ADMINS031 - Chatnet Help Committee

This Vote Was Over 12/05/1999 & It PASSED

To the ChatNet Administrative Body: 

For sometime now I have been working on a project to improve the user help system on ChatNet. I have been 
requesting ideas and opinions from Opers, Admins, and Users alike, and compiling these ideas to see what
 could be done to actually improve the help our users are receiving and make them feel more welcome on ChatNet.
 In this effort I have came up with the idea of a "Team Help" AKA ChatNet Help Committee. This committee 
would put greater emphasis on the help our users receive, and make it their main interest to see to it 
that ALL users are equally treated and are satisfied with the help they are receiving. This will not 
only be beneficial for our users but it will reflect on ChatNet as a whole and improve the inner and 
outer appearance of the network. I have compiled an Internal Policy for this committee which will explain 
it's primary goals, guidelines within the committee, and outline how everyday activity should take place 
with in the committee. This Internal Policy should leave no holes for interpretation and together with the 
#Help Code of Conduct and the ChatNet Constitution, should help the ChatNet user help system run smoothly. 
Below I have included this Internal Policy. As you will see after reading the policy if this Committee is
 passed it will require some small changes to the #Help CoC and the ChatNet constitution. The changes are 
more or less just a rewording since the body maintaining #Help would be the Help Committee (i.e. just as 
#coder is maintained by CoderCom etc..) If you wish to see the changed documents you may view them at the 
following URLs: 

http://cosmos.lod.com/~charlie/helpcoc.txt - #Help CoC revised to work hand in hand with HelpCom 
Internal Policy 

http://cosmos.lod.com/~charlie/constitution.txt - Single article in ChatNet constitution revised.
 NOTE this only the one article that required changing, the rest of the constitution remains as is. 

As I know this will require a three-day discussion term, so I ask you as my fellow admins to please 
take the time to read this and give it your regard. I know that many of us are very busy and many times 
don't have the time to consider every issue that comes to vote, however I ask that you please read this
 and take it in to consideration because along with a little team work we can do something very amazing 
with the user help system on this network, but first it must pass here. I thank you for your time and I 
hope that everyone is doing well. 

Here is the Internal Policy for the ChatNet Help Committee: 

CHATNET HELP COMMITTEE ("Team Help") INTERNAL POLICY 

"In the Pursuit of Perfection" [11/13/99] Written by Warlock Charles White [charlie@lod.com] 

[INTRODUCTION] The ChatNet Help Committee ("Team Help") is a committee formed to bring together
 the Administrators, Operators, and Users of ChatNet who have a strong desire to help the users
 of ChatNet. It is an organized effort to make the ChatNet Help System the best it can be. Our
 slogan "In the Pursuit of Perfection" is a relentless task. A task we strive for in bringing our 
users the most comprehensive help possible. From security related matters, Virus removal, IRC related 
help, servers to Network operation and everything in between. No question or problem is too simplistic
 or insurmountable to answer or assist with if it's important to our users. It is the responsibility 
of the Help Committee to see to it that each and every user receives prompt and desirable help, in any
 situation. This includes but is not limited to: running and maintaining an up-to-date *HelpBot, 
maintaining a clean and helpful *Team Help homepage, acting in a helpful and professional manner 
at all times, and always solving and/or answering any and all questions and/or problems that the 
users of this network may have if at all possible. To maintain a helpful and professional environment
 there must be rules and guidelines set "in stone", to ensure that rules/guidelines that could be 
interpreted differently, are eliminated. Since the center of Team Help revolves around the channel
 #Help, additional rules and guidelines may be found in the Official #Help Code of Conduct. The ChatNet
 Help Committee, "In the Pursuit of Perfection", will see to it that the Help System of ChatNet is 
always top priority, and will also ensure that all efforts to help users reflects on the ChatNet IRC
 Network, and makes it shine. 

[MEMBERS] - "Chair" - [#Help Access Level: 501] 

In the ChatNet Help Committee there will be a single person who takes the overall responsibility of 
seeing to it that the main motives of the team is always directed in a strive for excellence. This 
person will be named the Chair and will take the full responsibility and commitment of any and all 
Team Help tasks upon his or her shoulders. Initially this position will be filled by the founder of
 the committee; however, in any case that the current "Chair" is to fail in fulfilling their position, 
a new "Chair" will be elected by the Senior Ops of the committee. 

*Voting issue - Although the Chairman of the ChatNet Help Committee has the authority to put in the
 last word when needed in Help Committee issues. This individual is not "GOD" of the Committee and can
 NOT make sole decisions nor close votes based on his or her opinion. The Chair's vote counts the same as 
any Senior Ops and does not constitute a final decision just because it fits his or her wishes. 

The main tasks and responsibilities of the Help Committee Chair: * The Chair is responsible for hosting
 any and all Help Committee services. This includes the "Team Help" homepage, the Official #Help HelpBot, 
and any other services and/or tools that may be used by the Help Committee to further enhance the help 
provided to our users. If the Chair does not have the resources to personally host these services, it
 is his or her responsibility to see to it that a host for these help tools are found as quickly and as 
painlessly as possible. 

