Let me add some data points and address a number of incorrect assumptions/conclusions. On Fri 2020-03-13, Pierre Böckmann wrote:
Throughout the weeks before the election and throughout the election weeks Sarah’s application and its wording and expressed opinion had at no point been ruled as violation of Guidelines or the Code of Conduct.
Neither Sarah's application/platform nor anything on this list was the trigger for the steps the majority of the board took.
breaches of the guiding principles and the Code of Conduct of which there has never been any evidence or indication and has never been considered and discussed throughout the weeks before the election and the election weeks itself.
That it did not happen in public for the majority of members to see does not mean there is no evidence nor indication. It just explains the absence of public discussion.
I could have requested the removal of only those board member(s) who obviously thought that their accusation of a violation of the Code of Conduct by Sarah which in their opinion rendered her being inappropriate as a board member was a legal justification for yelling at her and intimidating her and therefore breaching the Code of Conduct themselves.
Nobody ever yelled at anyone in my presence on any openSUSE meeting, board or otherwise. There were emotions on one call and I realize that was not an easy situation for Sarah and have taken responsibility (as Christian can confirm) for not moderating effectively. And nobody who I have served with has ever justified yelling or intimidation in my presence.
Nonetheless we can not and should not ignore what has happened in the last few weeks and the unacceptable nature and disrespect towards the community elections outcome, rules and principles. : I fully understand your points, but let's discuss this matter openly, objective, fact-bound and well reasoned.
Here is one question I am struggling with: How can members on the current board defend themselves without painting a complete picture of the overall story, including further aspects that have remained confidential so far?
Additionally I question whether they really did enforce the Code of Conduct or only their own personal opinions.
No accusation meant here, but as I already pointed out:
"No accusation meant" preceded by a leading question and followed by a big "but". :-(
As I already pointed out multiple times: It's exactly what has been questioned; did it really enforce the Code of Conduct or misuse it in their interests? Again, no accusation meant here, but that's an impression that was raised by what and how it has happened.
Again the question: How can this be put out for public deliberation without sharing personal aspects (incl. those of 3rd parties)?
And if those violations are handled, why don't we see that someone on the board who is obviously breaching this very same Code of Conduct - in my eyes - in an unacceptable manner is held responsible for it and has to resign?
That is easily answered: Who you seem to be referring to is not on the board and hence cannot resign from said board. (I am stating this with their consent; see a recent mail here.)
My call does not create mistrust in the board in general, but only expresses the community wide mistrust in the board in its current state.
"Community wide" is a very strong statement. I hope this is not the case. How can we mend the current situation in the best way? I am not convinced a motion of no confidence is the answer, regardless of the outcome. Gerald