Create Emeritus Maintainer concept

[artursouza]

Similar to how Helm and other CNCF projects do, we should have a concept of emeritus maintainer. An emeritus maintainer is a former maintainer of a repository that no longer remains active in the project. The person's GitHub handle should be mentioned in the projects' README.md file and not have any permission as maintainer or approver for the corresponding repository anymore.

This would also include adding previous Dapr maintainers that are not longer members of maintainer groups.

[berndverst]

In other words, this is a request for every repo to list former maintainers. Not sure this actually needs a specific title or role. Simply:

Former maintainers

• John Doe
• Sue Smith

[artursouza]

In other words, this is a request for every repo to list former maintainers. Not sure this actually needs a specific title or role. Simply:

Former maintainers

• John Doe
• Sue Smith

Technically, yes. There is the point if we use the term "Emeritus" or not.

[msfussell]

+1 to this to recognize these people along with their github handle.

[berndverst]

I think the term emeritus isn't as universally accessible. For example, it's not a term you would encounter if you didn't attend formal university education (especially in English).

Let's call it something else like Former maintainers -- even the word alumni (maintainer alumni) is less accessible (though still better than emeritus).

[berndverst]

As an aside,

If someone decides to remain an approver but steps down from their maintainer role, I think we should still consider them both a former maintainer and an approver at the same time.

It depends on the degree to which they wish to stay involved in the project (and whether their activity justifies them keeping the lower privilege role)

[dims]

Will need a short process on how/when to mark folks as emeritus voluntarily or involuntarily (say no activity for a year?) etc. Also how folks can be welcomed back if they choose to reengage etc. please see how other projects in CNCF do it.

xref: cncf/toc#1354

cc @msfussell