[r6rs-discuss] Steering vs. Driving

[Marc Feeley]

On 22-Feb-09, at 5:52 PM, Michael Lenaghan wrote:

> I have a question for the candidates. Some of you--like Will and Bear
> and Marc--seem to have a fairly clear vision of what you think the
> process should produce. And yet by placing yourselves on the Steering
> Committee you remove yourselves from where the action is--i.e., from
> being one of the Editors. So: why be on Steering?
>
> As someone alluded earlier, I was thinking of ranking some people
> lower because I thought they'd make mighty fine Editors--capital "E"
> and all. But maybe that's wrong-headed.

Several reasons:

1) The way I see it the Steering committee is responsible for  
preserving the essence (I've also called it "the soul" and "the  
ideals") of Scheme.  That's a mighty important job because it defines  
our community.  Whatever the qualities of the editors, it will be of  
little consequence if the Steering committee runs Scheme into the ditch.

2) I've said in my statement that I think the Steering committee  
should be more involved in the design process itself.  The Steering  
committee should not limit its duties to "policing" the  
standardization process.  It should interact with the editors in an  
active way.

3) The Steering committee can, and should, amend the charter to make  
this possible.  How? I'm not sure at this point.  But this will have  
to be one of the first topics of discussion on the SC's agenda.

Marc