Withdrawing from the Board election

[lucyp]

As most people will already know, I have withdrawn from the OTW Board election.

I don't have a lot of time right now, so a long, thinky post about this will have to wait until later. But I just wanted to reiterate I said in my formal withdrawal statement - all the discussions surrounding this election has made me realise that the coming year will be a really complex and challenging one for the incoming Board. If I were elected, I would want to be 100% dedicated and able to contribute constructively to all Board work, and able to mentor and support other people across the org fully. In light of the tasks facing the Board this year, and the fact that my own real life work is ramping up faster than I had anticipated, I just don't think I can do the job I want and need to do as a Board member without significant costs in the rest of my life. If people are going to vote for me on Board, they deserve to get my best work, and I don't want to risk finding that I can't keep my promises.

I have a lot of feelings about this election, but ultimately this was a personal decision based on my assessment of my own resources. I don't rule out running again sometime in the future, and I won't be leaving the org, so I hope I will be able to act on the ideas and policies I've talked about with you all in other ways.

I'm extremely grateful to the many people who supported me on this journey, and sorry to have to disappoint those of you who hoped to vote for me.

ETA: I'm up against some deadlines right now, so if people comment here I may not be able to respond right away - I'll get to you at some point though. <3

Comments

[rebecca2525]

I would have loved to see you in the Board, but I can totally understand your reasons. *hugs*

[facetofcathy]

I was sad to see you withdraw, but I fully support you and your right to do what is right for you. Somebody clever said sometimes putting yourself first is a feminist act, and I believe that 100%

I want to thank you for all your service to the OTW and its projects up to now, and I hope you can keep on contributing in ways that are good for you. Just the way you present things on OTW News or on the archive news page, the way you step right up and answer comments and questions with enthusiasm and genuine appreciation for the interest of users and volunteers and staffers and all those other categories has always been a pleasure for me to see from afar.

Whatever you do in the future will be appreciated as well.

Don't feel pressured to answer, I just wanted to say thanks to you for all you've done.

[aruna7]

I'd have been so thrilled and relieved to see you on the Board, but I am glad that you do what you feel is best for you and I understand.

You still have my support no matter what and I am happy that you stay with the OTW anywa! *hugs*

[copracat]

This must have been a very hard decision and I applaud you for taking it. I'm glad that I can look forward to continuing to volunteer with you.

[lian]

you'll always be the Board Member of Hearts, though. :')

[tanaqui]

I'm very sorry to hear this, because I think you would have brought a lot of good things to the Board, but support you in doing what is right for you. Thank you for standing in the first place and for contributing so much to the election debate.

[celli]

I can only imagine how tough a decision this was for you, and I'm sorry you had to make it, but your decision to take care of yourself AND do what you feel is best for the org is pretty amazing, and I respect you even more for it.

[erda]

I'm sorry to hear you will not be on the Board, but selfishly glad if it means you will have more time to spread around your awesome.

[samvara]

no need to reply, just... *hug*