Creative Commons Aotearoa New Zealand discussion

["Danyl Strype" <strypey AT riseup.net>]

Kia ora koutou

I'd like to extend a huge vote of thanks to both Jane and Stephanie  
for carrying this administration of this project through some  
difficult transitional times. The Council for the Humanities and the  
Royal Society and the various players involved would have had their  
own concerns and agendas, which I imagine would have made for some  
long and stressful meetings. Sunlight is the best disinfectant and I  
firmly believe that CCANZ needs to be run in a transparent fashion.  
However, but we also have to deal with the requirement imposed by  
iCommons to work under the administrative umbrella of an established  
organization, and the veils this may throw over things from time to  
time.

In hindsight it's clear what a driving force Dr Brian Opie was in the  
Council, the HRN Board, and CCANZ. His unexpected retirement resulted  
in a lot of dropped balls all around, including the calling of HRN  
Board meetings. Jane seems to have taken the blame for much of this, I  
think unfairly. The way she has managed to keep various plates  
spinning, in the absence of clear decision-making and communcation  
processes, and administrative support, required her to perform above  
and beyond the call of duty. Jane your efforts did not demonstrated a  
lethal competence, and you will be as asset to any organization lucky  
enough to hire you in the future. I hope we can convince you to stay  
involved with CCANZ.

To me it seems clear to me that the CCANZ community needs to organize  
itself to some degree, so that we can provide some feedback and  
support to our paid staff (ie Jane ;) I'd like to reiterate the  
suggestion for some kind of CCANZ meetup at the Linux.org.au event in  
Poneke in late Jan, although I'll be in Te Wai Pounamu at the time,  
and won't be able to make the event myself. Such sector meetings are  
one way to bring CC folk together. Beyond that, I agree there is a  
need for another public meeting, which brings together reps from a  
range of sector groups, and I'd like to see this happen in Feb/ March.

He mihi nui
Danyl


Quoting "Jane Hornibrook" <janehornibrook AT gmail.com>:

> Thanks Paul Suthland, Ian Thompson and Paul Reynolds for your thoughts. I
> will try to answer some of your queries.
>
> Curiously I'm making this point despite, as far as I know, still being a
> Board member of the the Humanities Network Board.
> Given that it hasn't met for an eaon - and its current status is unknown -
> this is hardly surprising - but it is, at least to me, another part of my
> concern.
>
> I can't answer on behalf of the HRN board as to why it hasn't met over the
> 2009 period, but that in it's absence I was fortunately able to report
> directly to the Council for the Humanities. Dr Lousie O'Brien retired from
> the Humanities Research Network early this year, and I have been attempting
> to maintain it's website at a bare minimum since then as there hasn't been a
> replacement for her.
>
> I cant see the two forums mentioned - i looked at
> http://www.humanitiesresearch.net/collaborative_forum/digital_strategy maybe
> I am looking in the wrong place.
>
> Try here:
> http://www.humanitiesresearch.net/forums/general/humanities_within_the_royal_society
>
> An explanation (without implying an excuse) as to why there has been a lack
> of transparency surrounding the developments within CCANZ.
>
> In answer to your question Paul about the lack of work being done on CCANZ
> during February 2010 (and your reference to academic holidays), there are no
> academics working on this project. In fact, CCANZ has consisted this year of
> Stephanie and of myself, an inexperienced graduate, employed to maintain the
> "website", on part time hours, with little to no organisational resources
> and with zero certainty about any future of CCANZ two months in advance.
> This scenario hasn't left much room for the publication of discussion
> papers. If leave was not taken during the month of January, and discussions
> started back in February, CCANZ would not be able to sustain its part time
> staff during the critical period of mid-2010 when funding and project
> jurisdiction matters will be finalised.
>
> Of course CCANZ should not be run like this, hence the purpose of the HRN
> board. Stephanie and I have not forgotten that CC needs an independent and
> multi-sector governance for CC next year within a new host, and the RSNZ
> have also recognised the need for a revived independant structure in the
> spirit of the HRN board.
>
> CCANZ founder, Dr Brian Opie retired from the Council in 2008, and Stephanie
> Pietkiewicz has been extremely helpful in initiating discussions with
> various parties and intuitions about the way forward for CCANZ, and
> advocating for the project within the Council for the Humanities (which has
> unfortunately decided at this late stage not to keep it). It was never my
> wish to keep the intentions of the Council and its decision on CCANZ
> "veiled", but have found the dynamics around it's negotiations with the RSNZ
> (which invariably include those of CCANZ) haven't made it easy for either
> Stephanie or I to initiate public feedback.
>
>
> For these reasons I have failed to
>
> 1. Encourage the appropriate people to maintain the HRN board function, or
> encourage more transparency for Council business.
>
> 2. Develop a system whereby the community and stakeholders can become
> involved in the beginning of the decision making process.
>
> 3. Acquaint myself fully with the process in which CCANZ was first brought
> to New Zealand, and realise the protocols and procedures that should
> surround further actions.
>
> I am deeply sorry for this incompetency, and that I've let you down. I will
> try my to ensure that the project is furnished next year with the relevant
> expertise and experience when I leave the CCANZ as soon as I am able.
>
> With regards,
>
> Jane
>
> --
> Jane Hornibrook
> Creative Commons Aotearoa New Zealand
> Ph  +64 4 472 9488
> Cel +64 2761 98139
> www.creativecommons.org.nz
> A project of the Council for the Humanities
> www.humanities.org.nz



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