Add more prominent details around SIGs/WG/Committees

Signed-off-by: Joe Beda <[email protected]>

Author: jbeda

README.md

@@ -13,16 +13,27 @@ issues, mailing lists, conferences, etc.
 
 For more specific topics, try a SIG.
 
-## SIGs
+## Governance
 
-Kubernetes is a set of subprojects, each shepherded by a Special Interest Group (SIG).
+Kubernetes has three types of groups that are officially supported:
 
-A first step to contributing is to pick from the [list of kubernetes SIGs](sig-list.md).
+* **Committees** are named sets of people that are chartered to take on sensitive topics.
+  This group is encouraged to be as open as possible while achieving its mission but, because of the nature of the topics discussed, private communications are allowed.
+  Examples of committees include the steering committee and things like security or code of conduct.
+* **Special Interest Groups (SIGs)** are persistent open groups that focus on a part of the project.
+  SIGs must have open and transparent proceedings.
+  Anyone is welcome to participate and contribute provided they follow the Kubernetes Code of Conduct.
+  The purpose of a SIG is to own and develop a set of **subprojects**.
+  * **Subprojects** Each SIG can have a set of subprojects.
+    These are smaller groups that can work independently.
+    Some subprojects will be part of the main Kubernetes deliverables while others will be more speculative and live in the `kubernetes-sigs` github org.
+* **Working Groups** are temporary groups that are formed to address issues that cross SIG boundaries.
+  Working groups do not own any code or other long term artifacts.
+  Working groups can report back and act through involved SIGs.
+
+See the [full governance doc](governance.md) for more details on these groups.
 
-A SIG can have its own policy for contribution,
-described in a `README` or `CONTRIBUTING` file in the SIG
-folder in this repo (e.g. [sig-cli/CONTRIBUTING](sig-cli/CONTRIBUTING.md)),
-and its own mailing list, slack channel, etc.
+A SIG can have its own policy for contribution, described in a `README` or `CONTRIBUTING` file in the SIG folder in this repo (e.g. [sig-cli/CONTRIBUTING.md](sig-cli/CONTRIBUTING.md)), and its own mailing list, slack channel, etc.
 
 If you want to edit details about a SIG (e.g. its weekly meeting time or its leads),
 please follow [these instructions](./generator) that detail how our docs are auto-generated.
@@ -34,7 +45,11 @@ lead to many relevant technical topics.
 
 ## Contribute
 
-The [Contributor Guide](contributors/guide/README.md) provides detailed instructions on how to get your ideas and bug fixes seen and accepted, including:
+A first step to contributing is to pick from the [list of kubernetes SIGs](sig-list.md).
+Start attending SIG meetings, join the slack channel and subscribe to the mailing list.
+SIGs will often have a set of "help wanted" issues that can help new contributors get involved.
+
+The [Contributor Guide](contributors/guide/README.md) provides detailed instruction on how to get your ideas and bug fixes seen and accepted, including:
 1. How to [file an issue]
 1. How to [find something to work on]
 1. How to [open a pull request]

governance.md

@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ See [community membership]
 # Community groups
 
 The project has 4 main types of groups:
-1. Special Interest Groups, SIGs
-2. Subprojects
-3. Working Groups, WGs
-4. Committees
+* Special Interest Groups, SIGs
+  * Subprojects
+* Working Groups, WGs
+* Committees
 
 ## SIGs
 
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ itself. Examples:
 * Horizontal: Scalability, Architecture
 * Project: Testing, Release, Docs, PM, Contributor Experience
 
-SIGs must have at least one and ideally two SIG leads at any given
-time. SIG leads are intended to be organizers and facilitators,
+SIGs must have at least one and ideally two SIG chairs at any given
+time. SIG chairs are intended to be organizers and facilitators,
 responsible for the operation of the SIG and for communication and
 coordination with the other SIGs, the Steering Committee, and the
 broader community.
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ Each SIG must have a charter that specifies its scope (topics,
 subsystems, code repos and directories), responsibilities, areas of
 authority, how members and roles of authority/leadership are
 selected/granted, how decisions are made, and how conflicts are
-resolved. A [short template] for intra-SIG governance has been
+resolved. See the [SIG charter process] for details on how charters are managed.
+A [short template] for intra-SIG governance has been
 developed in order to simplify SIG creation, and additional templates
 are being developed, but SIGs should be relatively free to customize
 or change how they operate, within some broad guidelines and
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ community.
 See [sig governance] for more details about current SIG operating
 mechanics, such as mailing lists, meeting times, etc.
 
