How about some kind of pact that we don't claim "sub-community status" if and/or when the board has to go through consolidation. That wouldn't put the thread first on the chopping block, but at some point, this sub-community thing has got to give (and I say that, realizing the only other threads I still post in regularly, are sub-communities).

I'm on the side of "no clauses, and we won't be pissy if we're told we're a drain on resources." Or, yeah, if we adversely impact on resources, I think we're big enough to let it go. Though I reserve the right to pout.

Do we have someone to count votes? (I think Nilly volunteered somewhere upthread.)

She did.

ita - can you make sure votes@... points to her?

When does voting start? (Due to my own personal responsibilities, my final draft of the proposal will be posted no later than 3:00 P.m. EST/12:00 p.m. board time.) So as far as I'm concerned the ballot can be set up anytime after that.

I'll be busy at that time, but should be able to get a ballot up a few hours after that, say by 10PM EDT, 7PM board time.

Huh.

Huh, what?

No. Huh's on second.

Who?

Who's on third.

Huh is all I had to say after reading some 400+ messages in this thread. I was being laconic.

No, who's on first. I don't know's on third.

(ETA: And Huh is in right field.)

And I prefer the informal "waive the special community" argument. Because we have two competing values here. Limit on resources is a very real concern, for all the reasons that I won't repeat because others have ably argued them above.

The other value is to have a board that meets our needs. Those needs change over time, and we need a board that's flexible enough to change with our needs.

At this point, I lean toward a book club thread but am persuadeable.

Final version.

Proposal:

To have a Book Club thread wherein a specific book would be discussed, Buffista style, on a specific time rotation. The initial basic structure for the Book Club thread (subject to unrestricted modification as contained below) will be:

1) One book a month. The first 3 books will be chosen at the beginning of the thread by participants in the thread with at least a month of lead time for the first book, and every book thereafter. The method of choosing will be suggestions from participants, narrowed down by consensus and, if necessary, a Mr. Poll. Literary diversity will be encouraged. Only books that are readily available at your public library will be eligible.

2) Book discussions will not be officially moderated. "Benign" moderation in the form of discussion points, questions and suggestions from readers well-versed in the text will be welcome.

3) All the details of the book club operation (including method of book selection, number of books per rotation, length of rotation, and length of discussion period) are flexible and subject to change to suit the preferences of the thread denizens.

The purpose of the thread is to accomodate an expressed desire by a number of Buffistas to have such a thread to allow focused and uninhibited discussion on a particular text as well as providing us with an opportunity and excuse to read and discuss books that may be outside our usual genre. And to have fun doing all that!

END PROPOSAL

Vote early and enjoy the weekend, everyone!