[statecom] Response Hammerman item #4

[Wanda Boeke]

To Jim Hammerman and State Committee:

Thanks for your meticulous approach to things, we could use you on...well,
just about every committee we have!

Regarding item #4 on what constitutes quorum and how the alternates fit in.
When quorum is taken at a regular meeting, alternates are not counted (one
reason Berkshire remains purely alternates and no full reps - we're so far
away that we often can't get to SC meetings and we don't want to jeopardize
quorum).

In the virtual setting, facilitators try to establish early on whether a
person participating in the consensus-building process is legit or not (i.e.
an 'official' alternate taking a particular rep slot). If the situation
appears resolved, the facilitators count the number of people involved in
the call for consensus, without including the alternate(s), just to see if
quorum has been reached. The same goes for voting, if the situation appears
to warrant a vote. However, the outcome of the consensus as well as that of
the vote includes the alternates (using the 2/3 equation).

Clear as mud, right?

BTW: regarding who can nominate co-facilitators for a meeting, it appears
that the bylaws are at odds with the standing rules (co-chairs may nominate
along with state committee, but not in the same document). But not to worry,
the Procedure Committee is aware of this and has put this along with other
bylaws improvements on the front burner (I'm on Procedures at the moment).

Wanda