Difference between revisions of "Policy Development"

Latest revision as of 12:49, 17 May 2013

This page kept for historical purposes. -- Mkille 20:49, 17 May 2013 (UTC)

Outlined below is a Process that Free Geek Uses to Develope and Document Policies and Guidlines. Check out the Policies page for catagorizied list, Or the wiki category of pages taged as policies.

Who makes policies?

Overall policies that affect all of Free Geek, policies that affect multiple groups, and policies that are controversial in nature are decided by the Free Geek Community Council (http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/council/) and or the Free Geek Staff. Other policies are more limited in nature and decided by the appropriate working group or committee.

Developing a policy at Free Geek

So you have an idea for a policy

Research current applicable policies
NOTE: Many Policies are currently still only in the email archives
Find a couple of people to bounce your idea off of.
Document your Proposal idea to the applicable group.
NOTE: this can be done on the wiki and a link mailed there list

If you are proposing a new policy you should put its text on a new page.It should be clearly labeled as a by including this template, {{policy in development}}, at the top of the page. (Below is a full page cut and past for policy pages)

Formatting
- Please clearly separate your proposal into sections:
  1. the policy you propose (Remember process is not policy but how you comply with a policy)
  2. reason this policy is needed (would this be a change to a current policy)
  3. anything you came up with during your research
Discuss the Proposal
Discussion about the proposal should take place in the discussion link for that page, or on the mailing list. From time to time a rough consensus will be formed around various points in the proposal and at that time the main page should be altered. This allows us to separate the general conversion (ideas that we talk about but may not end up in the proposal) from the actual proposal we end up making.

We need to keep in mind that folks who don't use the wiki will have opinions. These people should be encouraged to use the wiki, but current wiki users should also seek out and summarize their input, recognizing that not everyone who ought to weigh in on an issue will be a wiki user.
Finalize the the policy
When a policy is finalized (when consensus is reached through the wiki, email lists, face to face meetings, and so on) we should re-label the main page as policy using the Template:Policy Header. The policy templates take care of the category function of the wiki making compiled lists of proposals and policies automatic.

Wiki page format for policies

Three sections in a page: header, policy, and notes.

{{policy in development}}
{{Policy Header 
| PolicyName = {{PAGENAME}}
| notes = Note on what the policy is about/Scope of policy
}}
==Policy==
''Body that set the policy(s) on [lists.freegeek_meeting_Minutes Date Adopted].''
* Wording of the most recent agreed upon policy - as agreed upon
==Notes==
Include some or all of:
* the current process for complying with this policy
* Related policies
* Interpretation/Implementation/Commentary
* Examples/Background/History
* Exceptions/Ramifications
* Etc...

