Thank you for raising this, as someone who previously observed the board closely (and who has much more to say about the 1.5-year crisis than time currently allows), I can say your concerns resonate deeply. Many of the dynamics you describe mirror what happened during the last “constitutional crisis,” and it’s no coincidence that many involved in creating the NCA/SC are still closely tied to these same power structures (whether in the SC or in the board or adjacent to both of those).
It’s good to see some improvements, like “defusal” calls being shorter (8 hours → 4 hours), but it’s clear that fundamental change is still needed and has still not happened after all the blabbing which happened around the creation of the NCA/SC, an ultimately misguided endeavor when the solution was much simpler and required less emotional engagement from the community.
At the core, what’s missing is a governance structure that actively selects for people who not only understand political dynamics but are also capable of making difficult, principled decisions. Many community members (who are not even aligned with my views) beyond made allusion to this.
Unfortunately, very few within the current power structures have this experience, and attempts to encourage that kind of leadership have largely failed, in part because there’s a strong attachment to a particular vision that’s increasingly out of sync with the realities on the ground.
This gap between governance and those actually doing the unpaid work continues to grow, and the outcomes reflect that.
Perhaps it’s time to ask whether our energy might be better spent building something new: a structure and project that align more closely with these insights from the start, rather than continuing to patch up a framework that may no longer serve its purpose.
I know I took a pledge that I take seriously for which I will continue to do my best:
We don’t need broken governance structures that fail to deliver the change our community deserves. Even those I might disagree with have valid points. As a collective, we are eager (we should be?) to get back to what we do best, building and creating. Most of us are political curious, but this is not necessarily what we want to do on our free time, our true values lie somewhere else.
It’s a disservice to our craft and our creative potential when we are forced to waste our time navigating fragile, outdated systems. Systems that, instead of empowering us, drain us of the energy and passion that fuels our work. These systems are ticking time bombs, and it’s not right that our talents are being burned out on them.
Let’s not wait until we’re exhausted, until our creative well runs dry. We deserve better.
If anyone resonates with this call for change, I’m happy to create a space where we can discuss real alternatives, where we can channel our energy into something that respects our skills and ambitions.
Let’s not get stuck in the past, in a community that confused growth with success and failed to evolve with its own needs.
In this way, those who value “processes” appreciate the work of “SC” and seek a different kind of operation can stay within their community, alongside the volunteers who are comfortable with that. As for me, I’m not interested in participating in this façade. Hopefully, the “drama” and constitutional issues can come to an end, for everyone’s sake.
Feel free to DM me if you’re ready to collaborate and make something better.