2012 Proposed Bylaw Changes

Discuss and vote on the following three proposed Bylaw changes at the Winter 2012 ESIP Meeting:

1. Change Type 3 Member Definition

Category 3 ESIPs shall be engaged principally in the development and provision of Earth science applications.development, use or dissemination of Earth science information and applications for the purpose of commercial use, decision support, outreach, advocacy, or education.


Comments: This proposed change has been amended based upon comments received at last year’s Winter Meeting.

Public Comments:

2. Define replacement criteria for binding resolutions

Add II.2.7: Any resolution imposing a binding requirement on any ESIP shall require a two-thirds approval vote for passage.

Comments: This proposed change replaces the original wording in which unanimous consent was required for resolutions that imposed requirements on its members.

Public Comments:

3. Add new Data Science and Stewardship Committee

Add VI.4.1: The ESIP Federation shall include a Standing Committee for Data Science and Stewardship. Its roles are:

a) To develop, evolve, foster, and adopt best practices and standards that ensure continued and reliable information content, quality, and usability of Earth system science data for as long as they are deemed to be of value.

b) To facilitate the long-term preservation and stewardship of Earth system science data.

c) To facilitate reference to and access to Earth system science data.

Comments: This proposed change effectively elevates the role of the Preservation and Stewardship Cluster to recognize its importance. The change also expands its scope to encompass data quality, metadata, and other data-specific topics. This Committee provides an analog to the Information Technology Committee for data-related issues. Committees can receive funding and make formal recommendations.

Public Comments:

I agree with everything about this except the proposed new name. "Data Science", as the term is commonly understood (see, for example, the Journal of Data Science, or Mike Loukides's "What is data science?") is quite outside the scope of the current P&C Cluster and proposed committee. "Data Stewardship" by itself covers all the roles noted in the proposal, except for those parts of "access" that are more properly the concern of IT&I. Frew 15:56, 19 December 2011 (MST)

---

Discuss and refine the following proposals at a Breakfast session at the Winter Meeting, but vote upon them at a later date.

---

A. Membership Structure Changes

ESIP is considering establishing multiple Membership Tiers:

Sustaining-High (primary financial supporter)

Sustaining-Low (secondary financial supporter)

Full (voting)

Associate (non-voting)

Comments: Each ESIP would have an ESIP Type (characterizing its data activities) and a Membership Tier (characterizing its current role in the Federation). Associate members can fully participate in all Federation activities, with the exception of voting. Associate memberships automatically expire after five consecutive years, at which time the ESIP can reapply for membership. The criterion for achieving Full status is to pay for two Meeting attendances in the previous year (or pay this amount as membership dues). The criteria for achieving a Sustaining status will be determined by the Assembly and/or Executive Committee. A variation on this proposal is to provide partial voting rights to Associate members.

Public Comments:

B. Change Type 4 Definition

Redefine Type 4 as any Umbrella/Parent Organization or Consortium - not just financial supporters.

Comments: Whether or not a Type 4 provides financial support is determined by its Membership Tier, rather than its ESIP Type. This category accommodates a new range of members, such as AGU/ESSI and other consortiums that might or might not provide financial support. The work of ESIPs in this category generally spans multiple existing ESIP Types.

Public Comments:

C. Change Type 5 Definition

Redefine Type 5 as a Data User.

Comments: Individuals (including students and retirees) could join under this Type designation. Members of this new Type would be limited to Associate (or possibly Sustaining) status.

Public Comments: