Transparency

[Royals]

There has been some talk about GM's wanting to see all the ExCo discussions lately. Granted, i made the recent simming issue public in ways I shouldn't have but I'm opposed to the idea. I think it's important to have our own sanctuary of sorts and not have to have every GM chiming in. There is a time for league-wide input and a time for just ExCo discussion and that time needs it's own place.

[Padres]

General discussion about this thread ...

First let's not kid ourselves -- there is obviously a lot of discussion that goes on between some members of the of the ExCo that doesn't take place on the boards. Am I usually part of it - no, not very often. Do I care - not really. Should there be yet another friggin' rule prohibiting it - heck no. (For Christ's sake: We are not a public body and not subject to the open meetings act!)

Second, keep in mind that there are 4 permanent members and 2 "rotating" members of the ExCo. I am a rotating member, which I consider to be both an honor and an obligation. As a rotating member I realize that I may or may not continue on the ExCo - but I don't make mine decisions based on any populist whim. I try my best to look at any issue from all possible perspectives and then vote for what I believe is in the best interests of the IBC - both now and for the future.

Third, I happen to personally believe very strongly in the concept that Bren put forth (after a vote is taken the ExCo remain solid behind the group decision) and know that it is an important factor in a management group being able to work effectively together. Ironically it was Bren who then blow that concept out the window ... if we have the ExCo forum become completely visible, this concept will not be practical even if we choose to return to it as a solid management practice.

Fourth, I have long been a proponent of the most transparency possible when acting as a governing official - but there are certain areas that are best conducted in private until a public decision is made. Personnel is one such area. When the ExCo is discussing particulars about a specific GM(s) actions, I don't believe the "investigation" portion of a discussion should be public ...

Bottom line for me: If the ExCo forum becomes public, I don't really give a rat's as_. There will still be side bar discussions (see my #1) between members of the ExCo. I am not convinced it (making the ExCo forum a public forum) is the best manner of conducting group management, but I will not block it. But any hope of ever having a solid ExCo (see my #3) will never happen.

[Giants]

I don't see any compelling reason to open up this forum for everyone to read. Remember what Winston Churchill said about how the two things you never want to see made are law and sausage? Well we make IBC law in here and it isn't always pretty.

[Rangers]

There has been some talk about GM's wanting to see all the ExCo discussions lately. Granted, i made the recent simming issue public in ways I shouldn't have but I'm opposed to the idea. I think it's important to have our own sanctuary of sorts and not have to have every GM chiming in. There is a time for league-wide input and a time for just ExCo discussion and that time needs it's own place.

I just think you need to make up your mind and actually follow your own guidelines even when they inconvenience you a little.

Whether or not we make the board readable to everyone definitely changes the dynamic of the our discourse, but we can do our job effectively either way, I think. I also think that if we care to, we can pretty easily garner trust without making it transparent.

If we have to vote I'd vote, but informally speaking, I'm fine with either way.

I will say one other thing, though. If everyone in ExCo would make a habit of being objective and logical about everything, it would be pretty easy for us, I think, to be able to not be all mysterious about our individual feelings to the other guys (which is one of the things that can breed uneasy feelings for them, the fact that we've got some sort of mysterious pact), while not throwing each other under the bus. And that goes for me as much as anyone, because some of Bren's ideas drive me so nuts that ranting about them a little is something that I've found is a good release. If we're sincere and objective and not petty and arbitrary, we'll respect each other's opinions and present each other more positively to the rest of the guys. And honestly, that, as much as anything else, could very well determine how successful this approach winds up being.