<div dir="ltr"><div>Hi,</div><div><br></div><div>I am a member of the revision committee of OSM Polska. Regarding membership acceptance: Actually polish law requires that there is a governing body in any association which is responsible for accepting and removing members, so the point in bylaws stating which body of the association is responsible for membership issues is legally obligatory. OSM Polska has really low requirements for new members in comparison with typical Polish associations. Moreover, if one is rejected he/she can apply to General Assembly to force the Board to change the decision. Moreover Polish law forbids to reject membership on basis not stated in the bylaws (for example if the Board would start selecting people on racist or religious basis). So actually - the only reason when the Board can reject someone is if there are any proves that the given person acts against the OSM, because it is stated in bylaws. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Regarding presence on General Assembly: till now all Assemblies where physical - but according to Polish law - the member can be represented by another member (it requires written agreement which is added to the minutes) - it is also possible to join the meeting on-line. During previous assemblies there were such cases - I personally was once represented by another member. Actually, most probably this year General Assembly will be completely on-line due to Polish pandemia regulation, as in ,most other Polish associations. The Bylaws do not state the technical form of General Assembly as the regulations regarding it are regulated by general civil law and changes over time. Due to pandemia - these regulations have been changed substantially - to allow and regulatate 100% on-line assemblies.</div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">wt., 2 lut 2021 o 10:25 Craig Allan <<a href="mailto:allan@iafrica.com">allan@iafrica.com</a>> napisał(a):<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<div>Hello,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The Polish Local Chapter application
seems to be sufficiently in order. I support it as it stands. <br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>It could be a bit better, so some
comments on optional changes follow:<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Noting: The issue about members needing
to be approved by the Board is not, in my opinion, an obstacle. I
like the idea that the Board should be aware of every new member
and should formally note their membership and welcome them - quite
similar to how Local Chapters are formally reviewed and welcomed
by OSMF. <br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I'd prefer if it explicitly stated that
refusal of membership should be for a stated reason, the reason
should be provided to the applicant and that refusal does not bar
later application if the problems are cleared. <br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>It does say that "any person" can join,
but it would be good to see a non discrimination clause in the
articles of association that covers the usual problems -
discrimination by age, race, national origin, language, gender
identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion etc. etc.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Making the definition of "present" at a
general meeting more clear is important. Physical presence,
virtual presence or presence by granting proxy voting rights to
another member are options. <br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The issue of being specific about fees
is not important. It is a local issue. I believe that AoA clauses
should be principles not details. There should simply be a clause
in the AoA that the Board may set membership fees subject to
approval by a general meeting. I would like it if they had a
clause that says that fee exemption for a member is possible for
good reasons and may be granted by the Board in a closed session.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>best wishes</div>
<div>Craig Allan</div>
<div><font size="-2">OSM: cRaIgalLAn</font></div>
<div><font size="-2">Wiki: CRaIgalLAn</font><br>
</div>
<div><font size="-2">============================================================================</font><br>
</div>
<div>On 2021/02/01 22:52, Rory McCann (OSMF
Board) wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre>Hello,
You may be aware that Stowarzyszenie OpenStreetMap Polska has applied to become an official Local Chapter of the OpenStreetMap Foundation for Poland. As part of the application process, we would like to ask you, the OSMF membership, about this. Do you support this application? Do you have any questions, comments or concerns?
You can find all the information about this Local Chapter application on the OSMF website: <a href="https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Local_Chapters/Applications/Poland" target="_blank">https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Local_Chapters/Applications/Poland</a>
We will close this round of discussion two weeks from now (i.e. 14 Feb 2021).
You can reply here or contact the OSMF Board privately: <a href="mailto:board@osmfoundation.org" target="_blank">board@osmfoundation.org</a>
Please tell anyone about this application who might be interested. We want feedback.
I am looking forward to hearing your responses.
Thank you to the OSM Poland team for this submission.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<p><br>
</p>
</div>
_______________________________________________<br>
osmf-talk mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:osmf-talk@openstreetmap.org" target="_blank">osmf-talk@openstreetmap.org</a><br>
<a href="https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/osmf-talk" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/osmf-talk</a><br>
</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Tomek "Polimerek" Ganicz<br><a href="http://pl.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Polimerek" target="_blank">http://pl.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Polimerek</a><br><a href="http://www.ganicz.pl/poli/" target="_blank">http://www.ganicz.pl/poli/</a><br><br></div></div></div>