Re: [ietf-nomcom] NomCom 2023 Extension of Nomination Period to 2023-10-12

[Michael StJohns <[e-mail]>]

On 9/28/2023 2:09 PM, Salz, Rich wrote:
>> By virtue of their position in the process, the Nomcom and the
> confirming bodies have an ability to say something about the job
> descriptions.
>
> I have never heard that from anyone before this. I wonder if others believe this, or if you are in the rough.
>
>
Clipping out all of the rest of it isn't helpful here.

As I said - this is de facto, not de jure.   So far, the Nomcoms mostly 
haven't had to deal with "in the rough" PDs - I think.  I may be wrong - 
but since I haven't been on all of the Nomcoms, and since those details 
tend to be confidential, I'll never know.

It's not only what's written in the PD, it's what interpretation the 
Nomcom and its member place on the PD.  Each combo of nomcom members 
will reach a "unique" understanding of the requirements for a given 
position and will use their own judgement to fit round candidates into 
the mostly round hole they interpret.

Nomcom members are people, with biases, life knowledge, intelligence and 
varying levels of cussedness.  They are not automatons running a program 
that gives the same meaning to a PD that every other member gives.  The 
more objective the requirements, the closer you get to common meaning.  
The more general the requirements, the further the spread among the 
understandings of what's required.  Discussion helps to narrow the scope.

Finally, I would expect any Nomcom that receives an "in-the-rough" PD to 
push back through the appropriate Liaison - that's one of the reasons 
they're there.  If that doesn't result in a satisfying conclusion, I 
would expect the Nomcom to do the right thing for the community, not 
just for the body that provided the PD, irrespective of the requirements 
stated in the PD.

So let me ask you - you've been on a few nomcoms, at least one as a 
voting member.  Did you or did you not interpret the PDs you were handed 
in light of your own experience, your experience with the IETF and with 
the discussion within the Nomcom?

Later, Mike