[OSGeo-Discuss] The future of OSGeo - discussion paper

[Even Rouault]

Hi,

We probably don't want paid memberships for individuals (or at a very 
symbolic level), but paid memberships for organizations could be a 
convenient way for those that cannot easily "donate" / "sponsor" due to 
legal constraints (in particular thinking about public / semi-public 
sector, or even large private sector companies that have complicated 
buying process) but can more easily pay a membership fee. What does 
their membership formally bring to them? Well, no more than a vote for 
elections, and I guess some visibility proportional to their membership 
tier, so it is unlikely they would be able to take over. OSGeo is 
struggling on finances: we must be open to new ways.

Even

Le 17/12/2025 à 20:28, Adam Steer via Discuss a écrit :
> HI all
>
> A correction, a clarification, and a postscript.
>
> In the first list of things about paid personal memberships, the last 
> point should read:
>
>     - a setting of expectation around what being an OSGeo member means
>
>
> When discussing real and / or perceived conflicts of interest in 
> decision making, I wanted to clarify what this might mean. In the 
> event of a COI, the affected persons must leave the room / meeting / 
> discussion - not just avoid voting on a matter. It can be hard to tell 
> someone with standing in a community 'no we cannot discuss this while 
> you are here'.
>
> Thinking about this a little overnight, I arrived at a clearer picture 
> about what OSGeo is, for me. Rather than a membership based 
> organisation, it is a collective infrastructure. This is an important 
> difference. In a collective infrastructure, members come along to 
> contribute and nurture a common (well, "aligned enough") goal based on 
> a agreement about what to do. This is what first attracted me to the 
> community.. Membership is just a synonym that works in the necessary 
> legal structures. From my view it is a foundational shift in 
> philosophy if we start the road to being a membership based 
> organisation (paid members, what does OSGeo do for members, and so on).
>
> I'm not in a position to do much these days, in order to support 
> others one must be supported enough themselves! So I leave these 
> thoughts and trust that the community will make good choices. And yes, 
> I am also free to come and go, OSGeo is not about me!
>
> All the best,
>
> Adam
>
> --
> Dr Adam Steer
> https://iamadamsteer.com
>
>
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-- 
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