User talk:ElectionJune2016/Referenda/5

Can't see provision for election of EiC. Peter Jackson (talk) 17:16, 26 May 2016 (UTC)

I do not intend to vote in support of this referenda. It strikes me that this is simply an easy way to avoid confronting the uncomfortable truth that more of an effort should be made to get more people involved with the project. If this project simply becomes a one-man band driven by the EiC, then the project has become no better that a personal website that anyone could create and update. The emphasis should be on adding content that is of use to those searching for people using the internet. Without intending to disparage other editors, articles such as "English Spellings" are unlikely to result in much traffic coming to this site. I would support the role of the EiC with a different referenda, one where the EiC works to complete articles to a list provided by the governing committee, and which is focused on articles that bring the work of the project to the attention of a wider audience, thus also supporting a recruitment drive for more editors. Alan Horton (talk) 10:59, 6 June 2016 (UTC)

• Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Alan. I should point out that a collaborative group that has a leader does not constitute a "one-man band". Currently, Citizendium has no leader, no person to take responsibility for coming up with and implementing new approaches to establish Citizendium as a unique comprehensive compendium of knowledge. Just as the President of the United States has executive powers to initiate novel approaches to solving problems in the interest of the country, the EiC would have similar executive powers in solving problems in the interest of the mission of Citizendium. Furthermore, the Citizendium Council remains the legislative body of Citizendium, with policy making powers and the ability to override any veto of those policies by the EiC. Leadership is critical to the success of any organization, and in nearly ten years of operation, the Citizendium Council or its equivalents has not provided the winning leadership that you are looking for with Citizendium.

• As to "more of an effort should be made to get more people involved with the project", that is precisely what the leader is expected to do. For example, he/she might institute a program of author-owned citable articles solicited from academic experts not currently members of the Citizendium community. A corresponding main article could be available for the community to edit, allowing the author of the author-owned citable articles to update their articles based on those edits. The EiC would contact the academic experts, or other specialists, personally to invite them to contribute. Inasmuch as the author-owned articles are versioned and citable, they could serve as open access articles without any fees to be paid by the authors. It would also serve as "adding content" to Citizendium in specified forms, such as commentary on article published in journals, review articles on topics, etc.

• As to the EiC working "to complete articles provided by the governing committee [Citizendium Council], that is a good idea. The EiC could have the power to do that for non-completed articles that he/she has chosen himself/herself based on practical considerations. Your idea shows leadership qualities in its author.

• Thank you again for your input. The EiC should seek input from the community at large as well as the Council and his/her advisory group. I hope you will reconsider your vote on Referenda/5. -Anthony.Sebastian (talk) 20:45, 6 June 2016 (UTC)