Author: Lex de Leon

[Note: Candidates were limited to 300 words for each answer.]

9. What is something nice that you can say about your colleagues that you’re running with/against?

Thank you for asking this. I would absolutely like to have it recorded what I think of my fellow candidates.

Natalia Gruber: Natalia has a fantastic sense of humor and brings a wonderfully different perspective to discussions. Her work within the Abuse and Tag Wrangling committees has given her a unique perspective into the issues various users have with the Archive, and her work within Translation has provided her with a larger view of the OTW.

C. Ryan Smith: Ryan’s enthusiasm and unfailingly gentle spirit is coupled with a conviction in his beliefs that is refreshing. He has a sense of curiosity and desire to learn that emboldens his position. He brings a fresh perspective to discussions that provides an alternative viewpoint.

Michelle Schroeder: Michelle is a kind and hardworking person. I appreciate very much how wonderfully work has gone both between us and within the entire Support committee. As I have learned more about what the Documentation committee does, my respect for Michelle has only grown. We share a conviction that documentation is a vital aspect of the work that the OTW does.

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[Note: Candidates were limited to 300 words for each answer.]

5. What are a couple of major issues that you know the OTW board struggles or has struggled with, and how would you personally act to avoid them if elected?

It is vital for any organization to have a coherent roadmap with tangible goalposts. Whether it is as simple as changing priorities or actively working to achieve currently intangible goals, this is direction that can and should come from the Board. Also, being able to translate between those who may or may not be using the same words to mean vastly different things. Facilitating communication is a huge part of what is meant to be done with oversight. I cannot describe the number of meetings or calls which were disasters until everyone realized that the technical side was speaking a different language than the non-technical side. I still have an eye twitch from the “batch vs. document vs. pages” battle held over a conference room table.

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[Note: Candidates were limited to 300 words for each answer.]

1. What do you hope to learn in your time on Board?

I want to learn more about how the OTW works on the whole, specifically how each committee works with and bolsters the others. I look forward to being able to learn more about the other committees and seeing the work they do, in addition to increasing my knowledge of the ones I have already become familiar with at this point. I have already reaped the benefits of all of the committees—it is important that I take the time and give them my attention, whether as a volunteer or as a Board member.

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