Conflict between members, the process

[wandrson]

So, one of the issues on the other thread is the discipline process. This seems to be occuring because of some issues about how the process is supposed to occur when members come into conflict.

Here is the relevent section of our current rules:

Formal Complaints

The formal complaint process exists for members to request a discussion be held by the Board of Directors regarding specific actions of another member. Members are expected to
discuss their complaints in a calm and polite manner. Mediation is available to resolve issues without the need of a formal complaint.

1. Formal complaints against another member must be submitted, in writing, to the Board of Directors or to any member of the Board of Directors.[5] The complaint must have two parts outlined at minimum, a “Complaint” part and a “Recommended Solution” part.

2. The Board of Directors will decide to either hold a special meeting regarding this matter, or will consider it at the next meeting in its cycle.

3. The Board of Directors is not required to act in accordance to the grievance or complainant’s “Recommended Solution” part and may devise its own remediation.

4. Complaints will be added to the agenda of the meeting, posted on this wiki, without identifying information.

5. Minutes for the meeting will not be scrubbed of identifying information.

So, according to these rules, if the complaint is handled by mediation between the two parties it wouldn’t be a disciplinary action and hence no record is need, since the disciplinary action must be performed by the entire board and minutes need to be maintained. So for those of you concerned about your privacy for minor matters, open disclosure shouldn’t affect that, in my opinion.

However, past practice has had the board treat these mediations as if they were disciplinary actions. In fact, for Tom’s recent ban past conflicts that never arose to an actual board item were included as reasons for the ban. This is a problem. Either they must be treated as the language describes, a mediation between two parties, or one or more of the parties must escalate it to an actual complaint for which the board can render a judgement on the record.

I believe if these rules were followed as written we wouldn’t have the privacy concern that seems to be a major objection.

[wandrson]

Another big item for this. The mediator does not need to be a board member or officer of the organization. Any disinterested member may assist you in mediating the conflict. The mediator is not there to render any judgement, but simply to help the two parties discuss the problem calmly until they resolve the issue themselves.