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Within 2 weeks we intend to start our annual process for selecting
new OSGeo charter members.<br>
<br>
In previous years the Charter Member selection process has been a
little contentious. We typically receive numerous nominations from
high caliber members of our community, and insufficient positions to
accept them all. This typically results in unnecessary
disappointment and dissent.<br>
<br>
In response, the OSGeo board has agreed to trial tweaking the voting
process. The aim is to automatically accept recognised OSGeo
community leaders, while continuing with our existing process which
attracts the many valuable community members who contribute in other
ways. Community comments are encouraged, and will be considered over
the next week.<br>
<br>
<b>Design guidelines:</b><br>
<br>
* We want a process which is simple to understand and implement.<br>
* We want a process which encourages recognised OSGeo community
leaders to become OSGeo charter members, while continuing to accept
members from the many other valuable OSGeo roles.<br>
* We want a process which is difficult to abuse.<br>
* For the first iteration, we should err on being more selective in
our criteria, with potential widening of selection criteria in
future years.<br>
<br>
<b>Recognised OSGeo Community Leaders</b><b><br>
</b><br>
OSGeo aims to provide OSGeo Charter Membership to all recognised
OSGeo community leaders who are nominated. Hopefully, sufficient
positions are available. If there are more candidates than
available, then membership will be allocated to the first to be
nominated. Remaining nominees will be automatically offered to go
through the standard voting process.<br>
Recognised OSGeo Community Leaders are defined as people who have
been <b>voted</b> into a position of authority within official
OSGeo projects and committees, where the voting community includes
at least 3 OSGeo charter members.<br>
<br>
Acceptable roles are currently limited to:<br>
* Project Steering Committee member of a Graduated OSGeo Project<br>
* Chair of Official Local Chapter<br>
* Chair of an OSGeo committee<br>
<br>
The application process for recognised OSGeo Community Leaders is
the same as for other nominees.<br>
<br>
Full text of our processes are at:<br>
* <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Membership_Process_2014">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Membership_Process_2014</a><br>
* <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Election_2014">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Election_2014</a><br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Cameron Shorter,
Software and Data Solutions Manager
LISAsoft
Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
P +61 2 9009 5000, W <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.lisasoft.com">www.lisasoft.com</a>, F +61 2 9009 5099</pre>
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