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I'm copying this email thread (started on OSGeo-Board) to
OSGeo-Discuss list, as people considering joining the OSGeo-Board
will likely be interested to read and potentially contribute to the
discussion.<br>
<br>
Jeff,<br>
As per your suggestion, I've copied the proposed text to a wiki page
here:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors#Suggested_involvement_from_board_members">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors#Suggested_involvement_from_board_members</a><br>
It is still in draft format.<br>
<br>
Venka, Nick,<br>
We discussed your suggestions (along with others) in the board
meeting today, and I've adjusted the text to emphasis that these
board role descriptions are suggestions are guidelines only, not
rules, and can be updated by future boards. Jeff noted that people
have been asking him for advise on what is involved in being a board
member, and hopefully this text should help answer this question. I
agree that the next board should consider these roles and adjust if
needed.<br>
<br>
Frank, I've adjusted text to take on some of your suggestions.<br>
<br>
Further suggestions and comments are welcomed. Latest text here
contains:<br>
<br>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px
0.6em; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em;
border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid;
border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); font-size:
19.09090805053711px; font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal;
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19.049999237060547px; orphans: auto; text-align: start;
text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal;
widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background: none rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="mw-headline"
id="Suggested_involvement_from_board_members">Suggested
involvement from board members</span></h2>
<p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height:
19.049999237060547px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:
sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal;
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;
orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(This section is still in
draft format.)</p>
<p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height:
19.049999237060547px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:
sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal;
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;
orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What is expected of a board
member? Legal details are listed in section 3 of our<span
class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
class="external text" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration:
none; color: rgb(51, 102, 187); padding-right: 13px; background:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/external.png) 100% 50%
no-repeat;">bylaws</a>. This section provides addition practical
guidelines to help set expectations between the community and
board members about the level of effort involved in the volunteer
board member role. It aims to advise on likely time commitments,
as well as clarify the limits of what we should expected. Note
that these are suggestions rather than rules:</p>
<ul style="line-height: 19.049999237060547px; list-style-type:
square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;
list-style-image:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/bullet.gif); color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size:
12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;
font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto;
text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none;
white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255,
255);">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The board's primary
responsibility is to efficiently and effectively make strategic
decisions regarding related to the running of OSGeo. In many
(most?) cases, this will involve validating decisions already
made by OSGeo's subcommittees. (<a
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
class="external text" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration:
none; color: rgb(51, 102, 187); padding-right: 13px;
background:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/external.png) 100%
50% no-repeat;">bylaws</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>section
3.1).</li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 19.049999237060547px; list-style-type:
square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;
list-style-image:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/bullet.gif); color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size:
12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;
font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto;
text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none;
white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255,
255);">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Board members should expect to
spend 2 to 8 hours per month on board activities.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 19.049999237060547px; list-style-type:
square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;
list-style-image:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/bullet.gif); color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size:
12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;
font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto;
text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none;
white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255,
255);">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Board members should sometimes
contribute a little more, maybe negotiating with the community
or external organisation, collating or developing ideas and
writing them up, doing some extra research to back a decision,
or helping with administrative work like taking minutes.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 19.049999237060547px; list-style-type:
square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;
list-style-image:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/bullet.gif); color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size:
12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;
font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto;
text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none;
white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255,
255);">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Board members should attempt to
attend all board meetings, which happen at a frequency of ~ once
per month, which take ~ one hour. (Selection of meeting
timeslots are to be negotiated to try and suit all members.) If
unable to attend, the board member should attempt to provide
opinions on issues before hand, and vote on motions afterwards.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 19.049999237060547px; list-style-type:
square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;
list-style-image:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/bullet.gif); color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size:
12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;
font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto;
text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none;
white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255,
255);">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Board members should monitor and
contribute toward discussions on the board email list, and aim
to vote on motions within 2 working days.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 19.049999237060547px; list-style-type:
square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;
list-style-image:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/bullet.gif); color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size:
12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;
font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto;
text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none;
white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255,
255);">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Board members are not paid for
their service (<a
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
class="external text" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration:
none; color: rgb(51, 102, 187); padding-right: 13px;
background:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/external.png) 100%
50% no-repeat;">bylaws</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>section
3.4), but should not be out of pocket if working for the board.
