RIPE Working Group (WG) Chairs take on a range of responsibilities to ensure that the goals and charters of their working groups are met. As well as leading WG sessions at RIPE Meetings, they also find content for those sessions, manage and moderate WG mailing lists, manage progress on WG action items, and guide policy development.
This document is intended as a quick guide covering the main information and resources that new WG chairs need as they take on their role. While specific practices vary between WGs, the following gives you an overview of what is expected of you as a chair.
Note that the information relating to RIPE Meetings assumes that these are face-to-face meetings. Virtual meetings can be slightly different. As always, do not hesitate to contact the RIPE NCC if you have any questions.
Working groups may also choose to hold online sessions between RIPE Meetings, in keeping with the guidelines for interim sessions.
RIPE WG Chair Job Description
List of active WGs
WG Chair Biographies
RIPE WG Chair Collective - Definition and Tasks
The authors would like to thank everyone who provided input and feedback.
RIPE Meeting WG sessions provide an opportunity for working groups to discuss pressing topics and share important developments in their field. Chairs are responsible for the agenda of their WGs.
The RIPE Programme Committee (find out who’s acting as RIPE Working Group Chair Representative)
At least one chair from each WG is expected to attend the RIPE Meeting to run the WG session. Chairing these sessions is all about encouraging active participation.
Once the session ends, wrap up by thanking all speakers and attendees. After the RIPE Meeting, the scribe will send the draft minutes from the session for you and your fellow co-chairs to review and approve. Once you confirm they are approved, the RIPE NCC will publish them on the website. They will publish the draft minutes within a few weeks of the email if there is no response.
As well as chairing your WG session, there are plenty of other things you’ll be doing during and around RIPE Meetings.
RIPE Meeting Code of Conduct
RIPE Working Group Chair Collective
Guiding the PDP for policies relevant to your WG is an essential part of being a WG chair. New proposals are sent to WG chairs. Once you and your fellow co-chairs confirm a proposal should go ahead, the RIPE NCC will publish it as a current policy proposal. As WG chairs, you’ll then:
Throughout the process, you’ll need to stay up to date on all discussion regarding the proposal on the mailing list. It’s also the responsibility of the WG Chairs to make sure WG members are kept informed of relevant milestones. The RIPE NCC, and in particular the Policy Officer (PO), are there to help. The PO will often be the person who brings new proposals to the attention of your WG.
RIPE Policy Development Process (RIPE Document)
RIPE Policy Development pages on ripe.net
Current Policy Proposals
Each WG has a dedicated mailing list that is open to anybody. Outside of RIPE Meetings, most of your WG’s activities take place right here. As well as keeping an eye on discussion around policies, you’ll be responsible for much of the management and moderation of the list. As WG chair, you have the authority to moderate or ban disruptive community members if you decide this is necessary. There is a separate mailing list that is just for the chairs of your WG, and people will use this to contact you directly.
You will also be subscribed to the mailing list for the WG Chair Collective ([email protected]). This has all RIPE WG Chairs, along with the RIPE Chair/Vice Chair and some RIPE NCC staff. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your fellow chairs for help or advice on this list.
All mailing lists are maintained by the RIPE NCC. If a technical issue comes to your attention, do not hesitate to contact [email protected].
RIPE Mailing Lists
RIPE Mailing List Code of Conduct
Mailing List Guidelines for RIPE Working Group Chairs
Guidelines for Interim RIPE Working Group Sessions