[Local-chapters] Fwd: Request to approve Local Chapter Agreement at Board Meeting

[John Smith]

For the benefit of those not on the talk-au list, here is a brief
outline of what I really dislike about the current proposal and why we
may not become a local chapter in Australia as a result unless those
involved wish to be a lot more flexible about this. These comments are
specific about the Australian situation and may or may not be
similar/the same for others.

* Have all members automatically become an OSM-F member, forcing
someone to become both may limit membership of the local entity.
** I don't want to be forced to automatically join and pay a second
membership to a second organisation, I would like my money to help
further things in Australia as much as possible. Regardless of how
much you or anyone else on OSM-F would like to force me into joining
both I would like to make the choice myself.

* Have the local org charge their local membership fee + the OSM-F on
top and then send the OSM-F portion to OSM-F, even if just once a
year.
** While minimising effort/problems for others, it transfers the
burden of this to the LC, something I'm not willing to do and so far
we have a lack of volunteers for even board positions, so while it
might seem trivial to you, it isn't.

To me this is adding middle men into OSM-F's process for no benefit to
the local chapter, but would greatly simplify things for OSM-F, in
other words it simply shifts the burden from users/OSM-F to volunteers
of another organisation.

When you also add in the fact that no one has indicated they would be
willing to do more than absolutely necessary, even if they do want a
local entity to exist.

* There is also privacy issues about handing over data en mass to
non-members, and making sure people become blatantly aware that your
information would be sent to OSM-F.
** It was claimed that this is a non-issue, but unless someone knows
of any Australian lawyers that can help clarify the privacy
implications, and/or fund one for us I don't think it'd be wise to
accept non-legal opinions.

* There is also taxation issues, if we can get tax deducible status
there is strict limits on who we could collect money for, usually only
other non-profits in Australia with tax deductible status, something
OSM-F doesn't have.
** The problems may be further compounded by the fact that OSM-F is a
registered company instead of .what is likely to exist in Australia.
** It was pointed out that redcross and other may work this way, but
they also suffer horrible over heads and waste funds on administrative
stuff just like that which doesn't seem to be a critical issue at this
point in time.
** It's going to cause enough time and headaches just applying for tax
deductible status and so at this point in time I'd vote against
anything that is likely to complicate the process further.