We are going to have an election for a new host in this group

[yardwork]

72. I can see why you have questions, given the way that this thread has gone.

To quickly recap and answer your questions:

1. There are threads in both the Feminism and Feminism & Diversity groups with polls asking members to vote on merging their groups. Super majorities in both groups voted to merge. My understanding is that Skinner was asked to merge the two groups but there were details to be worked out.

2. There are no plans that I know of to merge this group with any group other than F&D.

3. Yesterday Neoma wrote to me and asked me if I would be host of this group, as she wanted to retire. I agreed with the understanding that I would immediately hold an election for host. This thread was my announcement of that plan. I am an interim host. I had hoped that the merger with the Feminism & Diversity group could happen immediately, perhaps even negating the need for elections here, but as you can see by the first couple of posts in this thread, there are still questions and issues to be worked out with the merger. So we'll move forward with the election of a host, and then the two groups can continue with the work of merging.

4. I sent PMs to many people yesterday letting them know that I am interim host of the Feminism group and that we will be holding an election. I reached out to some people who used to be members of the Feminism group and now often post in History of Feminism. Those posts were personal notes from me in my role as interim host. I have no desire to continue the flame wars of the past. I believe that they are dividing women on DU and keeping us from uniting around progressive causes, notably the reelection of President Obama.

5. I'm very sorry that a flamewar erupted here last night, and I've apologized to Neoma that she had to read those things. I can see how it might look like an ambush but that was certainly not my intention. I could have handled it by simply blocking some people from the group, but I believe that that would have made things worse. I didn't want to begin my first day as interim host by blocking people. There are a lot of strong feelings that are not going to go away overnight.

I hope that everybody who believes in progressive causes, including equal rights for women, will do what they can to help move us forward. Fighting divides us.

My message to anybody reading this is this - if you feel that you can't participate in this group constructively, without attacking others, please don't post here. The consensus of people posting in this thread is that the Feminism group wants to move forward. Personal attacks are not welcome here by our members. That is the consensus of this group. I don't want to have to block anybody as interim host, but if I have to I will. Thanks for understanding.