If a policy was approved in a meeting, include links to the meeting minutes and other supporting material. If you don't have the link, add the page to the Category:Link needed.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Developing a policy at Free Geek ==
+'''This page kept for historical purposes.''' -- [[User:Mkille|Mkille]] 20:49, 17 May 2013 (UTC)
-When a new policy is proposed, we should [[Help Contents#Adding_pages|put its text on a new page]]. It should be clearly labeled as a by including this text at the top of the page:
- <nowiki>{{policy in development}}</nowiki>
+Outlined below is a Process that Free Geek Uses to Develope and Document Policies and Guidlines. Check out the [[Policies]] page for catagorizied list, Or the wiki [[:Category: Policy|category]] of pages taged as policies.
-This will include the following text:
-{{policy in development}}
-Discussion about the proposal should take place in the discussion link for that page. From time to time a rough consensus will be formed around various points in the proposal and at that time the main page should be altered. This allows us to separate the general conversion (ideas that we talk about but may not end up in the proposal) from the actual proposal we end up making.
-We need to keep in mind that folks who don't use the wiki will have opinions. These people should be encouraged to use the wiki, but current wiki users should also seek out and summarize their input, recognizing that not everyone who ought to weigh in on an issue will be a wiki user.
-When a policy is finalized (when consensus is reached through the wiki, email lists, face to face meetings, and so on) we should re-label the main page as POLICY (as opposed to PROPOSAL). Using the category function in the wiki will make compiled lists of proposals and policies automatic.
 ==Who makes policies?==
-Overall policies that affect all of Free Geek, policies that affect multiple groups, and policies that are controversial in nature are decided by the Free Geek [[Community Council]] (http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/council/). Other policies are more limited in nature and decided by the appropriate group or committee.
+Overall policies that affect all of Free Geek, policies that affect multiple groups, and policies that are controversial in nature are decided by the Free Geek [[Community Council]] (http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/council/) and or the Free Geek Staff. Other policies are more limited in nature and decided by the appropriate [[Free Geek Structure|working group or committee]].
-==Proposal and Policy Repository==
+==Developing a policy at Free Geek==
-This is our policy repository. Ideally when a proposal is made, a policy agreed upon, or an old policy unearthed, it should go here. Several Free Geek policies are currently buried in old meeting minutes, or completely unrecorded. Feel free to scour old minutes by browsing the archives of the various email lists at http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/ and posting newly discovered policies below.
+;So you have an idea for a policy
+# Research current applicable policies
+#:''NOTE: Many Policies are currently still only in the email archives''
+# Find a couple of people to bounce your idea off of.
+# Document your Proposal idea to the applicable group.
+#:''NOTE: this can be done on the wiki and a link mailed there list''
+#:If you are proposing a new policy you should [[Help:Basic Navigation#Adding pages|put its text on a new page]].It should be clearly labeled as a by including this template, <nowiki>{{</nowiki>[[template:policy in development|policy in development]]<nowiki>}}</nowiki>, at the top of the page. (Below is a full page cut and past for policy pages)
+#;Formatting
+#* Please clearly separate your proposal into sections:
+#*# the policy you propose (Remember process is not policy but how you comply with a policy)
+#*# reason this policy is needed (would this be a change to a current policy)
+#*# anything you came up with during your research
+# Discuss the Proposal
+#:Discussion about the proposal should take place in the discussion link for that page, or on the mailing list. From time to time a rough consensus will be formed around various points in the proposal and at that time the main page should be altered. This allows us to separate the general conversion (ideas that we talk about but may not end up in the proposal) from the actual proposal we end up making.
+#:We need to keep in mind that folks who don't use the wiki will have opinions. These people should be encouraged to use the wiki, but current wiki users should also seek out and summarize their input, recognizing that not everyone who ought to weigh in on an issue will be a wiki user.
+# Finalize the the policy
+#: When a policy is finalized (when consensus is reached through the wiki, email lists, face to face meetings, and so on) we should re-label the main page as policy using the [[:Template:Policy Header]]. The policy templates take care of the category function of the wiki making compiled lists of proposals and policies automatic.
-Please find an appropriate section below and post agreed upon policies here along with an indication of when they went into effect and a link to the minutes or email containing the final wording of the policy.
+==Wiki page format for policies==
+Three sections in a page: header, policy, and notes.
-===Hardware Grants===
+<pre>
-* [[Instagrants]]
+{{policy in development}}
+{{Policy Header
-====Informal Grant Policies====
+| PolicyName = {{PAGENAME}}
-Please look for documentation on these, especially specific wording, so they can be moved up to the official policies section.
+| notes = Note on what the policy is about/Scope of policy
