By BOOKIE BALOGH
Photo by VERDE OTAARED

On May 17, about two dozen representatives of various sims in the Information Archipelago met to discuss the organization of a council.  According to the preliminary material distributed by Lorelei Junot, “As the Alliance Library System transfers ownership of most of its islands and leadership in the Info Archipelago, a council or group is needed to provide informal governance and leadership for the islands of the Archipelago.  We would like to emulate the fine model the Scilands has developed.”

There are fifty sims in the Info Archipelago; some people represent more than one sim.  Under discussion were frequency of meetings; nature and number of representation (should sims managed by the same person have one vote per sim or one vote per owner?); policies for acquiring new groups; communication; elections; and bylaws.

The primary reason for embarking on this effort is the change in the scope of operation of the Alliance Library System.  Until now, the ALS has owned thirty of the fifty islands in the Archipelago.  By the end of the transition this year, it will own – at most – four or five islands.  Junot believes that with this change, a council resembling that of the Scilands Council would be appropriate to allow the Archipelago to continue to operate as a collaborative effort.

The discussion was lively!  Some believed that the Council should meet weekly; others thought that biweekly would be better; and yet others liked the idea of a monthly meeting.  Similarly, the nature and number of representation encountered differing ideas, with the concept of a larger council and a smaller elected senate finally reaching a partial consensus.

Daisyblue Hefferman has agreed to lead a group that will address ‘zoning’ issues for the Archipelago.  Hypatia Dejavu and Beau Markova will assist her in this effort, which will be called “Good Neighbor Guidelines.”  A link with Linden Labs personnel will be necessary for the effective functioning of the group.

The education group will be headed by Dejavu, with Junot and Laurel Zenovka as committee members.  It was suggested by Sonja Morgwain that the Council “begin with an understanding for the respective missions and purposes of the islands and tenants impacted.”

Representation is a particularly thorny issue.  Some owners own multiple sims, and the question arose as to whether these owners should have a single vote or one vote for each sim that he or she owns.  According to Gentle Heron,”I think it comes down to the purpose of this body. If the purpose is overall congruence, then each owner is the same. If the purpose is representing the diversity of islands here, then each island should have a rep and a say.” There appeared to be a consensus that even with the same owner, different sims have different needs, and therefore one vote per sim may make more sense.  The bylaws committee will take these points of view into consideration and return to the Council with a recommendation.

The Bylaws Committee will be comprised of Abbey Zenith, Puglet Dancer, and Bookie Balogh.  The committee expects to report at the next meeting of the Council, which is tentatively scheduled for mid-June.

It is obvious that a governance structure will be required for the newly constituted Info Archipelago.  Until December 2009, this structure will be a temporary one, with the group experimenting with various options for the best way in which to ‘rule’ ourselves.  Meanwhile, thanks to Junot and others, the Info Archipelago council is off to a great start.

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