[Osmf-talk] Membership

[Lulu-Ann at gmx.de]

Hi Simon!

> On Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 04:35:59PM +0200, Lulu-Ann at gmx.de wrote:
> > I noticed that I was not even told my primary key, what would be
> sufficient, I guess I don't need a membership pass.
> 
> Why waste the materials?  You know you’re a member.  If you tell me
> you’re a member, I have reason to assume you are (and if I want to make
> sure, I can ask the board?).  Sure, it’s nice but I feel it is
> unnecessary and a waste of resources.  We could be producing better
> geodata instead.

What material does an automated email waste?
 
> If you’re prepared to pay for the administrative overhead and for these
> extra materials to be produced:  At £15 pa, the OSMF membership fee
> pales in comparison with other organisations (although there are also
> plenty of exceptions).  Associate membership of the FSF is $120 pa, and
> you don’t even get to vote.  Students can get a _discounted_ rate of $60
> pa which at the current exchange rate I still make that over double the
> amount of OSMF membership.
> 
> Maybe we should have a higher rate that also includes a membership
> card and other materials for peace of mind that you are in fact affirmed
> to be a member, and you have proof.

I am not keen about administrative overhead and more costs,
but I am starting to understand why the starting of local chapters is so slow.
The OSMF is not even able to proof how many members they have because they have only names and email addresses, no validatable data.

Maybe better FOSSGIS overtakes OSMF as a local chapter, at least they are forced by German law to have proper lists. :-(

I find it pretty naiv to want to raise an international organization without this minimum of burocracy.

Regards
Lulu-Ann



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