So, after over a year doing this, the time has come for me to step down. I’ll keep this post pretty brief as I know nobody reads them all but it does contain some important information so please at least skim it over. I have been planning for quite some time to hand over to the next head moderator at or around Christmas, however events have meant that I have had to bring forward my resignation to November 10th. This is mainly because I don’t expect to have the time needed to be Head Moderator beyond that period - I’ll still be around but I don’t want to let any of you down by not being active.

The next snippet of information I’m sure you’re all on the edge of your seats to hear is who is going to be the next Head Moderator? Pending a vote of confidence, of course, /u/model-duck (formerly /u/m1cha3lm) will be succeeding me in the role. They are more than capable of handling the role and their experience with the community in their time as our Safeguarder gives me confidence that we will be in comfortable hands.

As explained, this change was supposed to be made in December and therefore former Head Moderator /u/joker8765 has agreed to step in as an interim until /u/model-duck is ready to take over the position fully. I am very grateful to them for this so please try and make the role as stress-free as possible during this time for them. Of course, before anyone ‘well actuallys’ me, the constitution states that a temporary Head Moderator should be taken from the existing quadrumvirate however I think a former Quadrumvir doing it will mean as little disturbance as possible to the team as well as maximum experience within the role.

A full timetable to summarise these changes is:

* 4th November to 8th November: A vote of confidence will be taken in /u/model-duck as the next Head Moderator, to begin their role in December.

* 9th November to 10th November: Handover admin from me such as re-organising moderator lists and adding relevant people to spreadsheets.

* 11th November: /u/joker8765 becomes Interim Head Moderator, replacing me.

* 19th December: /u/model-duck officially begins their role as Head Moderator.

Doing the vote of confidence now means that it’s one less job for /u/joker8765 to handle as well as allowing me to sort out the moderator lists (a tedious task) and then remove myself from them. Of course the Devolution Elections and the Highlands and Grampian by-election are due on the 13th and 17th November respectively but I am confident that the Quadrumvirate can handle those as usual and I will ensure that I check the election calculators set up for them before I leave so as to double check that it is all on course.

Anyway, thank you to all members of the Quadrumvirate (past and present) who worked with me, as well as everyone in the Speakership who has put their hard work and time into the simulation. Thanks also to those outside the Speakership who help to make the time here enjoyable and to everyone who is active on MHOC for providing a good experience and community.

I think MHOC is broadly in a good place at the moment - the activity leading into the last election was, as someone who has been here over five years, as active as it has ever been. Even now, at a mid-term stage, we’re still getting many comments on threads, lots of press and activity from all over the political spectrum. I think there are various things that moderators need to be brave enough to honestly review with the community - such as the role of Devolution and the Lords in our simulation - but overall everything works to a good standard.

As for me - as I said I’ll still be around so don’t celebrate too much - it is just a mix of having a planned resignation anyway and the possibility of being too busy to be Head Moderator that this seems the most logical course of action for the community.

Any issues - let me know.