1) What does Merit do for Nanog?

Umm, pretty much everything .. unless I've missed something.

2) What gives Merit the right to make decisions about the group without consulting the membership?

Oh, I don't know, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that they organize the whole thing and most of us would rather not be bothered with the details anyway.

3) If Merit is not listening to it's membership, and is only providing the web page and mailing list, is there a reason why they are still hosting NANOG?

Nope, not at all. Why not host your own?

1) The NANOG Charter needs to be revised into a more inclusive charter which includes the resolution of conflicts within the membership, review of the officials actions by the membership and removal of officials by the membership in the event that the actions are in conflict with the membership or charter. There should also be included, in the charter, how to revise and amend the charter. In this option, Merit would still be the ruling body.

Dude, get over it...

2) Remove Merit from the ruling body. There is no reason, today, that the web site and mailing list could not be hosted by someone else. I do not believe that Merit is doing a bad job, but there isn't that much work involved in providing this service. The charter states that meetings are to be organized by the hosting company. I don't see a reason why this could not continue. The charter will still need to be resizes, however to include the items from option 1

Again, please, go setup your own. Give away bloomers, create a bunch of rules, have your way with it...

3) Continue to live under the rule of a ruling body that does not consult of inform it's membership or decisions that affect the membership and meetings.

Jeez...

I don't want to play politics, but I think something needs to be done.

Oh, you don't want to play politics but you're certain we need more politics. Actually, you know, perhaps that would be good. Then the membership could vote to tell you that you've been heard, now it's time to shut up. -danny