Wikiversity:Candidates for Custodianship/Geoff Plourde (full custodian)

I've been an on and off user of Wikiversity for the last few years (since August 2006), and have become more active over the last few months. One of my first projects was a course on AP US History, and my current focus is on developing courses for my church's bible school. At this point in time, I have about 40% of the first phase in a Christian Leadership program done. The courses I am currently working on could also be used to supplement more general survey courses of the New Testament and as a launching point for future study.

I think that learning is a two way street, as the teacher also learns from the students. Whenever I have instructed or presented to others, I have always learned something new about teaching. Many times it is something not to do, but each piece of knowledge is valuable. Conversely, whenever I am exposed to new material or study a subject, I learn a bit more about the complex world we live in. On Wikiversity, I really think the vast majority of people here are interested in learning. We've got projects in many different subjects, which when taken as a whole, bring us all closer to answering our inner desires for knowledge.

I am requesting custodianship to help keep Wikiversity a place of learning, not of chaos. At any given time, only a few custodians are around. Yet, the burden of maintenance and the preservation of order falls upon their shoulders. Over the last few months, controversy has resulted in chaos, leading to the resignations and removals of some custodians. Personally, I have felt that the drama some people are interested in causing only serves to divert attention from academic endeavors, as myself and others are forced to divert our attentions to deal with it. I know that custodianship is a thankless job and no big deal, but I would like to put my name forward as a way of stepping up my involvement in Wikiversity and working to both enable the learning projects of others and prevent rogue elements from distracting us from the ultimate focus of this project.

Please feel free to ask me any questions you wish and I will do my level best to respond to them in a reasonable timeframe :) Geoff Plourde 02:30, 29 July 2010 (UTC)

Questions for the Candidate

 * Do you think you have been editing Wikiversity long enough to deserve the chance to be mentored on how things are done around here? :P Ottava Rima (talk) 03:37, 29 July 2010 (UTC)
 * I believe I have been editing WV long enough to understand how the system works :p Geoff Plourde 03:41, 29 July 2010 (UTC)


 * I see that you requested custodianship in 2006, it was simply ignored. Do you think that you have been a participant here for too long? Seriously, I'm very pleased to see this candidacy. Good luck. --Abd 04:13, 29 July 2010 (UTC)
 * When I requested candidacy in 2006, I did not have the experience necessary to serve. Over the last few years I have developed an understanding of how Wikiversity works and what it does through interaction with various individuals and working on different projects. Geoff Plourde 04:36, 29 July 2010 (UTC)


 * What strengths and areas for improvement do you see yourself as bringing to the role of custodian? -- Jtneill - Talk - c 12:37, 29 July 2010 (UTC)
 * I am a hard worker and able to multitask effectively. I've held administrative privileges on other wikis, so I understand how the interface works. I worked as a IT manager in a educational environment for several years, so I understand the needs and requirements of educational users, both faculty and students.


 * I also don't hold grudges and try to treat everyone with the respect and honor they deserve as people. When handling non-technical matters, I would attempt to always act carefully and rationally, considering all necessary pieces of information and potential consequences. Geoff Plourde 18:28, 29 July 2010 (UTC)


 * What are the main areas of custodian activity you expect to be involved in? -- Jtneill - Talk - c 12:37, 29 July 2010 (UTC)
 * I plan on working in any area where there is a need. Specifically, I would like to assist course developers with the administrative tasks they need to make their courses more effective and functional. Geoff Plourde 18:28, 29 July 2010 (UTC)


 * What are the main changes you'd like to see at Wikiversity? -- Jtneill - Talk - c 12:37, 29 July 2010 (UTC)
 * I would like to see a turn from chaos and drama back to academic discussion and project creation, the ultimate focus of Wikiversity. Geoff Plourde 18:28, 29 July 2010 (UTC)


 * What would you like from a mentor? -- Jtneill - Talk - c 12:37, 29 July 2010 (UTC)
 * I would like someone who can guide me through the peculiarities of administration and remind me that I am not infallible :P I believe that a mentor should be a guide, a teacher, and a sounding board. I am open to any custodian as a mentor. Geoff Plourde 19:18, 29 July 2010 (UTC)


 * Do you think your religious beliefs will get in the way of you being a custodian? Will you be interested in helping people who have radically different views than yo do?Peter Kindfield 14:51, 28 November 2010 (UTC)

Custodians willing to mentor

 * I am willing to accept any custodian as a mentor. Alternatively, I would like to submit this matter for a community vote at the end of the seven day period. Geoff Plourde 20:26, 31 July 2010 (UTC)
 * Well, I can offer a help.--Juan de Vojníkov 22:29, 1 August 2010 (UTC)
 * I accept Juan as a mentor. Geoff Plourde 22:43, 1 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Question: What is the status of this request for probationary custodianship? --JWSchmidt 17:53, 3 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Probationary custodianship started yesterday, with the promotion made by Jtneill. Geoff Plourde 17:55, 3 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Question: Who is the mentor? --JWSchmidt 18:19, 3 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Juan de Vojníkov. - Ottava Rima (talk) 18:31, 3 August 2010 (UTC)


 * 07:26, 2 August 2010 Jtneill (Talk | contribs | block) changed group membership for User:Geoff Plourde from (none) to Custodians ‎ (Probationary Custodianship as per http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Candidates_for_Custodianship/Geoff_Plourde) - Probationary period starts at 7:26 (UTC) 2 August 2010. Ottava Rima (talk) 18:09, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

Recommendation for full custodianship
A pseudo-mentor's nomination of Geoff Plourde.

