<div>All,</div>
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<div>I was planning to send a similar email this week, so Kate, thanks for beating me to it. I agree that it is important to get the US chapter up and running, and that local groups can then use the national non-profit status for their efforts. One place we may want to look to as an example is the Wiki Media Foundations Chapter agreement and processes (<a href="http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Step-by-step_chapter_creation_guide">http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Step-by-step_chapter_creation_guide</a> ). I know that folks at OSMF are working on the agreement with the foundation, and I think we can start a team to look into gaining non-profit status. </div>
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<div>The best bet is probably to form into committees to carry out the needed steps. So far, some folks who want to be involved have signed up here: <a href="http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Foundation/Local_Chapters/Proposed_Chapters">http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Foundation/Local_Chapters/Proposed_Chapters</a></div>
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<div>I can create a new page that is Foundation/Local_Chapters/United_States where we can form into the committees and start to delegate tasks. We will most definitely need a lawyer, accountant and some start up funds.There may also be organizations that exist that can help us in the process ( If anyone is in NYC, i know the foundation center helps with this: <a href="http://www.foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/starting_nonprofit.html">http://www.foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/starting_nonprofit.html</a>). Since there is a strong DC team and its the capital, it may be good to incorporate there. </div>
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<div>I can also volunteer to be a lead contact in California. I know the state of CA is already using OSM, and is interested in becoming more involved(<a href="http://recovery.ca.gov/HTML/RecoveryImpact/map.shtml">http://recovery.ca.gov/HTML/RecoveryImpact/map.shtml</a>). I also have a contacts at WikiMedia Foundation if we would like to ask them any advice. </div>
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<div>Best,</div>
<div>Sarah</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 8:50 PM, Peter Batty <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:peter@ebatty.com">peter@ebatty.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class="gmail_quote">Based on some of the other discussion I've seen about local chapters, it seems as though it may well be useful for us to have an OSM legal entity in the US for various reasons. So if it's not too much hassle to set up I think it's probably worth doing. I would vote for doing just one at the US level though, I think that more local groups (state level etc) can just be informal organizations as they are now, and can use the US local chapter if and when they need a legal entity.
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<div>So I'd be supportive of setting something up, and happy to help out.</div>
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<div>Cheers,</div>
<div> Peter.</div>
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<div class="h5">On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 9:39 PM, Kate Chapman <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kate@maploser.com" target="_blank">kate@maploser.com</a>></span> wrote:<br></div></div>
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<div class="h5">I currently do work with my local group that organizes around a wiki page: <a href="http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/MappingDC" target="_blank">http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/MappingDC</a> I think there potentially can be some cash flow.
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<div>We have been approaching local governments to get permissions to import their data. In the case of the District of Columbia we can just download it off their website. Some our municipalities there is a fee for them to make a DVD of their data. There are individuals willing to pay in order to obtain the data, but it does amount to cash-flow. There may be other situations where organizations would like to donate equipment such as GPS units as well. Also when dealing with NGOs and governments having legal standing can also potentially give us more weight as well.</div>
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<div>Also since OSMF is U.K. based they can't necessarily handle legal issues within the United States depending on the scope of them. </div>
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<div>I'm not saying it is necessary to form a legal entity, but I don't think it is totally black and white either.</div>
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<div>-Kate Chapman</div></font>
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 11:19 PM, Bill Ricker <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bill.n1vux@gmail.com" target="_blank">bill.n1vux@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class="gmail_quote">
<div>At least some US local cadre organize around the state and city</div><a href="http://wiki.osm.org/" target="_blank">wiki.osm.org</a> pages, with just an event announcement on the list.<br>eg <a href="http://wiki.osm.org/wiki/Boston" target="_blank">http://wiki.osm.org/wiki/Boston</a><br>
<br>I've been around 501(c)(3) and related state incorporation and<br>charitable regs more often than I'd like. I'd rather spend my mapping<br>time mapping and leave any corporate governance to the OSMF and<br>
CloudMade.<br><br>Incorporation is useful if there are assets or liabilities. I don't<br>see a cash flow in a OSM chapter. If there isn't enough cash flow to<br>pay for Directors' Liability Insurance, incorporating just focuses<br>
Liability on the Officers and Directors. The asset is the Map date,<br>rights for which are held by OSMF. CloudMade and the OSMF should<br>handle the legal issues. Let's map.<br><font color="#888888"><br>--<br>Bill<br>
<a href="mailto:n1vux@arrl.net" target="_blank">n1vux@arrl.net</a> <a href="mailto:bill.n1vux@gmail.com" target="_blank">bill.n1vux@gmail.com</a><br></font></blockquote></div><br></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>
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<br></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Peter Batty - President, Spatial Networking<br>W: +1 303 339 0957 M: +1 720 346 3954<br>Blog: <a href="http://geothought.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://geothought.blogspot.com</a><br>
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