EPEL Steering Committee

Background

The EPEL Steering Committee was formed in 2007 by FESCo as a governing body for EPEL. The original committee consisted of 7 members who invested the most time and work for the original EPEL idea. In late 2014 the committee was revived with just 5 members, who were doing the most work at the time. In 2021 the committee was expanded back to 7. The new positions going to those members who were most active in the committee meetings. In 2023 the committee decided that members would be elected. The first election of committee members is planned for the spring of 2024.

Committee Members

Current Committee Members

  • Kevin Fenzi (nirik) - Start: February 2007

  • Troy Dawson (tdawson) - Start: October 2020

  • Carl George (carlwgeorge) - Start: October 2020

  • Davide Cavalca (dcavalca) - Start: June 2021

  • Neal Gompa (ngompa) - Start: June 2021

  • Michel Lind (salimma) - Start: June 2021

  • Jonathan Wright (jonathanspw) - Start: June 2024

Past Committee Members

  • Pablo Greco (pgreco) - Start: February 2019 End: June 2024

  • Brian Stinson (bstinson) - Start: December 2014 End: June 2021

  • Jim Perrin (jperrin) - Start: December 2014 End: October 2020

  • Stephen J Smoogen (smooge) - Start: February 2008 End: October 2020

  • Anssi Johansson (avij) - Start: April 2015 End: February 2019

  • Dennis Gilmore (ausil) - Start: February 2007 End: February 2019

  • Mike McGrath (mmcgrath) - Start: February 2007 End: December 2014

  • Michael Stahnke (stahnma) - Start: February 2007 End: December 2014

  • Xavier Lamien (SmootherFrOgZ) - Start: February 2007 End: December 2014

  • Andy Gospodarek (Gospo) - Start: February 2007 End: December 2014

  • Jeff Sheltren (Jeff_S) - Start: February 2007 End: December 2014

  • Karsten Wade (quaid) - Start: February 2007 End: December 2014

  • Thorsten Leemhuis - Start: February 2007 End: February 2008

Committee Member Selection

From EPEL’s beginning (2007) until 2024, committee members were based on the most active members when new seats needed to be filled. Starting in 2024, Steering Committee members will be elected for two year terms. EPEL Streeing Committee elections will be part of the Fedora elections process. EPEL committee elections will occur during the first Fedora election cycle of a calendar year.

Committee Chair

Current Committee Members

  • Troy Dawson (tdawson ) Start: October 2020

  • Stephen J Smoogen ( smooge ) Start: February 2008 End: October 2020

  • Thorsten Leemhuis - Start: February 2007 End: February 2008

Committee Chair Selection

From EPEL’s beginning (2007) until 2024 the committee chair was a committee volunteer who stayed as chair until they stepped down. Starting in 2024, the committee chair will be elected each year, by the committee, after the committee elections.

Committee Meeting

The place and time for the EPEL Steering Committee meeting can be found in the Communicating with EPEL section of our documentation

The meeting is public and everyone is invited.

Committee Meeting Voting

The EPEL Steering Committee tracks ongoing decisions using the EPEL ticketing system. Decisions are voted on at the weekly Steering Committee meeting. These decisions usually fall into one of these categories:

  • tickets asking for a change in EPEL policy

  • tickets asking for an exception to EPEL policy

  • tickets requesting approval for an incompatible upgrade

Eligible voters are all currently-serving members of the Steering Committee. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, they may relay their vote through another member.

An official vote must be one of +1, 0, -1:

  • +1 - I am in favor of the proposal as currently written.

  • 0 - I am removing myself from the list of voters required for majority for this proposal.

  • -1 - I am opposed to the proposal as currently written.

A vote of 0 reduces the denominator of the fraction required to achieve the 51% majority. In effect, it says "I am agreeing to vote with the remaining majority, whatever they decide."

If a vote achieves a 51% majority of eligible voters, regardless of their attendance at the meeting and accounting for any explicit 0 votes, in favor of a proposal, that proposal is accepted.

If a vote fails to achieve a 51% majority of eligible voters, regardless of their attendance at the meeting and accounting for any explicit 0 votes, that proposal is rejected.

After the meeting where the proposal is voted on, a member of the Steering Committee will update the ticket with the results of the vote. If the proposal was approved, it may proceed with implementation.

If a matter is urgent, the proposer can request a vote within the ticket before the next meeting. Steering Committee members will record their votes as comments in the ticket.

Decisions made by the EPEL Steering Committee may be re-discussed in FESCo meetings, if necessary. FESCo retains authority over EPEL Steering Committee decisions and can exercise a veto on a voted-upon topic.

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