<div dir="auto">OSM has changed remarkably since it started. In the early days there were few mappers and a small database. We've done a lot of good. We've certainly managed to stand out on the Open Data side and as Frederik has mentioned we allow people to map anything.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">These days things are both much bigger and more complex. There is certainly a fair chunk of value added involved. From small businesses putting themselves on the map to larger companies such as Mapbox and also Microsoft to some extent.<br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I think the current board is doing fine but I am concerned about "commercial" interests taking over. I include HOT as a commercial interest here it's not commercial in the normal sense but it does have paid staff either directly or resourced from one of the charities. I think it is something to look out for and beware of.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">From my professional background before I retired I have a couple of concerns. The first is security. To me no one comes close to Microsoft for security at the operating system level.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"> Microsoft System Center Operations Manager is something I would consider essential to keep things running smoothly.<br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Third for an operational system you do not want to be running one of the largest databases in whatever product. I would hope that the board would consider moving to Microsoft SQL server.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">It was noticeably cheaper to run in SQL server with operations manager by the way.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Talk nicely to Microsoft and get them to take you through this stuff.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">My background was database support with the Canadian Federal Government. Unix machines were a concern on the security side.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Anyway I have digressed and since I have no intention of standing for the board I'll leave you with the thoughts. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"> These are issues that the board should take a look at. On maximum fixed terms there is good and bad. Having people around for a long time is good in that they remember what has happened before. The bad part is when they do leave it is difficult to replace them with someone as experienced. A compromise might be to have a single rotating place on the board that was filled at the board's discretion so that a number of people could gain some experience of how the board works.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Cheerio John</div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 10 Nov 2017 12:17 pm, "Mikel Maron" <<a href="mailto:mikel.maron@gmail.com">mikel.maron@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div style="font-family:Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div><div>Oh, I agree OSMF has work to do in order to represent the OSM community better. That's why I'm happy for the recent membership drive. I think we could do with a lot more energy in how we manage and promote membership, and engage and support members in the Working Groups. I also think Local Chapters have a critical role here. Efforts like the micro-grant program. In short, I think there's no shortage of things we could be spending time on to improve representation and engagement, and the critical thing for OSMF is finding enough energy and resource to see good ideas through.</div><div><br></div><div class="m_3209235060628739797ydp8f98ecdasignature">* Mikel Maron * <a href="tel:(415)%20283-5207" value="+14152835207" target="_blank">+14152835207</a> @mikel s:mikelmaron</div></div>
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On Friday, November 10, 2017, 11:59:11 AM EST, Christoph Hormann <<a href="mailto:chris_hormann@gmx.de" target="_blank">chris_hormann@gmx.de</a>> wrote:
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<div>On Friday 10 November 2017, Mikel Maron wrote:<br clear="none">> [...] As it is, I don't see<br clear="none">> governance structures as the main thing OSMF needs energy put into<br clear="none">> right now anyhow. <br clear="none"><br clear="none">The point that makes this important for me is the one i have been <br clear="none">pursuing since I joined the OSMF - the legitimacy of the OSMF as a <br clear="none">representation of the OSM community.<br clear="none"><br clear="none">If you regard the OSMF simply as a company (which it formally is) <br clear="none">running OSM in its own interest (this is what companies usually do) i <br clear="none">agree - questions of governance structures are not of high priority. <br clear="none">But if there is a claim of representation, governance, balance of power <br clear="none">and mechanisms of control and oversight are of central importance. I <br clear="none">don't think term limits are essential for that, they are just a small <br clear="none">element.<br clear="none"><br clear="none">So you have my full respect if you decide not to pursue this matter <br clear="none">further because you consider it unimportant but for me governance <br clear="none">structures in general are of central importance for my opinion of the <br clear="none">OSMF and regarding the question if i stay a member and if i contribute <br clear="none">to OSMF work, for example in the working groups.<div class="m_3209235060628739797yqt8793952013" id="m_3209235060628739797yqtfd25561"><br clear="none"><br clear="none">-- <br clear="none">Christoph Hormann<br clear="none"><a shape="rect" href="http://www.imagico.de/" target="_blank">http://www.imagico.de/</a><br clear="none"><br clear="none">______________________________<wbr>_________________<br clear="none">osmf-talk mailing list<br clear="none"><a shape="rect" href="mailto:osmf-talk@openstreetmap.org" target="_blank">osmf-talk@openstreetmap.org</a><br clear="none"><a shape="rect" href="https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/osmf-talk" target="_blank">https://lists.openstreetmap.<wbr>org/listinfo/osmf-talk</a><br clear="none"></div></div>
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