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<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap">A couple of observations:</span></p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap">Yes, the OSMF board seems to have had a bad year, from the outside it is difficult to tell if the escalation is due to personality clashes, or if differences of opinions on certain key projects (for example moving out of the UK) are the driver, in any case it shouldn't end in what the chairpersons report paints as open warfare. </span></p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap">But not being privy to the details, there is nothing more that can be said specifically and I would note that this year due to the vandalism issues clearly had stressful events outside of the control of the board that likely didn't help.</span></p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap">What however is quite noticeable from the outside are two trends that if left unchecked are going to continue make the board less functional than it could be, and no, they wont be fixed by employing an executive director, if anything they will make any sane candidate run away as fast as possible.</span></p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap">- lack of delegation. The board has always been in a tricky place between strategic and operational duties, but this year I've seen some things on the boards agenda that are simply insane (like minor textual changes to documents without any legal implications). The board really needs to take a hard look at what is on its plate and delegate what ever possible, at the danger that some things might simply not get done (like chasing after minor licence infractions), that is still better than what you are doing right now.</span></p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap">- shadow power structures. We've had this one before, a decade ago. What's novel this time around is Mikel and Guillaume trying to out do each other in occupying strategic positions in the organisation. Both of you: stop. We are all grateful for the time you volunteer, but you both need to realize that you need to leave space for other people, and if you don't get a say in something that you believe you know better than others, regardless if true or not, then you don't get a say, that's life. </span></p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap">Simon
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