Hi all,
First of all: best wishes for 2014.
Secondly: A reminder that proposed bylaws for GO::DH have been available for comment since December 9th: http://www.globaloutlookdh.org/proposed-bylaws/
These have been reviewed and approved by consensus by the ad hoc, volunteer executive and the elected steering committee that established GO::DH last year. Because GO::DH doesn't have any current bylaws (establishing them was a goal of 2013), there is no mechanism in place for approving them other than fiat. Our idea was to solicit public comment and then act according to the nature of that comment. If the comment was favorable (or in the absence of comment), our plan was to assume that they take effect when the first officers and executive elected under their provisions take office at the end of this month.
We had proposed a review period ending at the end of December. Because of the holiday break, and because accommodation and flexibility are important principles of the bylaws, We can afford an extra week for comment. If you have any suggestions, criticisms, comments, or endorsements that you would like to inform the adoption of these bylaws, please say something on the list or privately before 0000, 8 January, AoE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anywhere_on_Earth).
Assuming there are no significant objections, we'd like to start recruiting potential candidates for election to the first bylaw-governed executive right away on the 8th. So please also consider allowing your name to stand for the first official GO::DH executive!
-dan