The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTER
The Salt Roster Allocation Process
This page describes how the new SALT roster allocation process (also known as an "algorithm") works. It is derived from the old Elders' Roster, appropriately modified to reflect the new parameters. Over time, it will evolve to better reflect the workings of our new church structures. The name "SALT Roster" was suggested by AlisonClarkson, following a comment by RossMackinnon that we should move away from calling it the "Elders' Roster.
The original version of the elders' roster had a fixed four week allocation, and then a tentative allocation beyond that. User feedback indicated that some people were not happy with this. For example, some people like to enter their allocations into a diary for a 3- or 6-month period ahead, and make swaps themselves if they found that their availability subsequently changed. Others were happy to look at the roster on a more frequent basis, and this allowed them to enter availability constraints in the shorter term, and allow the algorithm itself to find a replacement.
This new version allows each salt volunteer to specify the length of fixed allocation that they want. You can change these fixed allocation times in the SaltRosterPreferences page. You will see that some names are coloured, others are in black. (The particular colour is usually one of green, red, or blue, but yours may be different, depending upon your selected wiki style.) Names that are coloured have a fixed allocation, names that are in black are tentative allocations, and may change.
If your name is coloured for any particular duty, it is your responsibility to arrange swaps. While you can swap with anyone, please bear in mind that if you swap with a name that is black, that person (being a tentative allocation) may get reallocated. It is preferred that you therefore swap with a coloured name, as then neither of you will be reallocated. Names that are in black can unallocate themselves by moving their names to the unavailable column, when the automatic roster will fill the gap with someone else automatically. Names that are coloured must NOT be moved to the unavailable column without first arranging a swap.
The initial allocation of preferences is for four weeks (except where it is known that a person has a preference for a longer time). Thus, the initial four weeks is as before - all fixed. While you may change your own fixed allocation preference, note that the program will use a minimum fixed allocation preference of 4 weeks, and a maximum of 26 weeks (6 months). These lengths of time can be changed if enough people agree to the change.
Why have any particular fixed allocation time? Well, if you set a long time, you have the advantage that you can write these into your diary and know that they will not change without your explicit input. The disadvantage is that you have to arrange your own swaps. If you set a short time, you can be more flexible, and you help the system by being able to respond to the various circumstances that may force other salt volunteers to be unavailable, such as sickness, bereavement or other absences. The big advantage is that you can make late bindings to being unavailable, and the system will find a replacement for you, without you having to do anything.