From: alok@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (alok.vijayvargia)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.us.asian-indian
Subject: Re: Last SCIA Vote
Date: 12 Oct 92 22:58:16 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Oct12.160840.15525@cbnewsi.cb.att.com>, alok@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (alok.vijayvargia) writes:
> 
> The first ever vote for SCIA was held between Nov 19 and Dec 12, 1991.
> The vote tally in this was 191 YES to 87 NO. This vote was however
> annuled by the second vote carried out in April-May this year.
> Second vote was required as a number of people objected to the first
> vote on the grounds that guidelines were not followed 'strictly'.
> Specifically the acccusation was made that the vote taker engaged
> in campaigning during the vote.

> The SCIA group which was created as a result of the first vote
> was therefore declared defunct (by Dave Lawrence) in May after the 

Just for your info, that ill-fated vote taker was me (Yes me !).
All I did was sent a message on a private email network of permanent
residents (green card holders) from India expressing hope that they 
will vote YES.

This was considered campaigning and the vote was annuled because it
was done during the voting period. I feel responsible for its demise but
I was also responsible for its creation in the first place.

It is precisely why I have decided to stay out of the vote this time.

> The group however exists in some places as 
> it is upto individual system administrators to allow or disallow a
> newsgroup at his/her respective site.
> 
> Many people disagreed with the accusations levelled against the vote 
> taker the first time and thought that the second vote was influenced
> heavily by negative campaigning against the group. They have decided 
> to continue to carry the group.
> 
> The statistics showed by Satyen shows that the group is still carried
> by 36% of the total number of USENET sites. In earlier statistics
> posted in April, this group had a propagation to 48 % sites.
> Statistics however may not be very reliable.
> 
> The group is NOT 'officially' listed in the USENET news group list
> which is maintained by Gene Spafford at Purdue University.
> 
> I have included 'officially' in quotes because there are no officials
> of USENET (strictly speaking). Everybody is a volunteer including
> Gene Spafford and Dave Lawrence.
> 
> Now back to the issue of third vote ...

An RFD can be posted on Nov 22. Name selection should be done first as one 
of the main reasons why there were so many NO votes the second time was 
the objection to its name (soc.culture.indian.american which confuses 
many WASPs). Native Americans are also called as American Indians
and sometimes people confuse between the two, especially if they are order
insensitive.

I personally still prefer soc.culture.indian.american but that name cause
negative votes like last time.

> Averaging the two votes, it seems like a 50:50 split on the newsgroup.
> We need 67:23 split to have the group passed. Furthermore the total number
> of votes should be large enough so that the YES-NO margin is greater
> than or equal to 100.

Sorry, we need at least 67:33 split. We don't need to go as far as 67:23.

> Alok

I think Satyen should post the RFD and Mehul should collect the votes
this time. Others should help Satyen in preparing a charter and argue for 
its creation in the soc hierarchy. Mehul who has volunteered to collect 
the votes should remain quiet during the entire operation. Although the vote
taker may speak up during discussion, it will be better to keep
quiet so as to avoid any negative backlash as a consequence of previous 
two votes.

My last words for a while. I am in deep remorse.

Alok
Newsgroups: alt.culture.us.asian-indian