For instance, a board member should be refunded travel expenses
if requested to travel on behalf of the board.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 19.049999237060547px; list-style-type:
square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;
list-style-image:
url(http://wiki.osgeo.org/skins/monobook/bullet.gif); color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size:
12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;
font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto;
text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none;
white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255,
255);">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Ideally some board members
should be prepared to speak on behalf of OSGeo at events.</li>
</ul>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 14/08/2014 2:05 am, Daniel Kastl
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CABXBSH87EhcuK3pNuPJnZepMsUHt_9RVF7SKWh5ftUsE2zPWQg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Hi Jeff,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Right, so if this is what the majority expects, let's write
it down.</div>
<div>I fear that there are many people who probably expect much
more (you don't know any? ;-) ... maybe even candidates, who
would like to become a board member think it's a lot more work
and therefore refuse to become a candidate.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Better to have this clarified and visible somewhere, no?</div>
<div>If it's just these two lines, it's even not worth to
discuss long about it ;-)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Daniel</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Aug 13, 2014 at 5:55 PM, Jeff
McKenna <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com"
target="_blank">jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">For the
record, I am involved in a lot of offline talks lately
inviting others to join the Board, and when I am asked about
commitment I simply answer with two things:<br>
<br>
- attend the Board meeting on IRC, once a month, usually
around the second Thursday of the month, for one hour<br>
<br>
- be open and share your thoughts on foundation discussions
on the [Board] mailing list<br>
<br>
Beyond that, as we are all volunteers, I don't think we can
ask for more.<br>
<br>
-jeff
<div class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 2014-08-13 12:30 PM, Daniel Kastl wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div class="">
I agree with Michael, that it's a good idea to write
down the<br>
expectations, and I don't think the timing is a big
issue.<br>
Because it's not a bad but a good thing for board
members to know what<br>
the community expects from them.<br>
<br>
If OSGeo goes well, then it's very easy for the board to
justify that<br>
they did a good job. But if troubles occur or there is a
lot of work but<br>
not much visibility, then it's easy to blame the board.
Having some<br>
expectations defined before is for each board members
safety and to have<br>
some rough guideline.<br>
<br>
Daniel<br>
<br>
<br>
On Wed, Aug 13, 2014 at 5:14 PM, Jeff McKenna<br>
</div>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com"
target="_blank">jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com</a>
<mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com"
target="_blank">jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com</a>>>
<div class="">
<br>
wrote:<br>
<br>
I must admit, when I first glanced at this initial
message early in<br>
the morning my thoughts in my head were 'this is the
wrong time, in<br>
the middle of the Board election, to start defining
roles'. The<br>
time for this should have been before asking
nominees.<br>
<br>
Regarding clarifications about the expectations of
being a Board<br>
member, could those vocal in this thread (Cameron,
Frank, Daniel,<br>
mpg) mind drafting a new page on these expectations,
and the new<br>
Board in September can review it and edit
accordingly?<br>
<br>
However my experience tells me that we must be very
careful with<br>
expectations, within a volunteer organization.<br>
<br>
-jeff<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 2014-08-13 11:48 AM, Michael P. Gerlek wrote:<br>
<br>
+1 to Cameron here from me too. He's trying to
clarify the<br>
expectations of a board member, not setting any
rules - these<br>
are good things to be thinking about as we all
think about the<br>
next round of Board Members.<br>
<br>
.mpg<br>
<br>
On Aug 13, 2014, at 7:07 AM, Daniel
Morissette<br>
</div>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:dmorissette@mapgears.com" target="_blank">dmorissette@mapgears.com</a>
<mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:dmorissette@mapgears.com" target="_blank">dmorissette@mapgears.com</a>>>
<div>
<div class="h5"><br>
wrote:<br>
<br>
I don't think Cameron is inventing or
changing any rules, he<br>
is just proposing to collectively document
what is and has<br>
always been expected from a board member
for the posterity.<br>
<br>
FWIW I am also in favor of documenting our
processes and<br>
expectations (in general) as much as
possible to help future<br>
boards in their work, and I find that
Cameron has<br>
exceptional patience to help with that
documentation process<br>
(he managed to walk the membership to a
consensus on the new<br>
charter member election process, something
nobody managed to<br>
achieve before), so instead of shooting
down his<br>
initiatives, I think that more charter
members should help<br>
by contributing to them.<br>
<br>
All that being said, I do not have the
time and energy to<br>
argue this point any more, so this will be
my one and only<br>
email on this topic.<br>
<br>
Daniel<br>
<br>
<br>
On 14-08-13 8:54 AM, nicolas bozon
wrote:<br>
Cameron,<br>
I agree that rules and documents
must/should not change<br>
during<br>
elections, because this is confusing.<br>
I also think that all past, present
and future board<br>
members must/should<br>
already know what they should do, and
what is working or<br>
what is not.<br>
Let us the Board change the many
needed rules after<br>
elections, so it can<br>
also benefit from upcoming new
