After a great deal of consideration, and a LOT of persuasion on the community mailing list, twitter, IRC and even the phone, I'd like to rescind my rejection and accept Texrat's nomination, if that's permitted.

I'm still very unconvinced about my usefulness to the Council, but since others seem to think I can be of value, I'm prepared to try my best if that's what people want.

Please understand, I have limited knowledge of modern business practices, though I did work for many years in organisations almost entirely run by volunteers, so have some idea how volunteer communities work. But I don't have the first clue of the modern 'business speak'.
Equally, I have no experience of coding - I can just about knock up a page of html, and that's my limit!

So what do I bring?

Enthusiasm a-plenty
Willingness to have a go - at most things, including technical stuff with a bit of support
Concern for the 'average bears' in comunity, which doesn't mean the outspoken angry people demanding stuff on principle, but people who're trying to get the best out of their device with limited tech skills.
People and communication skills - including presentation skills if you ever need them, and English language skills.
Commitment to bridging maemo and meego - and a determination that us bears of very little brain will still have our own corner in meego somewhere.

If any of that can be of use for the next 6 months, I'll stand.

Kathy

Originally Posted by Texrat

There are numerous people deserving nominations IMO. In addition to my colleagues on the current council, the following immediately come to mind listed in no particular order:

epage
fatalsaint
sjgadsby
yerga
pycage
anidel
zerojay
revdkathy
flandry
timoph
SD69

There are numerous people deserving nominations IMO. In addition to my colleagues on the current council, the following immediately come to mind listed in no particular order:

epage
fatalsaint
sjgadsby
yerga
pycage
anidel
zerojay
revdkathy
flandry
timoph
SD69

Originally Posted by epage

I had not considered this before. I haven't even been paying attention to this thread. I just saw in "Active Topics" that RevdKathy posted and was hoping it was about her running for the council

Of the various ways of contributing (greeters, bug squad, wiki, development, community affairs, etc) I've figured that my comparative advantage was in development and have focused exclusively on that.

I guess I'll give this some thought. If anyone has suggestions or info to help me make a decision, feel free to pass it on.

Originally Posted by Texrat

Hmmm. The last few times I've tried to explain my position there I got flamed...

But I'll give it a shot.

I was taken to task for saying this would be an important term when I last ran and then recently saying we (although I should have said "I") knew it could likely be a "lame duck" term as well. I want to make clear that I held both thoughts concurrently before the last election and had indeed expressed some doubt over the council's continuation at the time. With that said, my goal was to work with the other 4 and find ways of keeping a lame duck situation from occurring. I think we were largely successful, as Jaffa has highlighted.

However, my crystal ball continues to fail. I do see a need for the council, particularly around getting Maemo opened as much as possible. But predicting the Nokia side of things has been a crap shoot.

I think the next batch of representatives need to be stubborn but open-minded. I think they'll need to pick their battles wisely. They should also communicate early to explain their individual thoughts on the council's purpose and come to a consensus on how to speak and act as a group. And to address opening Maemo, they'll need to be equal parts deep-tech guru and diplomat. We'll need people who understand the intricacies involved in opening Maemo further and who can communicate plans and possibilities clearly to Nokia. To that extent, I would certainly like to see any of the other 4 run again.

I will skip the next term as promised. However, unless something interferes, I will continue here as a moderator and will support the next council 100% in any way I can.

Just vote!

...they'll need to be equal parts deep-tech guru and diplomat.

Originally Posted by YoDude

BTW, I was not aware that you "promised" not to run again. Was that promise made in these forums?

Originally Posted by Texrat

I'm not going to get entangled in continued misunderstanding and semantics over other issues, but I will answer this.

I have said many times in this forum I will only serve 2 terms consecutively, not that I wouldn't run again at all. I need a break, and want others to have an opportunity. I'm glad we had some step up at the last minute.

And just curious, why promised in quotes? That's exactly what it was, so no need for any suspicion or insinuation of anything else.

Originally Posted by Texrat

...so no need for any suspicion or insinuation of anything else.

Originally Posted by Texrat

There are also some from previous councils I would like to see run:

* timsamoff
vdvsx
qole
gcobb

...

* timsamoff nominated himself after I posted this

Originally Posted by qole

I think I might run for whatever elected Maemo/Meego community body is around in 6 months, because I'm honestly hoping that my life will have stabilised enough by then. Ask me again in the new year