgoing post about a succession. Consulting does not apply to Key Position removed by the Steering Committee. The Key Positions might appoint a succession in full autonomy in the situation that the Steering Committee takes no action.

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Note: The current section 6.08 "Reimbursement of Members" will be renumbered to 6.11.

All the current holders of key positions have already read the above motion and agreed to it. We thus call for a final community discussion. If you share a concern about the future of LDraw.org, please take the time to read through the "Bylaws of the LDraw Organization [6]" in light of this motion and share your feedback in response to this message [7] at LUGNET [8]. When giving feedback, please be sure to present alternative draft text for sections you would like to modify. Please DO NOT simply say "I don‘t like that, take it out."

Once discussion of this motion (and its subsequent versions) has died down, and once general consensus among the public is achieved, the document will undergo a similar ratification process as the "Motion to move the LSC elections" did in October.

Willy Tschager
On behalf of the LDraw.org Steering Committee