[IAEP] Ombudswoman Requested (Sugar Labs volunteer position)

[Adam Holt]

As a newly elected member of Sugar Labs Oversight Board, I've been 
reminded several people cannot get important answers they need in public 
places.

To this end, Bert Freudenberg (Sugar Labs' current Ombudsperson), 
Michael Stone, Henry Hardy and I have talked by email/phone/in-person 
over the past week about clarifying peacemaking channels, to convert a 
sometimes pattern of anger and misunderstandings in our community, over 
to what we all really want: Curiosity over assumptions/fear; building a 
genuine Culture of Constructiv(ist!) Critique; Participation not just 
from the Loud but also from the Shy, etc.

We refuse to be enemies!  To this end, we propose a Co-Ombudsperson 
(perhaps female) step up to this not-quite-judicial role ASAP, to assist 
Bert with:

* responsiveness -- acknowledging receipt of substantive communications 
(even if delusional in appearance) within two days of receipt, and 
providing regular status updates at tempos similar to weekly for 
long-running items, whenever possible.

* peacemaking -- vigorously pursue peacemaking with a speed and manner 
which are not in-and-of-themselves threatening.  Offline listening to 
Voice/Tone can sometimes help.

* reporting/advertising -- quasimonthly email to iaep (at) 
sugarlabs.org, very succinctly summarizing how many people approached 
ombudsman (at) sugarlabs.org for roughly what reasons, carefully 
preserving confidentiality.  Or a more comprehensive quarterly report in 
Walter's weekly Sugar Digest could also be fine.

Please apply/forward/nominate a friend if you can help fill this role!  
Let's keep an informal antibureaucratic approach, with above checks & 
balances.  While Bert believes we'd benefit from a reflective/patient 
Ombudswoman, we also encourage All to apply.  This is not an activist 
role and should Not require a heavy time commitment.  You will however 
have criticial fiduciary responsibilities, managing a very sensitive 
channel, and will certainly be able to put this on your resume.  
Finally, the recently elected Sugar Labs' Oversight Board 
(http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Oversight_Board) will have the final say 
on this decision and your appointment, thanks!

        "[t]here never was a good war or a bad peace"
                        --Benjamin Franklin, Sept 11th 1783

PS read some Great Ombudsfolk Resources, if you are new to this key 
Swedish invention from 200 years ago (trustbuilding privacy is not just 
for whistleblowers, it also enhances enhancing participation _and_ 
institutional transparency if we get this right!)
1. http://ombuds-blog.blogspot.com eg. "confidentiality, independence, 
multipartiality"
2. http://mit.edu/ombud/publications eg. "neutral, confidential, 
independent, informal"
3. http://mit.edu/mediation/resources.html
4. http://mediate.com