* Leading any and all Help Committee activities. 

* Taking the first step in settling any and all Help Committee disputes and problems. (This includes 
internal disputes between Senior ops, helpers, etc.. Although it is hoped that the Senior Ops are 
mature enough to settle most disputes on their own, if a final word is needed, the Chair will ultimately 
be responsible for resolving the dispute.) 

* Representing the ChatNet Help Committee in a professional manner at ALL times. 

* Taking sole responsibility for all actions taken, and services provided by the ChatNet Help Committee.
 * Making the final decision concerning any and all Help Committee votes in which there is no possibility
 of decision by vote, or in the event there is a tie in the vote by the Senior Ops. 

Senior Ops - [#Help Access Level: 500] 

The Senior Ops of the ChatNet Help Committee are considered to be the "elite" of the ChatNet helpers.
 These individuals always make an sincere and honest effort to help the users of the ChatNet IRC Network 
at all times. These individuals always take the first step when situations arise that a user may be in 
need of help. Senior Ops understand and accept that they are representing the ChatNet Help Committee and
 ChatNet at all times, and they will act in a helpful and professional manner. Senior Ops are responsible 
for any and all votes that take place within the ChatNet Help Committee. This includes replacement of the
 Help Committee Chair position at such time the current Chair is no longer capable of fulfilling the 
position. The position of Senior Op will initially be filled by the individuals who originally helped 
in forming this committee. The current Senior Ops and Chair as time progresses will decide on all other 
future Senior Ops. The normal process will be for a user to start as a trainee and work their way up to 
this position as seen fit by the Committee. - 

Helpers - [#Help Access Level: 450] 

(This includes IRCops and Server Administrators) 

Helpers of the ChatNet Help Committee are the individuals who put forth the time and effort to assist and
 help the users of this network, and who put forth a sincere effort to help the ChatNet Help Committee in 
their "Pursuit for Perfection". Helpers, like Senior Ops, understand and accept that they are representing 
the ChatNet Help Committee and ChatNet at all times, and they will act in a helpful and professional 
manner. Helpers must always make helping the users of this network their first priority and must always 
take an ACTIVE role in #Help, and Help Committee activities if they wish to maintain their status within
 the committee. Furthermore, Helpers MUST and WILL take their jobs seriously if they wish to keep their
 positions in the committee. If the Chairman of the committee or one or more Senior Ops observe that a 
Helper has become a problem or has become inactive, or is not representing the committee and this network 
in a helpful and professional manner, these Senior Ops may propose that the helper be removed. When a
 Helper is removed this individual will not be offered a position in the ChatNet Help Committee again, 
unless under special circumstances, or a significant change is seen in the individual. Helpers like the 
Chairman and Senior Ops of this committee, represent this group and this network and are expected to act
 the part without fail. 

*IRCOps and Server Administrators who wish to actively participate in the ChatNet Help Committee are 
initially added as "Helpers" and do not have to start as trainees, as it is hoped the individuals in 
these positions already know the material and carry the roles that it takes to be a Helper in this
 committee. If an IRCOp or Server Administrator becomes inactive or impugns the reputation of the Help 
Committee, they may be removed from the Channel and the Committee by vote of the Chairman and Senior Ops 
of the Committee. The Help Committee has the right to veto any initial addition of an Oper/Admin as a
 helper. - 

Trainees - [#Help Access Level: 200] 

Trainees in the ChatNet Help Committee are individuals who are sincere in their efforts to help the users
 of this network and are being screened to see how much material they know and if they can contribute to 
the ChatNet Help Committee. Although the position is defined as "Trainee", these individuals are to maintain
 the same professional standards as are maintained by the Helpers, Senior Ops, and Chair of this Committee.
 If a Trainee is found to be unable to fulfill the position as a helper after a probationary time period,
 or the Trainee is seen to have caused problems, or improperly represented the ChatNet help Committee,
 they will be removed and will not have the opportunity to be screened again for a period of one year. 

[MAILING LISTS] * ExecHelp@lists.chatnet.org - This is a closed list where the Chairman and Senior Ops 
of the committee will discuss any and all issues regarding #Help and the ChatNet Help Committee. All final 
votes regarding the committee will take place on this list. * TeamHelp@lists.chatnet.org - This list will 
serve as a place for discussion and opinions regarding certain ChatNet Help Committee issues. All members 
of the ChatNet Help Committee will be added to this list (excluding Trainee's which are not considered 
full members until such time they are added as a Helper). 

[ PROCEDURES ] - Voting process - Any thing related to the ChatNet Help Committee may be modified by a 
simple majority of voting Senior Ops (including the Chair). Votes occur as follows: There will be three 
days for discussion. Once discussion has completed, the chair will post the issue for a vote. The post
 shall consist of the tracking number, the begin date and time, the end date and time, the issue being
 voted on, the choices/selections for the vote, and any special voting instructions. The vote 
lasts four days. - 

Amending Formula - These rules and guidelines may be modified at any time, but requires a two-third's
 (2/3) majority of Senior Ops (including the Chair) for any change to be effected.