Scott's Votes for PSi's Executive Council Members
PoetrySlam Inc. will be having elections next Saturday to install new board mmbers. We have a larger number of slots open than usual, six to be exact: three 2-year terms and three 1-year terms. Usually it's 3 or 4, dependng on the rotation. We had some slots open up mid-term this time around, so we have more openings than usual.
This will be the first time I'm not running for re-election since coming onto the EC ten years ago. It feels weird knowing I won't be on the EC in a couple of weeks, but I'm excited about what we've built to date. It is my hope that the next version of the EC - which will have a significant amount of new blood after next week's election - sees the work that's been done, the work left to do, and the potential to take PSi and Slam to the next level in all the right ways.
To that end, here are the people I'm officially voting for. Sure, someone could get nominated at the meeting itself, but I can only think of one person's nomination I would entertain under those circumstances in light of the new call system we used (which was a rousing success). As far as I'm concerned, if you haven't posted your intent to run in the last three months since we've had a call out then you don't want the job (or you don't want it for the right reasons).
My picks:
1) Sam Castello
He's currently on the EC serving out a one-year term. He's currently acting as Interim Financial Manager (Steve Marsh's old, lastjob) until we hire a new one. He works on a similar body in his work life, so wen he came onto the EC in a bind he made an IMMEDIATELY positive impact. The guy has a keen eye for holes and his willingness and ability to get into a task is pretty awe-inspiring. He is someone who makes me feel a twinge of regret about leaving because he's a MONSTER at this. Nice, professional, even-toned...a perfect EC member.
2) Inkera Oshun
I've worked with Inkera for a few years now on the EC and she's as open and direct a person as you'll find. We actually disagree on a number of things, but my respect for her remains top-of-the-pile. She's got a ton of PSi hosting experience at this point and she's great at batting clean-up. She can find holes in your process like nobody's business. You want her back on here.
3) Karen G.
She is a fiercely respected member of our community at large, and for good reason: she wants what's best for as many people as possible. She has great heart and she believes in as much communication as possible. She's a local-level organizer and she won't compromise her ideals. If she agrees to something, you can rest assured it's because she believes it's for the best of the rest, not herself.
4) Logic
Logic has organizing experience at the local and regional level that I've witnessed, and the guy knows how to keep it live.He has a long-abiding and profound respect for Slam's history, while always keeping an eye on how we can keep the party moving forward. He's been trained by the best (the Marshs) and I have met no one who is more eager to get on the EC in the last year. This dude called me up while I was sick and still had me on the phone for 30 minutes about this stuff, wanting to make sure he knew how it all worked. Passionate, earnest and grounded. He would make a fine addition to the EC.
5) Dylan Garrity
I don't know Dylan personally but I have followed his communication in the forums with a keen eye. We don't agree on every apsect of everything but he has his heart in the right place. He's relatively new to the scene at large - only a few years with PSi events - but that's more time than I'd spent with PSi before I got on EC. I like his tone, I respect his positions, and I think he brings the right amount of yang. Given time, he might become a really strong personality in our community for all the right reasons.
6) Brother Said
I once said that of all the people perceived as rabble-rosuing assholes in our community that the only one that I would want to work with was Brother Said. Now, since I'm leaving EC I am a little hesitant here but there is one thing I will always beleive about Said: he respects organization. He wants PSi organized and he is willing to dig through the dirty paperwork to research the issues to build a case. Als, he cuts to the quick. No long, drawn-out fights with him. Either whatyou want to do is supported by rules or it is not. He wants to make sure that powers are where powers belong, and he believes strongly in SlamMaster rights. I would love to see him in a one-year term to see how he can help us out.
NEW 6) Kirk hardesty
I can't even count the number of times Kirk's name has come up when the EC was pondering a replacement or someone who might make a good fit for some job or another. I am REALLY said I might not get the chance to work with Kirk, assuming he makes the cut...which he should.
Said is my boy, but Kirk is my choice.
Of these candidates only one did not respond to most of the questions people posed of the candidates. That's entirely coincidental. I mean, I care about those answers and I think it says something about your ability, commitment or work ethic that you couldn't make that time that other peopl did, but ultimately these people receive my vote because of who they are, what they represent and what I think they can bring to PSi in light of how I know PSi works (or can).
