As I note in my forthcoming PEWS chair contribution to the Feb PEWS News,
the WSN may provide an important basis for reinvigorating our section.
The on-goind WSN dialogue now undersay both substantiates that suggestion
and renders dated and irrelevant much of the content of the contribution.
Is the process through which PEWS panels are selected a closed and non-trans
parent one? Of course it is. In fact, it was largely made by one persons..me
. While I think the panel on Global Praxis and the Future of the World
System is a very exciting one which engages us (and prospective section
members) directly, politically, and personally in WS issues, I concur
that we must rethink our decision-making process. As things stand, the
business meeting throws up a few half-thought-out panel proposals during
the few minutes allocate for this "deliberative process," after which
the chair is charged with the task of putting together a final PEWS program
following the ASA meetings for subsequent transmittal by Sept 1 to the
ASA offices. Factoring in a few days travel etc following the meetings,
the change has a window of about a week and a half to put a package together
before the Sept 1 deadline. I consulted briefly with a few of the council
members I was in touch with, but basically had to start making and getting
commitments as soon as I arrived back from LA. I assumed we would get
the environmental panel in, but was careful to note that his panel, the
last committed, would be dropped if we failed to meet our membetship
target. In any case, the process was driven not by considerations of
participation and consensus so much as by the pressure of time. Let's
change this! I suggest that we follow up on the suggestions several
have made that we exploit our new technology for democratic ends. Let's
discuss panel ideas for '96 over the WSN so that our council can put
together a package of proposals to present for discussion and perhaps
even a vote at our '95 business meeting. Use the WSN initially to throw
out panel ideas for network discussion. Then, when an ideas seems to
have crystalized, ask Dale Wimberley to type it up, along with its rationale,
for subsequent consideration. Perhaps the council can then prepare some
recommendations on the proposals to take to the business meeting, where
all the proposals can be distributed for discussion and vote. I will
be contacting our PEWS council for reaction to this approach, but wish
to solicit section reactions at the same time. Join us out here on the
global WSN highway to discuss this and other PEWS matters. Fred Deyo,
PEWS chair. Happy New Year to all.