What about a sort of "working group handfasting"? Much lower bar for chartering, but the initial goal of the group is very short term (like 6 months) and mainly designed to see if the group seems likely to be productive. With the expectation that, by default, such a group would end after the initial period, unless the group's members actively think it should continue; it would take positive action to request a recharter at this point, with a longer term mission, but it would be expected that such a recharter be approved if the consensus of the group is behind it. That seems similar to the idea of a higher bar for chartering, because it makes the bar be "actually try having a working group for a number of months and see what comes of it" - much like Dave's suggestion. But, it also makes it much clearer and more transparent what is going on, easier for new people to see it, and gives some support and guidance to reaching that higher bar, making it more likely that worthwhile efforts will clear the bar. -- Cos