+}}
-* Grants are for nonprofit organization, loosely defined. A nonprofit organization does not need to be a 501(c)(3), nor even incorporated. We cannot, however, grant to organizations that we are prohibited from since we are a 501(c)(3). This applies to partisan political organizations and some other types of groups.
+==Policy==
-* Individuals may not ask for grants, though a nonprofit can ask for a grant and pass it through to an individual. The council has directed the grants group to deprioritize pass-through grants and encourage potential recipients to investigate the adoption program.
+''Body that set the policy(s) on [lists.freegeek_meeting_Minutes Date Adopted].''
-* Local requests take priority over distant ones.
+* Wording of the most recent agreed upon policy - as agreed upon
-* Distant requests need to explain their disposal plan for the day that the granted equipment finally becomes unusable.
+==Notes==
+Include some or all of:
-===Sales===
+* the current process for complying with this policy
-* [[Ebay Sales Policy]] July, 2004
+* Related policies
-* [[Laptop Sales Policy]] April 2004
+* Interpretation/Implementation/Commentary
-* [[Personal Sales Policy]] May 2004
+* Examples/Background/History
+* Exceptions/Ramifications
-====Informal Sales Policies====
+* Etc...
-Please look for documentation on these, especially specific wording, so they can be moved up to the official policies section.
+</pre>
+If a policy was approved in a meeting, include links to the meeting minutes and other supporting material. If you don't have the link, add the page to the [[:Category:Link needed]].
-* Volunteers get a 50% discount in the store if they've worked at least 4 hours in the last 90 days. This applies to donated gizmos only. Other items, such as t-shirts and bumper stickers, have a 10% discount for volunteers.
-* People who buy a yearly membership to Free Geek get half of a volunteer discount (25% and 5%).
-* We don't sell sytems that are equivalent to FreekBoxen in the store. Nor do we sell components that are in such short demand that it might endanger the production of FreekBoxen. In practice this means the systems sold in the store are less than FreekBox spec. But we have recently agreed to sell a limited number of higher end systems (above FreekBox spec) as long as it doesn't impede FreekBox production.
-* Even if a volunteer normally would receive a discount in the store they are not allowed to take it on items that they intend to resell.
-*If a customer wants to buy something that is not in the store, the store may issue them a 'hall pass' that details where they can go to look for it and what they are looking for.
-===Staffing and HR===
-====Hiring====
-* [[Hiring Policy]] April 16, 2003
-* [[Paid Internship Policy]] May 21, 2004
-* [[Converting Interns to Collective Members]] September, 2004
-====Vacation====
-* [[Asking for Vacation Policy]] April 16, 2004
-* [[Retroactive Vacation Credit]]
-* [[Limits on Vacation Accrual]]
-====Disciplinary and Grievance====
-* [[Volunteer Discipline Policy]] May, 2004
-* [[Staff Discipline Policy]] PROPOSAL
-====Other====
-* [[Determining Seniority Policy]] April 16, 2004
-* [[Staff Contracting Policy]] August, 2004
-* [[Arriving Late and Cancellations]] November, 2004
-* [[Collective Member Review Policy]] January, 2005
-* [[Layoffs and Hours Reduction]] In process (January, 2005)
-===Tech Support===
-* [[Basic Tech Support for FreekBoxen]]
-===Decision Making===
-* [[Eligibility for Council]] June, 2002
-* [[On List Decisions Policy]] June, 2002
-===Miscellaneous===
-* [[Room Use Policy]] May, 2004
-* [[Holiday Policy]] October, 2002
-* [[Groups Volunteering]] March, 2004
-* [[Busy Bee Duties]] March, 2004
-* [[Reimbursement for Volunteer's Incidental Expenses]] March, 2003
-* [[Volunteer Intern Process]] February, 2004
-====Informal Miscellaneous Policies====
-Please look for documentation on these, especially specific wording, so they can be moved up to the official policies section.
-* Volunteers in the adoption program can earn a free computer in exchange for 24 hours of work.
-* Volunteers in the build program can earn a free computer in exchange for building six computers. The sixth computer is the one they keep, and they can build it themselves.
-* Volunteers can only earn one computer per year.
-* Volunteers who cannot understand English are welcome to participate in our programs, but they must provide a translator to help them learn the job and otherwise communicate. In http://lists.freegeek.org/pipermail/core/2004-May/001855.html Laurel says:
- As we would have done in the past - require them to provide a translator. They're
- supposed to bring a translator while they work and when they come on the tour. No
- need to panic. We have just the same situation as before, no problems have been
- added (unless, of course, someone implies during the class that we would offer
- spanish-language support).
-==Proposals==
-Proposals (final wording not yet agreed upon) go here, along with a brief description. If consensus is reached move them up to the policy section.
-* [[Wifi Use Statement]]  -- A policy statement in development: explaining our decision process about using wifi at Free Geek. There seems to be substantial consensus about the wording, but feelings that it needs to be shorter.
-* [[Staff Discipline Policy]]
-* [[Volunteer Intern Process]] -- February, 2004
-* [[Nonprofit Assistance Program]]
-* [[Contractor List]]
-[[Category: Policy]]
+[[Category: Policy Development]]
+[[Category: Procedures]]

Difference between revisions of "Policy Development"

Latest revision as of 12:49, 17 May 2013

Who makes policies?

Developing a policy at Free Geek

Wiki page format for policies

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