I propose that the Board form a special committee to draft a "Standards of Conduct" for the benefit of all members of the USGenWeb Project. FORMATION OF THE COMMITTEE As with past committees, membership in this committee should be chosen from volunteers representing all regions of the USGenWeb Project and should include both a State Coordinator and a County Coordinator from each region, with a minimum of two members from each region. The number of committee members should be determined by region with no less than one State Coordinator and one county coordinator from each region, with the optimal distribution being one State Coordinator and two county coordinators from each region; except in the event when sufficient numbers do not volunteer to serve on the committee, and in that event, the committee should be formed from the available volunteers. In the event that any member of the Standards of Conduct committee becomes nonresponsive after seven days or resigns for any reason, the Standards of Conduct committee should appoint a successor from a pool of alternate volunteers so that equal representation from all regions remains intact. In the event that there is not sufficient volunteers to represent all regions, or to replace members who resign or become unresponsive, then the committee should go forward with the volunteers that are available. Any member who serves on the Standards of Conduct committee should be in good standing within the Project and should remain in good standing for the duration of service on the committee. In no case or situation, or for any reason, cause, belief or opinion, should any member of the Committee be subjected to spamming, threats, disrespect or rudeness from any other member or group or opinion or philosophy within the Project. The Chairperson of the Standards of Conduct committee should be appointed by the members of the committee rather than a Board appointed chairperson. CONTENT OF THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT Content of the Standards of Conduct should be the highest possible standards of conduct, rather than a minimum standard. Members of the "Standards of Conduct" committee should be allowed to seek opinions and ideas from the general membership or outside sources as appropriate for consideration of inclusion into the Standards of Conduct. Advice and opinions from the membership could include, but not be limited to, a survey to determine troublesome areas of concern for the Project as a whole, and for solicitation of individual or group experiences that caused ill will or an individual or group to feel that they were not a valuable and appreciated member of the USGenWeb. Outside sources for advice and opinions could include, but not be limited to, educators, behavioral psychologists or sociologists, organizational sociologists, other experts or those who are in a position to observe and remedy negative behaviors within groups, and similar Standards of Conduct from other organizations or groups. The Standards of Conduct should include both specific behaviors that are not allowed as well as specific actions by the USGenWeb should the Standards of Conduct be violated by any member. The Standard of Conduct committee should be a positive and healthy step forward for the USGenWeb Project. Therefore, in no case shall the Standards of Conduct committee propose that a member be discharged or banned from membership in the USGenweb as a result of a violation of the Standards, recognizing that each member has a contribution to give to the project. However, other means of discipline could be included such as censure. Although the Standards of Conduct committee should include provisions for discipline should the Standards be violated, and the specific proofs and procedure for doing so, the Committee should keep its focus on encouraging and enhancing harmonious working relationships within the Project through the Standards of Conduct. The Standards of Conduct committee should be evermindful of creating a Standard that is fair and impartial, and should be prohibited from drafting language or intent that is focused on any particular individual, group, viewpoint or philosophy within the USGenWeb Project. The Committee's charge should be to determine Standards of Conduct that are general enough to apply to all membership, but specific enough to prohibit certain actions or behaviors that are detrimental to individual members or groups within the Project, or are detrimental to the Project as a whole. The Committee should form a Standard that is as brief as possible, but no length to the Standard should be imposed upon the Standards of Conduct so as to include all relevant Standards as the Committee should deem appropriate. MAKING THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT PART OF THE USGENWEB PROJECT The Committee should report back to the Advisory Board periodically with its progress, including a timeframe when the Standards of Conduct will be submitted to the Board. The time or date of completion should be set by the committee, depending upon the complexity of the issues involved and to insure the inclusion of all relevant and needful topics as the Committee should determine. However, in no case should be Standards of Conduct be submitted to the Board any later than three months after formation of the committee. At the completion of the Standards of Conduct, the committee will turn its findings and the Standards of Conduct over to the Advisory Board for voting. The Advisory Board should be allowed to propose changes to the Standards of Conduct and send it back to committee for revision. However, the Standards of Conduct committee should have veto power over the Advisory Board and the Standards of Conduct should be accepted by the Board if the committee unanimously vetos the Board's recommendations for changes. The acceptance of the Standards of Conduct by the Advisory Board should be by a two-thirds majority vote, rather than a simple majority. However, in the event of dissent within the Project or within the Advisory Board, the Standards of Conduct committee should retain veto power over all individuals, groups and the Board; except in the event that a special election is called by the general membership to veto or override the Standards of Conduct committee's decisions. The purpose of giving the Standards of Conduct committee veto power is to disallow special interest groups from unduly pressuring a certain viewpoint or revision into the Standards. The veto power over the Board is in recognition of the current voices of dissent concerning Board activities and philosophies, so as to remove the Standards of Conduct from being tainted in the minds of the general membership as to its intent or goals. In the event that the general membership, in accordance with the Bylaws procedures, calls for the Standards of Conduct to be withdrawn, revised, or rewritten, then a two-thirds majority of the qualified voters who elect to vote, should be required. The Standards of Conduct should not be part of the Bylaws of the USGenWeb, but have equal force as the Bylaws in all situations, except that the Bylaws should take precedence in all situations should there be a conflict between the two documents. This should include present Bylaws as well as any future changes to the Bylaws. The Standards of Conduct should be a in force and serve as if the Standards were part of the Bylaws, but exist separately from the Bylaws. This should be for the sake of providing a procedure in accordance with the Bylaws for future changes, reivisions, additions or deletions to the Standards of Conduct, as the general membership deems appropriate. After the Standards of Conduct is accepted by the Board, all membership should be committed to adopting it and enforcing it as individuals as well as a Project. All present members of the USGenWeb Project should follow the Standards of Conduct as a matter of honesty and integrity, and as a personal committment to further positive relationships within the Project. Future members of the Project should be required to follow the Standards of Conduct as a condition of membership in the USGenWeb Project. The Standards of Conduct committee should set forth a charge to the Advisory Board to form a standing Standards of Conduct committee as a resource and avenue for resolving conflicts within the Project. The Standards of Conduct committee should set forth the specifics of service and election or appointment to the standing committee as deemed appropriate. The Standards of Conduct standing committee should not be enpowered to act upon any disagreement or complaint, but rather to submit recommendations to the Board, State Coordinator, or groups as appropriate concerning any disagreement or complaint. The Standards of Conduct standing committee should be allowed to investigate any violations of the Standards, but should be charged to maintain confidentiality and restraint concerning any such investigation; except in the event when all parties involved agree to any disclosure of the details or situation involved. The Standards of Conduct should serve to unify various factions within the Project, to provide an avenue for complaints and resolution to violations of conduct, and encourage an orderly and positive manner for all of the Project to work together to advance online genealogy and to encourage individual as well as group participation in the worthy goals when the USGenWeb was first created. Respectfully submtted, Carol Haagensen State Coordinator, Wyoming