Re: [Diversity] IETF Diversity Update

["STARK, BARBARA H" <[e-mail]>]

> > What do you think about having more WG secretaries as a training option
> > before becoming a chair?
> 
> Sounds like a really good idea to me. Gives enough time for person to gain
> experience + give IETF enough time to make sure that the person can make
> the cut for a WG chair. Bonus point for implementation is that we can do this
> on a WG by WG basis to see how well it works in practice.

Just to provide an alternate opinion...
As someone who has often volunteered to take minutes or be jabber scribe, I think the idea of closing these jobs to volunteers (by making them fixed positions) may have undesired consequences. If "secretaries" were selected in the same manner as chairs and authors, I think it could actually make it harder for some people to get involved/noticed.

WG chairs and authors appear to me to be selected by ADs and WG chairs (respectively) from among the pool of people who are known to them, without any open call for volunteers. At least this has been my experience. Volunteering to take minutes (on a session-by-session basis) has been one job that people can use to demonstrate a willingness to step forward and do work, and become known. The other ways, of course, are to review and comment on drafts, and write individual drafts. The advantage of starting involvement by minute-taking (as opposed to draft-writing or commenting) is you don't immediately make yourself into a target. This makes for a kinder and gentler entry into the world of IETF involvement.

My vote would be to continue to allow note-taking to be filled by volunteers on a session-by-session basis.
Barbara