Hello everyone,
As our community is launched, it’s essential that we have a clear, agreed-upon way to bring forward ideas, discuss them thoughtfully, and make decisions together. The goal is to ensure every valuable suggestion gets a fair hearing and that our collective wisdom guides our actions.
Therefore, I am proposing the following process for how we can manage proposals moving forward. This very document is the first to (unofficially, for now) follow its spirit! We will, of course, discuss and vote on this proposal using our current, more informal methods, and if adopted, it will become our official way forward.
Our Guiding Principles
This proposed process is built on a few core ideas:
- Inclusivity: Making it possible for active supporters to bring ideas to the table.
- Clarity: Ensuring everyone understands how decisions are made.
- Fairness: Providing a consistent path for all proposals.
- Effectiveness: Turning good ideas into action without unnecessary delays.
Who’s Who in Our Community Idea Pathway?
Let’s define the key roles in this process:
- Administrator(s): (That’s me, for now!) The person(s) responsible for the overall health and governance of the community. In this process, the Administrator can submit ideas, will initially act as a Steward, provides ultimate oversight (like labeling a Steward’s proposal as a “Candidate” or exercising a veto in critical situations), and is responsible for implementing approved proposals.
- Members: All individuals who are part of our community forum. Members are encouraged to participate in discussions about proposals.
- Supporters (Our Paying Members): These are the members who provide financial backing to our community. Supporters are vital, and as such, they can:
- Submit proposals.
- Vote on proposals. All Supporters, including those who also serve as Stewards, form the group whose participation counts towards a vote’s quorum.
- Proposal Author: This is simply the Supporter or Steward who has submitted a particular idea for consideration.
- Stewards: These are trusted, experienced community members recognized for their sound judgment and commitment.
- Initial Phase: To get us started, I (the Administrator) will also serve as our first Steward.
- Growth Phase: As our community grows, we will identify other Supporters who can step into the Steward role. This might happen through Administrator appointment based on demonstrated commitment and insight, or perhaps through a community nomination process confirmed by the Administrator. The number of Stewards will be flexible, based on need.
- What Stewards Do: They review proposals submitted by Supporters, help ensure clarity, and can label a Supporter’s proposal as a “Candidate” if it’s ready for wider community consideration. Stewards can also submit their own proposals and vote on all proposals.
The Journey of an Idea: Our Proposed 4-Stage Pathway
Here’s how an idea will travel from a spark of inspiration to a potential community initiative, all happening within our Discourse forum:
Stage 1: The Draft - Sharing Your Idea (Flexible Timing)
- How it starts: Any Supporter or Steward can share an idea by starting a new topic in our designated “Drafts” category on Discourse.
- Free Format, Clear Intent: There’s no rigid template for proposals. We value clear communication, so just lay out your idea, why you think it’s beneficial, and any thoughts on how it might work. The clearer your proposal, the better the discussion will be.
- Getting to “Candidate” Status:
- If a Supporter posts an idea: A Steward (initially, the Administrator) will review it. If the Steward finds the proposal clear and ready for a more focused community discussion, they will indicate this by formally labeling the proposal topic as a “Candidate.” This isn’t an endorsement of the idea itself, but a signal that it’s well-presented for the next step.
- If a Steward posts an idea: To ensure impartiality and a second pair of eyes, only the Administrator can label a Steward’s own proposal as a “Candidate.”
Stage 2: Last-Call - Focused Discussion (e.g., 7 Days)
- What happens: Once an idea is labeled “Candidate,” it moves into a “Last-Call” period. This is a dedicated time (let’s say 7 days) for all members to really dig into the proposal, discuss its merits, ask questions, and offer constructive feedback.
- Stability is Key: During Last-Call, the core proposal should remain stable. The Proposal Author might offer minor clarifications based on feedback, but significant changes would generally mean an idea should go back to the Draft stage.
- Administrator’s Final Check: During this phase, the Administrator(s) will specifically review the proposal for any serious “red flags” – like potential security risks, legal issues, or something that fundamentally goes against our community’s core mission. If such an issue is identified, the Administrator will flag it publicly, which might pause the proposal or, in rare and serious cases, signal an intent to veto.
Stage 3: The Vote - Making Our Choice (e.g., 5 Days)
- Who Votes: After the Last-Call period concludes, it’s time for our Supporters and Stewards to make a decision. Voting will take place using a poll feature directly on our Discourse forum. Every Supporter and every Steward gets one vote.
- How a Decision is Made: For a proposal to be accepted, two conditions must be met:
- Participation (Quorum): More than 50% (i.e., over half) of all our community’s Supporters (including those Supporters who are also Stewards) must cast a vote. If participation doesn’t meet this threshold, the vote isn’t considered valid, and the proposal doesn’t pass due to lack of engagement.
- Approval: If the participation quorum is met, then for the proposal to pass, more than 50% (i.e., over half) of the votes actually cast must be in favor of the proposal.
- Announcing the Result: Once the voting period (e.g., 5 days) ends, the results will be clearly announced in the proposal topic by the Administrator or a designated Steward.
Stage 4: Final or Rejected - The Outcome
- If it Passes: Fantastic! The proposal is now an official community decision. The Administrator(s) will take responsibility for (or coordinate) its implementation. The proposal topic will be marked “Accepted.”
- If it Fails (or Quorum Not Met): The proposal is marked “Rejected.” This doesn’t mean the idea is bad! It might just need more work, better timing, or wider appeal. Proposal Authors are encouraged to consider the feedback and can always refine and resubmit their idea after a reasonable cool-down period (e.g., 30 days).
Why This Process Benefits Our Community
Adopting this process will, I believe:
- Empower Supporters: By giving a clear route for paying members to shape our community.
- Ensure Quality Discussion: By having Stewards help refine ideas before they go to a full vote.
- Provide Transparency: Everyone will see how decisions are being made, step by step.
- Promote Fair Consideration: All proposals follow the same understandable path.
- Guard Our Stability: With Administrator oversight for critical risks and a robust voting threshold.
Next Steps: Your Voice Matters!
This proposal is now open for your discussion. Please share your thoughts, questions, and suggestions regarding this process in the comments below.
After a period of discussion, we will hold a community vote to decide whether to adopt this CIP as our official way of handling proposals.
Let’s build a strong foundation for our community’s decision-making, together!
Sincerely,
Your Administrator