I would like to propose the following as a procedure for mediating the 5 grievances that Carole Hammett submitted on Tuesday, May 30, to myself and Jim Powell as CC Reps for her region. #1, against Tim Stowell & Pam Reid, regarding Rootsweb endorsement on USGenWeb national website #2, against Tim Stowell, regarding policy on use of the USGenWeb logo as a link button #3, against Tim Stowell & Pam Reid, regarding non-listing of USGenNet as an available host #4, against Linda Lewis & Tim Stowell, regarding the Archives contract with Rootsweb #5, against Linda Lewis, regarding request for removal of a file from the USGenWeb Archives (The grievances have been posted on several email lists; I will forward them to BOARD-L if anyone wants me to, but I imagine we've all seen them.) The mediation committee to be composed of 4 CC's, none of whom 1. Are an employee, staff member or board member of either Rootsweb, Rootsquest, USGenNet, or the USGenWeb Archives, nor a member of the USGenWeb Advisory Board. 2. Have a USGenWeb site or other web space located on either Rootsweb, USGenNet or Rootsquest servers. STEP 1. By noon Thursday, June 8, 2000, Central DST Pam, Tim & Linda to submit via email to Carole <CarHammett@mindspring.com> a list of 4 to 6 proposed committee members fitting the above two criteria who have agreed to serve on the committee if chosen. Carole Hammett to submit via email to Pam Reid <pamreid@home.com>, Tim Stowell <tstowell@chattanooga.net> and Linda Lewis <cityslic@ix.netcom.com>, with a Cc to Jim Powell <jpowelljr@gru.net> and Teri Pettit <pettit@adobe.com>, a list of 4 to 6 proposed committee members fitting the above two criteria, who have agreed to serve on the committee if chosen. All parties in composing their lists are requested to make their choices with an eye to CC's who have demonstrated an ability to work well with people of differing opinions and to avoid inflammatory or confrontational remarks. Try to pick people that you not only trust to be fair to you, but that you expect the other party to trust as well. One of the Board members to forward both lists to BOARD-L. (If a list is not submitted by that date, or if it contains fewer than 4 persons, the opposing party may substitute a person from their own list. It is hoped that this clause will not be called upon; it is only to serve as a deterrent to one party delaying the process or submitting a short list in order to give less choice to the other party.) STEP 2. By 6 pm, Friday, June 9, 2000, Central DST Pam, Tim & Linda to choose 2 persons (total among them) from Carole's list Carole to choose 2 persons from Pam, Tim & Linda's list The choices to be sent by email to the same recipients as step 1, plus to the chosen mediation committee members. STEP 3. By midnight, Friday, June 23, 2000, Central DST The committee to consider each grievance separately, and for each, make a recommendation as to what should be done, with their reasoning. If the committee cannot come to a consensus on a grievance, the recommendation may contain a split opinion. The recommendations of the committee to be posted to USGENWEB-ALL-L, USGW-CC-L, STATE-COORD-L, ARCHIVES-L, USGENWEB-DISCUSS-L, and BOARD-L, and at some URL that they determine. If the mediation process resulted in some action being taken by a party named in a grievance (e.g., a web page being modified), that action to also be recorded in the committee's report. The recommendations to be non-binding, but compliance or non-compliance to them can serve to inform voters in the upcoming USGenWEb elections. My goal in this is to get a committee that, even before it starts deliberation, is recognized by both sides as reasonably impartial. There is no point in going to all the trouble of hearing a grievance if the process is going to be perceived as biased by one party or the other. This is not yet a formal motion, but I will make one to this effect by tomorrow if the parties named in the grievances agree that this sounds like a sufficiently impartial procedure. If it does not, please make a suggestion as to how the process can be made more impartial. Thanks, Teri Pettit