Good luck candidates!
This will be the first time I'm not running for re-election since coming onto the EC ten years ago. It feels weird knowing I won't be on the EC in a couple of weeks, but I'm excited about what we've built to date. It is my hope that the next version of the EC - which will have a significant amount of new blood after next week's election - sees the work that's been done, the work left to do, and the potential to take PSi and Slam to the next level in all the right ways.
To that end, here are the people I'm officially voting for. Sure, someone could get nominated at the meeting itself, but I can only think of one person's nomination I would entertain under those circumstances in light of the new call system we used (which was a rousing success). As far as I'm concerned, if you haven't posted your intent to run in the last three months since we've had a call out then you don't want the job (or you don't want it for the right reasons).
My picks:
1) Sam Castello
He's currently on the EC serving out a one-year term. He's currently acting as Interim Financial Manager (Steve Marsh's old, lastjob) until we hire a new one. He works on a similar body in his work life, so wen he came onto the EC in a bind he made an IMMEDIATELY positive impact. The guy has a keen eye for holes and his willingness and ability to get into a task is pretty awe-inspiring. He is someone who makes me feel a twinge of regret about leaving because he's a MONSTER at this. Nice, professional, even-toned...a perfect EC member.
2) Inkera Oshun
I've worked with Inkera for a few years now on the EC and she's as open and direct a person as you'll find. We actually disagree on a number of things, but my respect for her remains top-of-the-pile. She's got a ton of PSi hosting experience at this point and she's great at batting clean-up. She can find holes in your process like nobody's business. You want her back on here.
3) Karen G.
She is a fiercely respected member of our community at large, and for good reason: she wants what's best for as many people as possible. She has great heart and she believes in as much communication as possible. She's a local-level organizer and she won't compromise her ideals. If she agrees to something, you can rest assured it's because she believes it's for the best of the rest, not herself.
4) Logic
Logic has organizing experience at the local and regional level that I've witnessed, and the guy knows how to keep it live.He has a long-abiding and profound respect for Slam's history, while always keeping an eye on how we can keep the party moving forward. He's been trained by the best (the Marshs) and I have met no one who is more eager to get on the EC in the last year. This dude called me up while I was sick and still had me on the phone for 30 minutes about this stuff, wanting to make sure he knew how it all worked. Passionate, earnest and grounded. He would make a fine addition to the EC.
5) Dylan Garrity
I don't know Dylan personally but I have followed his communication in the forums with a keen eye. We don't agree on every apsect of everything but he has his heart in the right place. He's relatively new to the scene at large - only a few years with PSi events - but that's more time than I'd spent with PSi before I got on EC. I like his tone, I respect his positions, and I think he brings the right amount of yang. Given time, he might become a really strong personality in our community for all the right reasons.
6) Brother Said
I once said that of all the people perceived as rabble-rosuing assholes in our community that the only one that I would want to work with was Brother Said. Now, since I'm leaving EC I am a little hesitant here but there is one thing I will always beleive about Said: he respects organization. He wants PSi organized and he is willing to dig through the dirty paperwork to research the issues to build a case. Als, he cuts to the quick. No long, drawn-out fights with him. Either whatyou want to do is supported by rules or it is not. He wants to make sure that powers are where powers belong, and he believes strongly in SlamMaster rights. I would love to see him in a one-year term to see how he can help us out.
NEW 6) Kirk hardesty
I can't even count the number of times Kirk's name has come up when the EC was pondering a replacement or someone who might make a good fit for some job or another. I am REALLY said I might not get the chance to work with Kirk, assuming he makes the cut...which he should.
Said is my boy, but Kirk is my choice.
Of these candidates only one did not respond to most of the questions people posed of the candidates. That's entirely coincidental. I mean, I care about those answers and I think it says something about your ability, commitment or work ethic that you couldn't make that time that other peopl did, but ultimately these people receive my vote because of who they are, what they represent and what I think they can bring to PSi in light of how I know PSi works (or can).
Good luck candidates!