Our jobs

We have, the 12 of us, been selected to the county council. It's not (for most of us) a lot of added work, mostly scanning these forums for anything that wants for comment, doing some reporting, and VOTING.

Voting is how we conduct our business. It's how we get things done. And yet I called for a vote on a matter which, under the Legal Corpus of Somersert, we MUST attend to. And in two days 5 people voted.

Where are the rest of you? Garraway has been absent this term. Rebo is busy in real life. Vana has kept up with the breeding and her reports. Dralon has yet to make an appearance during this term, and Krelian has been silent this while. Budicca I've no clue about. Bellos really only cares about the army.

But we're talking about taking 3 minutes out of your day, while you're logging in to eat and use the markets.

The council cannot function with only 5 or 6 active members, not without some drastic changes to the laws - which cannot be made without more activity.

If you're too busy, or don't care, resign. Perhaps the person next in line on your list will be more interested.

For the record Rebo has prosecuted the cases brought before him and while the defendent in one cannot be bothered to show up in court and the game mechanics dictate that a lengthy process be followed allowing for each initial indictment and defense and then each follow up prosecution and defense and witness testimony both cases have moved forward and one is ready for a ruling but another county has a warrant for the subject and I am trying to coordinate with them before passing judgment so they can apprehend him as well or have charges brought against him here before he runs.

However the discussion and voting aspects are sorely lacking in participation to be sure from many elected parties.

I make a motion that all further votes that are not directly related to security of the county for this term be conducted in the Public council room, perhaps having their inaction viewed by the public they made promises to serve will inspire counselors to show up and vote and participate.

I don't want to be miunderstood, my initial post wasn't aimed at any party (the P word!), but at individuals. Vana has been doing a fine job as Sheriff, and there's no question in my mind but that Rebo will fulfill the major duties of his position as PP. Budicca is historically quite active, that she's not yet voted on Aeryn's appointment is really quite surprising. And Bellos hasn't ever cared for much beyond the army.

That leaves Dralon, Krelian and Garraway.

I sent a note to the latter, inviting him to resign, as he obviously doesn't care about being a councillor - his last visit to this site was on July 30.

Garraway is on holiday in Greece. That is why Greg has been appointed constable in his absence.

Bello's is Bello's and we have seen this in the past.

Dralon, I believe is protesting by not participating. He has always been active in council in the past.

Budicca has been very busy IRL and has concerns about her elderly father. She has been trying to spend more time with him in addition to extra work shifts.

I too have found my IRL much more demanding at present.
As I recall Ells, just recently, some IRL situations led to you not having the time for this game. I know you still checked in but the point is I would expect you to have a little more patience about these things due to personal experience.

In addition it is the summer session which has been slower in activity from everyone not just council members as evident in game in the mines and the taverns.
Plus add the fact that there are people who are deliberately trying to sabatoge this council for partisan objectives. That is my major concern and the biggest threat to this council.

I am not protesting i am just very busy lately irl.

I have been patient, perhpaps if each of these people who do have RL issues would post an official note of absence that would serve well as to providing knowledge to the rest of the council as to their whereabouts and intentions.

I never missed a single vote when my RL situation decreased my online time, I still served the citizens by representation on any and all discussion I felt needed input and any vote that occurred. I also performed my other in game responsibilities and forwent any that were purely entertainment such as RP and MSN for the duration of that time in the interest of living up to the responsibilities I took on.

Garraway took care of his player character by putting it in retreat so it would seem he paid more allegiance to his own self than he did to the people he promised to serve and to the citizens of Somerset. That I do not have patience with.

I certainly understand RL takes precedence over a game and that sometimes life throws unexpected curve balls but if there are events on the horizon that a person knows is going to keep them away from contact with the game for extended periods then they need to reconsider their bid for office as their absence serves no one. They are better off allowing another active member of their party ( whatever their party may be) speak for them rather than just be dead weight. With the people we have had active we cannot even seem to get enough people to vote to form a majority pro or con on anything and as such NOTHING can happen.

None of us can MAKE a fellow party member show up but we can be honest about who is and who is not and WHY nothing is happening.

So I beg to differ on the REAL problem with this council which is not sabotage or conspiracy it is absence and apathy.

