Take a leave of absence
A Leave of Absence lets a Voting Member step away for a defined period without triggering the non-attendance loss of voting rights. Rights resume the moment the Leave ends or you become active again.
The rule
Every Voting Member may request one Leave of Absence per calendar year, not to exceed 45 days, by sending an email to the TC mailing list before the Leave is to start. During the Leave the Member has no voting rights or participation obligations; voting rights resume immediately when the Leave ends, upon any activity (including TC mailing-list activity) by the Member, or earlier if the Member requests. TC Process §1.6
Step by step
Who: any Voting Member. When: the request must be sent before the Leave is to begin (it cannot be applied retroactively). Where: the TC general mailing list. State the start date and the end date (or duration), keeping the total at or under 45 days and limited to one Leave this calendar year. TC Process §1.6 The TC Chair(s) should also alert the OASIS TC Administrator so the roster can be updated to reflect the Leave of Absence.
Sample wording: “[TC name] list, under TC Process §1.6 I am requesting my Leave of Absence for this calendar year, from [start date] through [end date] (≤ 45 days). I will not have participation obligations during this period.”
You have no voting rights and no participation obligations, so missed Meetings or ballots in this window do not cost you your voting status. Roster/quorum effect: while on Leave you are not exercising voting rights for that period. TC Process §1.6
Voting rights resume: immediately when the Leave ends, upon any activity by you in the TC (including posting to the mailing list), or earlier if you request it. No second request is required just to return on schedule. TC Process §1.6
Note: the TC Chair(s) should alert the OASIS TC Administrator when the Leave ends so the roster reflects your return.
Sample early-return wording: “[TC name] list, I am ending my Leave of Absence early, effective today, and resuming full participation.”
A Leave of Absence is for a full leave from TC activity for a specified amount of time, for situations such as medical leave, sabbatical, travel, or other events, when you intend to return to the TC with your voting rights intact. Persistent Non-Voting status is for a prolonged or indefinite period when inconsistent participation is expected.
Related
- Lose & regain voting rights: what happens to attendance-based loss if you do not take a Leave.
- Become a Persistent Non-Voting Member: an indefinite, voluntary step-down from voting.