On Fri, 18 May 2007, Chadd Thompson wrote:
Sorry if what I was asking didn't come across the correct way. I am
not worried about the monetary value of what membership gives, that
information has been well advertised. There seems to be great
support from vendors and such to WISPA members.
In that case, it seems the latter part of my response was a better
answer to that part of your question.
Here is a quote that I take as being non professional and I
definalty don't think comments like this do anything to support
WISPA, our industry and in my opinion do nothing to add any
credibility to WISP's in general.
Quote
""You've got this backward Peter.
""The question is, what value to they bring to WISPA?
Unquote.
Well, the point Marlon was making (I think) was that WISPA would be
more of a benefit to all WISPs if all the WISP members joined in the
effort. I look at WISPA membership in a way that is similar to
church membership (don't take that comparison too far... :-). When
I am looking for a church, I look for a place where I have
opportunity to serve, as well as receive the things I need. I think
Marlon's point was similar (though he put it in a different way).
Joining WISPA should be only the first step. Joining and then
following through in helping to supply ideas and direction for the
organization. Ultimately, it is the board of directors that decide
what WISPA does, but the board is elected by the membership and is,
therefore, beholden to follow their ideas. FWIW, the board is
required in the bylaws to be comprised of a majority of WISPs.
Vendors can hold a seat on the board, but the majority MUST be from
the WISP membership.
Marlon (who you quoted) is a great guy, and a hard working leader in
WISPA. Perhaps I am speaking out of turn trying to explain his
meaning, but that's what _I_ understood his post to mean.
1. WISPA is right now working on a standard that will make CALEA
safe harbor VERY INEXPENSIVE for WISPs. Not just members. This
is an INDUSTRY solution.
Does WISPA seek input from members when dealing with issues like
this? Or is everything decided by a group of officers? In other
words how does the ORG run on a day to day basis, how are decisions
made, how does it decide what battles to fight, how does it
determine what stance to take on issues?
Marlon, if I provide more information here than I should, you can
slap me down on the other list. :-)
I can give you a very brief synopsis of what we do on the CALEA
committee. When the issue of CALEA became forefront, we (WISPA)
decided to try to make this less painful to WISPs. For whatever
reason (I can't say), CALEA was not addressed here on this list (may
have been on the member list...). Either way, by the time it was in
front of us, it was too late to try to do much about it other than
try to figure out a way to make it something that would not put a
bunch of us (WISPs) out of business. SO, several of us were asked
by Marlon to try to create an industry standard that would be
palatable for even the smallest WISP. We took a list of questions,
which was compiled from posts on this and other lists to the FBI to
get clarification (answers) to those questions. We, also, asked
some questions that would help us to develop the industry standard
that I mentioned above. The initial result of that trip is the
CALEA FAQ (http://www.wispa.org/?page_id=22). We are working now to
finish some documentation that will assist WISPs in the decision
making process for HOW they can bring their network into compliance
with the eventual standard. We will be releasing some things from
this committee in the next few days that will be helpful as well
(until the standard is completed and approved). I'm not sure if
this answers the question, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it!
:-)
WISPA is run by a board of directors that is elected by the
membership. You see posts from time to time on this list asking for
input, but I presume there is more of that on the members list. I
am a vendor member, so I am not privy to what is posted there. I'll
leave it to one of the board members to offer more information on
the day to day stuff you are asking about.
Again Butch thanks for taking the time to respond in a
professional, productive manner. I am sure it looks as if I am
making excuses not to join, but if that was the case I wouldn't be
here to begin with, it would not be worth my energy/time if I was
not truly intersted in joining and supporting WISPA. I just have
questions about how the ORG operates on a day to day basis, how
decisions are made, where does the average joe fit in, etc etc.
Some of your questions will have to be answered by a board member,
because I am not, nor am I privy to the members only list. I can
tell you that every member of the current board will accept the
input that members provide as part of their decision making process.
I don't know all of them personally, but I know MOST of them.
--
Butch Evans
Network Engineering and Security Consulting
573-276-2879
http://www.butchevans.com/
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Mikrotik Certified Consultant
http://www.mikrotik.com/consultants.html
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