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ED A51:  Proposal for Modifying TEI Organization
(Cover note for draft proposal for document TEI SC A15)
 
Since the beginning of the project, we have operated with a slightly
unusual structure in  that one editor is formally a member of the
steering committee, whic has on occasion led  to a certain confusion
about the role of the editors in guiding the policy of the project.
With the imminent completion of the Guidelines and the consensus of
the steering  committee and editors that the TEI should continue in
operation at least for several more  years in order to extend and
revise the Guidelines and to encourage their widespread use,   the
time has come to reconsider the organization of the project, and in
particular to clarify  the roles of the steering committee and
editors. I propose, therefore, that we clarify the  relationship
between the editors and the steering committee, as further described
below.
 
I append a draft resolution (phrased with all the formality demanded
by Robert's Rules of  Order), drawn up by Michael and me, which if
approved would become document TEI  SC A15. This draft proposes to
clarify the roles of steering committee and editors by  formally
devolving the responsibility for the ordinary running of the project
upon an  'executive committee' to be composed of the steering
committee proper and the editors. In effect, the proposal provides
that the work of the steering committee will continue as in  the past,
but that the editors will be formally enfranchised in the ordinary
decision-making.
 
This proposal is not as revolutionary or earth-shattering as it might
at first appear. The  Memorandum of Understanding itself specifies
that policy questions are to be decided by the steering committee
"with the editors":
 
  The function of the steering committee will be to appoint the
editor(s),
  to monitor the work of editor(s) and drafting committees, to
consider
  and settle policy questions with the editors, to present the text to
  the advisory board of participating organizations for approval, and
  to authorize the publication of the final text.
 
This proposal, therefore, amounts to a suggestion that we formalize
this arrangement more clearly, in a way which explicitly enfranchises
the editors on matters of policy but  not on the naming of new
editors, and which avoids attempting to redefine the membership of the
steering committee itself, since that is specified in the Memorandum
of  Understanding.
 
 
---- [draft of TEI SC A15]
 
 
[TEI SC A15.  Draft proposal.  Not adopted, not for dissemination to
anyone.]
 
WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Understanding among the sponsoring
organizations of  the Text Encoding Initiative provides that policy
questions arising in the course of the  project are to be resolved by
the Steering Committee of the TEI together with the editors,
 
THEREFORE be it resolved herewith by the Steering Committee of the
Text Encoding Initiative:
 
* that the Steering Committee devolves its responsibility for the
ordinary business of  guiding the TEI, settling issues of policy, and
the like upon an Executive Committee of  the TEI;
 
* that the Executive Committee shall comprise (a) the members of the
Steering  Committee, and (b) the editors (both editor in chief and
associate editor) appointed by the Steering Committee;
 
* that meetings of the Steering Committee and of the Executive
Committee shall coincide,  and that all business except that which is
concerned with the appointment and removal of  editors and evaluation
of the editors' performance shall be discharged by the Executive
Committee; at its discretion, the Steering Committee may discuss and
act upon these latter  issues without the participation of the other
members of the Executive Committee.
 
----- [end of draft of TEI SC A15]
[end of draft of TEI ED A51]