[committee] Wheel generational issues

[Andrew Adamson]

Hi All,

I've been mulling over an idea since someone on the list mentioned that 
wheel was becoming top-heavy with old-guard. Though I am putting this idea 
out there, I must admit that I am in two minds about it; wheel is 
fundamentally a very thankless volunteer position, and I don't want to be 
putting us all in a position where we feel forced to do things, or duties 
become expected, as has happened to door group over the last few years. 
Wheel members are fundamentally trusted, and I'm still not convinced of 
the needs or benefits of making it non-top-heavy.

Anyway, the idea comes from the way the Australian Army ensures that old 
officers are making way for upcoming officers, and that it isn't becoming 
top-heavy. It's commonly referred to an up-or-out policy (check it out on 
wikipedia) - an officer must promote after two years in a role, or they 
must leave the army.

Now, wheel doesn't have "seniority" or "promotions" or "rank", however 
what we do have is knowledge to share. I suggest a system where, three 
years after ceasing to be a student, a wheel member must be contributing 
to the club via teaching other members, or they must step down from wheel. 
This could for example be in the way of tech talks, mentoring other wheel 
members (better than it's currently done). It's a little bit like the 
Engineers Australia commitment to Continuing Professional 
Development...only you are doing the teaching, not the learning.

I think this would solve a couple of real or perceived issues:

1. It would ensure that old-guard wheel members are seen about the club 
occasionally, are interacting with current students, and passing on 
knowledge

2. It could provide a set of regular tech-talk speakers

3. It would make wheel more inclined to support non-wheel members having 
root level access to a broader range of systems, since they are likely to 
want to do "stuff" still after leaving wheel. This is something I've been 
talking about with people for some time - minimising the systems that 
wheel needs to be responsible for.

4. It would reduce the number of members who stay on wheel for a very long 
time without actually contributing as a wheel member (eg: offering advice, 
fixing things, teaching stuff), as some people view this behaviour as a 
bad thing and use it as a something to point at to try and show that wheel 
is full of faceless old-guard. I view it as harmless, trusted, dedicated 
old-guard members financially supporting the club long-term.

There are still a few specifics to work out, such as a way of ensuring 
that wheel doesn't become too small, and ensuring that new members are 
added with some regularity.

As with the up-or-out system, I have concerns about loss of knowledge, and 
I also have concerns that this may make wheel less attractive to some 
people. I also have concerns that removing an old-guard members privileges 
may make them simply leave, rather than staying on and supporting the 
club. I'm sure many, many people will attest that UCC is as much about 
having a network of old-guard contacts that can get you a job as it is 
about anything else.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this idea, and how it might be improved, 
or technically implemented?

Andrew Adamson
bob at ucc.asn.au

|"If you can't beat them, join them, and then beat them."                |
| ---Peter's Laws                                                        |