OGB Private Discussions

Principle: Sets boundaries and accountability for use of the private OGB mailing list and closed OGB sessions.

This is a process and procedures document that is referenced by the OpenSolaris constitution. It is maintained by the OGB, and is expected to evolve as needed to meet the needs of the community. 

Policy on private OGB discussions

Closed OGB sessions and the ogb-private list are tools to allow limited-duration private conversations among OGB members about sensitive matters before such discussions are brought to the attention of the Membership. The OGB RESOLVES that the use of these tools shall be governed by the following policy:

1. The OGB may, when appropriate, choose to discuss confidential or sensitive issues in closed sessions with notes (if any) posted to ogb-private, but any acts of the OGB taken as a result of such discussions must be approved in open session and recorded for public review.
2. The ogb-private list is intended to be used for the online equivalent of such closed sessions.
3. Examples of appropriate usage include the following types of discussions:
   1. Issues relating to named individuals including
      1. Potential {Section 3.2} OS.o Community Membership exclusion,
      2. Potential {Section 1.3.4} OGB member removal,
      3. Mailing list usage policy violations.
   2. Matters with consequences involving litigation.
   3. Confidential interactions with Sun or other corporate community participants.
   4. Review of minutes before publication.
   5. Dissemination of personal details or operational details that must be restricted to the members of the OGB.
4. Closed sessions and the ogb-private list are intended to be a short term forum:
   1. The existence and topic of any such private discussions must be disclosed as soon as practical at a regularly scheduled OGB meeting or on ogb-discuss.
   2. Once disclosed, progress indications must be provided in those places, as appropriate.
5. The contents of the conversations in closed meetings and on the list are considered Confidential, and shall not be disclosed to others unless all parties to the conversation agree in advance to specific disclosures.
6. The archives of ogb-private will be maintained on opensolaris.org with access restricted to current OGB members and the Secretary.