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<p>Hi,</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Even</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Le 17/12/2025 à 20:28, Adam Steer via
Discuss a écrit :<br>
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<div>HI all<br>
<br>
</div>
A correction, a clarification, and a postscript.<br>
<br>
</div>
In the first list of things about paid personal memberships,
the last point should read:</div>
<br>
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<div>- a setting of expectation around what being an
OSGeo member means</div>
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<div><br>
</div>
<div>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'.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>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).<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>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!<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>All the best,<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>Adam</div>
<div><br>
<div>--<br>
</div>
<div>Dr Adam Steer<br>
</div>
<div><a href="https://iamadamsteer.com" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://iamadamsteer.com</a></div>
<br>
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<br>
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.spatialys.com">http://www.spatialys.com</a>
My software is free, but my time generally not.</pre>
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