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<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I added myself to the list and added my personal details on my
OSGeo wiki page (the date and place of birth show only in the
source for some reason).</p>
<p>Is this an accurate description of the conditions for
international not-for-profit NGOs having their seat in Belgium?<br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.uia.org/belgianlaw">http://www.uia.org/belgianlaw</a></p>
<p>Sorry, but I cannot read bylaws which are in French or Dutch. My
concerns would be on<br>
</p>
<p>* how the governance structure is set up, there should preferably
be some kind of balance between popular vote and
representativeness of countries (and people/countries from outside
of EU should not be left out completely)<br>
</p>
<p>* if the organization takes financial risk, then that risk should
not be on the board members personally</p>
<p>Best,<br>
</p>
<p>Ari<br>
</p>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">11.01.2017, 19:16, Dirk Frigne
kirjoitti:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:457d0ede-5773-da22-9242-2ccbf1cadc9a@geosparc.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi Jeff,
Ha, we don't laugh ...
We appreciate the support from Canada:-)
I think also we need this momentum to go on with the creation of the
non-for-profit organisation.
In Bonn there was a decision in the BOF meeting Wednesday August 24;
17:30, to go on with the initiative. The attendants decided that Vasile,
Maria and myself should look for several alternatives, and in a meeting
some time ago between Vasile, myself and Maria we decided to look if
Spain should be a good country to create the organisation.
Europe is a region with a lot of languages. And the organisation should
be registered in the official language of the country.
Belgium is a good alternative, because of the several official languages
in place and the fact that anyone can become a founding member (no
restriction on nationality).
Some information (in Dutch) you can find here [1]
The advantage of a Belgium as the country to host the non-for-profit
organisation is that we can have the bylaws in all the official Belgium
languages: French, Dutch and German. The English version can then be
created as a reference for other language speaking members.
Another advantage is that I have experience with non-for-profit
organisations and organisations in general.
We can use the bylaws of the OSGeo.be organisation as an example to
start from (in attachement) as we besed these bylaws on OSGeo.org.
These bylaws are in French and I can translate them to Dutch and
English, Till can translate them maybe into German. We can publish them
in the several official languages.
I note following members as founding members (as of today 11/1/2017).
If you are interested to join and are not yet on the list, please add
your name on the wiki[2]
Please give me also your birth date, place of birth and your official
address. This should be sufficient for the registration.
Dirk.
[1] <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://justice.belgium.be/sites/default/files/downloads/VZW_NL.pdf">http://justice.belgium.be/sites/default/files/downloads/VZW_NL.pdf</a>
[2] <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Europe">https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Europe</a>
On 11-01-17 14:47, Jeff McKenna wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi María, all,
I am in full support of an official non-profit organization, around the
EU chapter of OSGeo.
Dirk and others know that I have been trying to help this along for
years now, even in person in meetings with Dirk, and I do understand the
importance of this official entity - it will open doors and give
opportunities.
The QGIS project did create its own official entity, QGIS.ORG registered
in Switzerland, but as a for-profit organization - I also supported that
creation, initially discussing with Tim and others, and it seems to be
doing great for their needs (similar to OSGeo, they just released their
2016 financial report and are discussing their 2017 budget).
So I feel attached to this discussion, and am interested to help the
EU/Europe chapter formation along. I also volunteer to help, and to be
listed as an initial member (before you laugh, consider that I have
attended almost all FOSS4G-Europe events, and never attended a single
FOSS4G-NorthAmerica event: that fact should show you the importance of
Europe for the OSGeo community).
I have read this whole thread and am interested in seeing this through.
So keep up the great momentum! :)
-jeff
</pre>
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<pre wrap="">
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</pre>
</blockquote>
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