Strawman: Webizen Electoral College

Dear all,

I've gone through the list of perks suggested under the Webizen 
programme and at this point I can't say that I am convinced. Sure, it's 
nice to get a t-shirt, but frankly if that's the biggest perk this isn't 
really worth it.

I've been working around W3C for quite a few years, and many of those 
years have been as an individual (Invited Expert) running his own 
company dealing in Web and W3C-related consulting but too small for 
membership. Individual membership is certainly something I'd have 
considered very strongly, but not in exchange for a t-shirt and some 
goodwill. I have lots of nerdy t-shirts and where goodwill is concerned 
I think it's more valuable to contribute feedback, tests, or some open 
source code that helps W3C and the Web than to just give money.

I think we can give a bit more, in a way that is more conducive to 
participation (and therefore caring) as well as producing a positive 
influence, and that doesn't break the bank either. After all, there's no 
point in getting the barbarians to pay for citizenship if they stay at 
the gates. We want them inside the city walls, trading in exotic furs 
and stories of faraway lands.

Getting one seat at the AC per individual is impractical for many 
reasons, and would likely prove unfair (to other members) quickly 
anyway. But I think that we can find a fair middle ground.

Say that for every N individual members (where N x the the cost of 
individual membership is > affiliate membership) one "Webizen" seat 
opens up on the AC. And every year or two, all webizens votes to elect 
their representatives.

It's unlikely that many of those representatives would have the time and 
funds to travel to AC meetings, but they would get a vote and 
participation in member discussions. Their votes would always be a 
matter of public record (i.e. no team-only option for them) and upon 
becoming employed by a member company they would have to step down.

Not only would it be fairer and more attractive — you know, "No Taxation 
Without Representation" ;-) — but I think that it would breathe new life 
into an all-too-often somewhat dormant AC.

WDYT?

-- 
Robin Berjon - http://berjon.com/ - @robinberjon

Received on Wednesday, 19 March 2014 11:14:59 UTC