[Board] feedback on Loomio

[Jeff McKenna]

Hi OSGeo Board,

I would like to give some outside feedback, or from someone who was on 
the board for almost 7 years.  I believe the board is examining Loomio 
for a few weeks, and I just want to provide some initial feedback.

I know, I must sit back and let technology and innovation and people 
grow, in OSGeo, but I was surprised to notice today that I cannot 
receive email notifications and easily follow and join, what has always 
been Open discussions for voting at the OSGeo Board level, any longer 
because voting is now managed in a closed Loomio system.

Background
----------

Before anyone gets upset at me for being so close-minded to change, I 
should say that I have been involved in the formation of the QGIS.ORG 
legal entity since its beginning, and I fully support that organization 
(Tim and others invited me to edit their initial documents and provide 
input on its formation).  I do realize that Loomio is being successfully 
used by the QGIS.ORG Board.


Discussion
----------

The Loomio "OSGeo Board" group requires an account, and also 
surprisingly it requires you to apply to 'join' the group discussion. 
Yes, I am aware that I can visibly see the discussion by clicking on the 
Loomio discussion link; but remember, OSGeo Board discussions are done 
in the open and have always been very easy to follow through this 
mailing list.  Now though, with Loomio, important discussions are 
occurring on a system that only 9 people (the board members) have 
privileges to both post a comment or receive email notifications.  I 
actually assumed Loomio would somehow be used to log voting, but all 
voting would still be displayed on the OSGeo Board list, and all 
discussions would occur on the Board list.

Sure, Loomio offers nice charts and fancy tools, and votes are logged, 
but since discussion is closed that really defeats the purpose.

Again, it might be great for the QGIS.ORG entity, but for OSGeo where we 
have always tried to be so open and transparent, Loomio appears to me to 
be a sudden change in the foundation's thinking.

Conclusion
----------

I believe the OSGeo Board is still experimenting with Loomio, but I 
wanted to give you my thoughts today, as I was surprised to find how 
difficult it is to follow voting discussions now.

Maybe there is a way or a hook so that all discussions and messages on 
Loomio are posted right away to this mailing list, so Loomio can be used 
to record voting but have discussions still occur in the open.   Not sure.

I just think my impressions might be useful, as I tried to follow 
today's discussions.  (yes, still do, always have, on each of OSGeo's 
200-ish mailing lists ha)

thanks,

-jeff