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<p>+1 to single tier membership with possibility of adding a self
identifying system later.</p>
<p>We previously did this with OSGeo Advocates: <a
href="https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Advocate#Introduction">https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Advocate#Introduction</a></p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 25/9/19 6:43 pm, John Bryant wrote:<br>
</div>
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<div>Hi all, really pleased to see all this input, thanks for
your time & energy.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>This is obviously a topic that people feel strongly about,
which is great. I feel that we're all aligned on the key
principles: that we want to make the organisation accessible
to new members, and we want it to be run responsibly, ie.
members should be able to influence how it's run. There's a
bit of distance between the various proposals on the table so
far, but they're all aiming at these principles. To make
progress, it looks like we're going to need to make some
compromises.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I fully agree with Edoardo's reasoning for preferring a
home-grown approach to membership. We're an OSGeo local
chapter, but we're also more than that, notably (as Ed
mentioned) we're in the process of applying to be a local
chapter of OSMF as well. We need to ensure we wholeheartedly
embrace the parts of our community that don't fall under the
OSGeo umbrella.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I think we're roughly all on the same page re: voting
membership, ie. we need members who vote, and they should pass
some sort of eligibility threshold.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The key point of disagreement seems to be whether we have a
2nd tier of membership with a lower eligibility threshold, one
where anyone can join, but there are no
rights/responsibilities associated with it. There have been
some questions asked about what real value this provides to
such a member and to the organisation, which I struggle to
answer. I'm also concerned about the extra messaging that
would be required to communicate this to the community to
overcome any potential confusion... this translates to work,
and as a volunteer-run organisation, our time & energy
have limits. Finally, I don't see that the eligibility
threshold we're considering for membership is so high that it
functionally excludes anyone who truly wants to be a part of
this.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I strongly identify with the value proposition of making
the organisation accessible to everyone though, so this is
difficult for me... <br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>But in the interest of moving forward, and focusing on the
most urgent outcome (determine a process for a voting
membership), let me ask this question: <b>Can we live with a
single membership type for now, which includes voting
privileges?</b></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I believe this single membership type will sufficiently
address our key priorities (voting membership, protect the
org).<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Once we establish this membership type, I feel we could
very easily extend it with some process whereby people in the
community can self-identify as a "community member", or
"citizen", or something like that. But there is much to do in
the next 2-3 months, and I feel we really need to stay focused
on that which <b>must</b> be done.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Something needs to give, so I'm hoping for some compromise.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thanks<br>
</div>
<div>John<br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Cameron Shorter
Technology Demystifier
Open Technologies and Geospatial Consultant
M +61 (0) 419 142 254</pre>
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