I was not the official mentor of Geoff, but I worked with him for over a year, guided him in various lessons and the rest in adminship. There was no mentor nomination and there should have been. Geoff is an amazing person with a strong head on his shoulders. He messed up some things in the past, but I think he has matured over the years. I think Wikiversity will need an admin like him, as we will no longer have admin who care about the project. Here is to hoping we can have at least one. And so, I will be doing what Juan should have done and I am recommending him. I do not want to step on Juan's toes, but I do want to make amends to Geoff by giving him an opportunity that was denied to him for our lack of keeping up on these things. Ottava Rima (talk) 23:53, 22 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Juan de Vojníkov (the mentor) has indicated that "Well I dont know. I spoke with him to ask him to find another custodian, but he seems not to have time. And he was not acitive enough I can recomend/not recomend him.".
 * So options seem to be:
 * Follow this nomination and vote or
 * Establish a new mentor/probationary custodianship period.

-- Jtneill - Talk - c 02:36, 23 November 2010 (UTC)
 * I'm not seeing sufficient cause to set aside the protocol here. Normally, mentorship recommendation is required, and there is a reason for a mentorship period, and for better or worse, the first period didn't involve sufficient activity. Ottava's substitution of his own experience is a bit odd, given how adamant Ottava was in insisting on the strictest interpretation of the mentorship/permanent custodian process in my case. The simplest thing, given that Geoff plans to be active immediately, is to allow the mentorship period to continue, and to postpone this vote until there has been a period of activity as a custodian to review. All this requires is another custodian to mentor. Below, La comadreja expresses support. Would she be willing to assume the mentor responsibilities for another month, and then make a recommendation as a mentor, having reviewed actual function as a custodian? --Abd 05:57, 23 November 2010 (UTC)
 * I want to point out that this is only a procedural objection, and I would not make this objection if I thought that following the procedure would be harmful. Geoff has the tools, and I see no reason why they should be withdrawn, other than the apparent withdrawal of the mentorship. If there is any custodian willing to continue as mentor, which involves only some responsibility for maintaining a level of consciousness about a custodian's actions, or, at least, being responsive to complaints, then Geoff will have an opportunity to continue to serve, this time hopefully with more effect, and benefitting the project. If there is nobody willing to serve, then there might be more of a problem than any of us suspect, and I'd want to look at this more carefully. Otherwise I was ready to support, my objections are definitely not to Geoff, personally. --Abd 22:15, 26 November 2010 (UTC)
 * I'm happy to mentor. --Draicone (talk) 01:06, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

Accept/decline the nomination
I would like to start off by apologizing for my absence from the project. My academic obligations have taken a significant chunk of my time, more so than I originally expected in August when I agreed to be a custodian. After careful consideration, I was intending to resign from the probationary period due to the claims on my time.

However, I have been following the events of the last few days with much concern. Instead of focusing on building up the project, we are embroiled in conflict. I have been around this project for awhile, long enough to know that whenever conflict occurs, we lose valuable contributors and maintenance staff. I strongly suspect that this will be the case now, which will leave us worse off as a community and as a academically motivated project. We are already horrendously short on custodial staff, and fewer custodians performing necessary maintenance functions will lead to backlogs and a less efficient and functional project. For this reason, I rescind my early intention to resign custodianship and pledge to make the time necessary to serve in this function.

As a custodian, I will focus on necessary maintenance actions, not pointless drama. I will work to build up the project, not bring it down. I will always strive to be an example of what custodianship is all about, rather than why it is a nightmare. Thank you. Geoff Plourde 00:12, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Voting for full custodianship
Please enter vote and a brief comment here.


 * Support Assuming he accepts the nomination. Ottava Rima (talk) 23:53, 22 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Support Even in cases where we have disagreed it strikes me that he is always working towards the best interests of this project. He has used tools responsibly and I would support his continued use of them. Thenub314 03:13, 23 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Support Despite a period of inactivity, Plourde is likely to dedicate what time he has to the project. Plus, I trust him with the tools.  --La comadreja formerly AFriedman RESEARCH (talk) 03:49, 23 November 2010 (UTC)
 * I have very limited experience with Geoff's work, but with a review of his contributions and his recent behaviour under conflict in the CR, I support and look forward to his contributions to the project as a full custodian. --Draicone (talk) 10:09, 23 November 2010 (UTC)
 * I have every confidence that Geoff will demonstrate good judgment and discharge the responsibilities of a Custodian in a mature, professional, and commendable manner. —Moulton (talk) 20:19, 24 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Looks like a trustworthy guy to me, so I'm in support too. --SB_Johnny talk 22:22, 26 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Support Geoff has done some great work to improve wv and I trust that he'll do the same with the mop.--mikeu talk 22:24, 26 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Support I am confident Geoff will prove to be an important addition to the team. Leutha 10:24, 28 November 2010 (UTC)

Closure: Discussion results are clearly in favour of User:Geoff Plourde as a full custodian. I have considered the clear community support to outweigh the procedural concern raised about the candidate not being nominated by the mentor. Congratulations, Geoff. -- Jtneill - Talk - c 08:53, 29 November 2010 (UTC)