Quote :

So I beg to differ on the REAL problem with this council which is not sabotage or conspiracy it is absence and apathy.

I agree.
That is also a very real concern.

Quote :

Garraway took care of his player character by putting it in retreat so it would seem he paid more allegiance to his own self than he did to the people he promised to serve and to the citizens of Somerset. That I do not have patience with.

I hear the internet cafes in Greece are really expensive. Sometimes RL prevents us from having access to a computer, so you kinda need to put yourself in retreat.

It would be better if we could encourage the inactive people (yes, I do know I'm one them) to feel more comfortable posting here. I gotta say in my personal opinion, sometimes the conversations aren't exactly welcoming, and can make someone want to avoid talking here.

Please accept my most sincere apology for not posting a notice that I would be relatively inactive over the past week. I posted it in one place, but not others. This summer has been very busy for me with rl work, but I believe the rush has slowed. Look forward to hearing my pesky voice more often now .

I agree that as close to full participation in votes is good, and it is our responsibility to stay active as elected councilors. Apathy is nowhere in our job descriptions. RL can throw curve balls at us all, and that, of course, takes precedence. I also agree that partisan politicking is a great threat to our county.

[quote="LadyMarshmellow"]

Quote :

It would be better if we could encourage the inactive people (yes, I do know I'm one them) to feel more comfortable posting here. I gotta say in my personal opinion, sometimes the conversations aren't exactly welcoming, and can make someone want to avoid talking here.

I also REALLY agree with Marshy's sentiment here. We have to realize that not everyone has as much experience in the game, in real life, in the council, etc. as others. We must encourage our comrades on the council (and Somerset) to be more active, not only critisize.

Sorry again for my unannounced inactivity.

Respectfully,
Rebo

I pointed no partisan fingers, and criticized members of all parties equally. I wasn't playing that flavor of politics, and Alli, after our discussions last weekend, I really resent the implication that I was doing so.

Melle, if you can't be here for whatever reason, take 3 minutes and post a fast note mentioning your pending absence. That's no more than common courtesy. I had no clue that Garraway was on vacation. I had no idea what was going on in Budicca's life (and Budicca, I truly do wish you the best with your father, and shall add you and yours to my prayer list). Rebo, I do recall you posting that you had some business IRL that had to be dealt with, and said as much.

Posting here isn't really my point - but not voting on issues of importance is. Inactivity makes it impossible to do the business of the county. That was, and is, my only point.

Are you saying you cant go on a vacation with your family because we are playing a game ?

Garraway has informed the right person of his leave.

Now I commend you for being on spot for every vote but this is a game and real life must come first.
I will agree that if inactivity is total then one should resign.

Now why don't we just put it to law that councillors being inactive for a longer period of time (myself included still Bellos only being Bellos) will be voted out by the majority.

Should that person refuse to resign then this vote will be made public so that people will see that the person they voted for never did their job in the first place.
I take it that person wont get re-elected.l

Bellos wrote:

Are you saying you cant go on a vacation with your family because we are playing a game ?

Garraway has informed the right person of his leave.

Now I commend you for being on spot for every vote but this is a game and real life must come first.
I will agree that if inactivity is total then one should resign.l

I agree completely with everything above.

Bellos wrote:

Now why don't we just put it to law that councillors being inactive for a longer period of time (myself included still Bellos only being Bellos) will be voted out by the majority.

Should that person refuse to resign then this vote will be made public so that people will see that the person they voted for never did their job in the first place.
I take it that person wont get re-elected.l

I am hesitant about this. I believe that it should be harder to vote someone out of office than a simple majority.

For Somerset!
Rebo

Quote :

Now why don't we just put it to law that councillors being inactive for a longer period of time (myself included still Bellos only being Bellos) will be voted out by the majority.

Should that person refuse to resign then this vote will be made public so that people will see that the person they voted for never did their job in the first place.
I take it that person wont get re-elected.l

I disagree with this as well. Inactivity should not be reason to vote someone out of council unless it were a cronic situation like Micheallb on the last mandate.

Quote :

(myself included still Bellos only being Bellos)

It was not an insult but an endearment.
But when you drop in to council could you please take a moment to vote in the polls?

I read, i just dont post much anymore unless I see my input is needed, which most of the time, it seems it isnt.

I will try to improve my dear duchess