director's visions, and<br>
hopefully from<br>
Charter Member's and Committee's input
too.<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
Nick<br>
<br>
<br>
2014-08-13 14:29 GMT+02:00 Venkatesh
Raghavan<br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:raghavan@media.osaka-cu.ac.jp"
target="_blank">raghavan@media.osaka-cu.ac.jp</a><br>
<mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:raghavan@media.osaka-cu.ac.jp"
target="_blank">raghavan@media.osaka-cu.ac.jp</a>><br>
</div>
</div>
<mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:raghavan@media.osaka-__cu.ac.jp"
target="_blank">raghavan@media.osaka-__cu.ac.jp</a>
<div>
<div class="h5"><br>
<mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:raghavan@media.osaka-cu.ac.jp"
target="_blank">raghavan@media.osaka-cu.ac.jp</a>>>>:<br>
<br>
Board elections have already
started and I have<br>
made my first<br>
nomination.<br>
Please don't try to invent new
rules after the<br>
process has begun.<br>
Whatever<br>
changes needs to be made can be
discussed and made<br>
by the upcoming<br>
new board.<br>
<br>
Venka<br>
<br>
<br>
On 2014/08/13 20:36, Cameron
Shorter wrote:<br>
As we move into a board
election, I think it<br>
would be beneficial<br>
to document what we consider
should be expected<br>
of board members.<br>
I think that it would be
helpful for potential<br>
board members when<br>
considering joining the
board, and also<br>
something that board<br>
members can point toward if
community members<br>
complain about lack<br>
of action from the board.<br>
Maybe think of it as a moral
contract.<br>
<br>
If others think it is a good
idea, I suggest we<br>
add to this page:<br>
</div>
</div>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/__Board_of_Directors"
target="_blank">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/__Board_of_Directors</a>
<div class=""><br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors"
target="_blank">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors</a>><br>
<br>
Are there other points which
should go on this<br>
list?<br>
<br>
What is expected of a board
member? Boring<br>
legal details are<br>
listed in section 3 of
ourbylaws<br>
<br>
</div>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html</a><br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html</a>>><br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html</a>
<div class="">
<br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html</a>>>,<br>
but I think it would be helpful
for us to<br>
extend this to practical<br>
guidelines. Something like:<br>
<br>
* The board's primary
responsibility is to<br>
efficiently and<br>
effectively make decisions
regarding the day to<br>
day running of<br>
OSGeo (bylaws<br>
<br>
</div>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html</a><br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html</a>>><br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html</a>
<div>
<div class="h5">
<br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html</a>>><br>
section 3.1).<br>
<br>
* Board members should expect
to spend 1 to 3<br>
hours per week on<br>
board activities.<br>
<br>
* Board members should
sometimes contribute a<br>
little more, maybe<br>
negotiating with the
community or external<br>
organisation, collating<br>
or developing ideas and
writing them up, doing<br>
some extra research<br>
to back a decision, or
helping with<br>
administrative work like<br>
taking minutes.<br>
<br>
* Board members should
attempt to attend all<br>
board meetings, which<br>
happen at a frequency of ~
once per month,<br>
which take ~ one hour.<br>
(Selection of meeting
timeslots are to be<br>
negotiated to try and<br>
suit all members.) If unable
to attend, the<br>
board member should<br>
attempt to provide opinions
on issues before<br>
hand, and vote on<br>
motions afterwards.<br>
<br>
* Board members should
monitor and contribute<br>
toward discussions<br>
on the board email list, and
aim to vote on<br>
motions within 2<br>
working days.<br>
<br>
* Board members are not paid
for their service<br>
(bylaws<br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html</a><br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html</a>>><br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/__foundation/incorporation/__bylaws.html</a>
<div class="">
<br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html"
target="_blank">http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html</a>>><br>
section 3.4), but should not be
out of pocket<br>
if working for the<br>
board. For instance, a board
member should be<br>
refunded travel<br>
expenses if requested to travel
on behalf of<br>
the board.<br>
<br>
* Ideally some board members
should be prepared<br>
to speak on behalf<br>
of OSGeo at events.<br>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5">
_______________________________________________<br>
Board mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Board@lists.osgeo.org" target="_blank">Board@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board"
target="_blank">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board</a><br>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
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<br clear="all">
<div><br>
</div>
-- <br>
<div dir="ltr"><span
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;border-collapse:collapse">Georepublic
UG & Georepublic Japan<br>
eMail: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:daniel.kastl@georepublic.de"
style="color:rgb(66,99,171)" target="_blank">daniel.kastl@georepublic.de</a><br>
Web: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://georepublic.info"
style="color:rgb(66,99,171)" target="_blank">http://georepublic.info</a></span></div>
</div>
<br>
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<br>
<pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
Board mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Board@lists.osgeo.org">Board@lists.osgeo.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board</a></pre>
</blockquote>
<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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