-## Subprojects
+### Subprojects
 
 Specific work efforts within SIGs are divided into **subprojects**.
 Every part of the Kubernetes code and documentation must be owned by
@@ -106,15 +107,28 @@ This is the purpose of Working Groups (WG). The intent is to make
 Working Groups relatively easy to create and to deprecate, once
 inactive.
 
-To propose a new working group, first find a SIG to sponsor the group. 
+Working groups do not own any code or subprojects. Instead, they are a place for
+people to discuss topics that cross SIG boundaries.
+
+Working groups are primarily used to facilitate topics of discussion that are in
+scope for Kubernetes but that cross SIG lines. If a set of folks in the
+community want to get together and discuss a topic, they can do so without
+forming a Working Group. As a community we will be looking for other ways to
+highlight and encourage a larger ecosystem (with things like slack channels)
+without offering any official endorsement.
+
+To propose a new working group, first find a SIG to sponsor the group.
 Next, send a proposal to [email protected] and also include
-any potentially interested SIGs. Wait for public comment. If there's 
-enough interest, a new Working Group should be formed. 
+any potentially interested SIGs. Wait for public comment. If there's
+enough interest, a new Working Group should be formed.
 
-Create a new mailing list in the from of kubernetes-wg-group-name. Working 
+Create a new mailing list in the from of kubernetes-wg-group-name. Working
 groups typically have a Slack channel as well as regular meetings on zoom.
 It's encouraged to keep a clear record of all accomplishments that's publicly
-accessible.
+accessible.  Like SIGs, working group communications and meetings should be
+open and be recorded for later viewing.
+
+Working groups are documented in [sigs.yaml](sigs.yaml).
 
 ## Committees
 
@@ -124,7 +138,7 @@ open and anyone can join, Committees do not have open membership and do
 not always operate in the open.  The steering committee can form
 committees as needed, for bounded or unbounded duration.  Membership
 of a committee is decided by the steering committee.  Like a SIG, a
-committee has a charter and a lead, and will report to the steering
+committee has a charter and a chair, and will report to the steering
 committee periodically, and to the community as makes sense, given the
 charter.
 
@@ -151,17 +165,15 @@ to its charter, will own the decision. In the case of extended debate
 or deadlock, decisions may be escalated to the Steering Committee,
 which is expected to be uncommon.
 
-The exact processes and guidelines for such cross-project
-communication have yet to be formalized, but when in doubt, use
-[email protected] and make an announcement at the
-community meeting.
+The [KEP process] is being developed as a way to facilitate definition, agreement and communication of efforts that cross SIG boundaries.
+SIGs are encouraged to use this process for larger efforts.
+This process is also available for smaller efforts within a SIG.
 
 # Repository guidelines
 
-All repositories under Kubernetes github orgs, such as kubernetes and kubernetes-incubator,
-should follow the procedures outlined in the [incubator document](incubator.md). All code projects
-use the [Apache License version 2.0](LICENSE). Documentation repositories should use the
-[Creative Commons License version 4.0](https://git.k8s.io/website/LICENSE).
+All new repositories under Kubernetes github orgs should follow the process outlined in the [kubernetes repository guidelines].
+
+Note that "Kubernetes incubator" process has been deprecated in favor of the new guidelines.
 
 # CLA
 
@@ -170,6 +182,8 @@ All contributors must sign the CNCF CLA, as described [here](CLA.md).
 [community membership]: /community-membership.md
 [sig governance]: /sig-governance.md
 [owners]: community-membership.md#subproject-owner
-[short template]: committee-steering/governance/sig-charter-template.md
+[sig charter process]: committee-steering/governance/README.md
+[short template]: committee-steering/governance/sig-governance-template-short.md
+[kubernetes repository guidelines]: kubernetes-repositories.md
 
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