[Osmf-talk] Balancing the presence of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT US Inc) in the OpenStreetMap Foundation

[Severin Menard]

Hi Blake and fellow OSMF members,

Concerns about the representation of the OSMF directors have already been
raised in the past and discussed within the mailing list. It is still not
well gender balanced, with no representation of countries from the South
and entirely populated by professionals in Geomatics. It may improve for
some of these aspects through the next election. More women, people from
South America, Africa, Asia and non professionals would better represent
the whole OSM community, whatever the qualities of every candidate.

In his email, Nicolas raised his concerns about the fact an organization,
whose he is part and has been a director and co-founder (fact that I do not
think he is hiding or would like to), would be actually much represented
within the OSMF board, that is supposed to represent the whole OSM
community as best as possible. As a director of HOT myself, I would also
consider that “Hotties” (as we use to call ourselves) should avoid standing
up to the OSMF if they can potentially be in majority and naturally raise
concerns from the OSMF membership. It is an opinion, and there is nothing
scandalous in it.

Therefore, I do not understand why you use such a tone and uses
inappropriate words, as quoted by Christoph. I will also add in it your
final sentence, that may be appropriate to use for a child you are
reprimanding, not for an adult. It is, unfortunately, so symptomatic of the
way the people expressing a different view than the one in majority of the
board since 2013 have been treated. Eventually, in a sense, the way you
stand up exaggeratedly to protect what you feel being the reputation of a
corporation and people from it, and the way you express how different
opinions about governance can be considered within HOT, is actually the
best advocacy you could make for the concerns raised by Nicolas.

Sincerely,

Severin

On Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 12:51 AM, Blake Girardot <bgirardot at gmail.com>
wrote:

>
> Hi again Nico and fellow OSMF members.
>
> You know, I was entertained by your original email Nico because it was so
> divorced from reality and lacking any substance, but now after not very
> long thinking more about it I am much less entertained.
>
> You are intentionally feeding the idea that there is a divide between HOT
> and OSM and there is NO divide: Great HOT people are great OSM people. We
> all are dedicated to growing and strengthening OSM and the OSM community
> worldwide.
>
> The people running for OSMF Board (all of them) are good people and great
> supporters of OSM and you have now ignored that and cast doubt on the
> candidacy of 3 people who will be nothing but experienced, tireless
> supporters of OSM (elected to the board or not). And not based on their
> qualifications or dedication, because those are unassailable, but based on
> some unfounded idea that HOT will have anything to do with the OSMF board
> if these people are elected.
>
> It is a cynical, intentionally negative view of the OSM and HOT community
> and I had a great deal more respect for you.
>
> It is really disappointing that you would send this email based on
> nothing, obviously no evidence or history, based on nothing but pure
> innuendo and suggestion to cast these people in a negative light for no
> reason.
>
> I miss the old Nico, please try and find him.
>
> Regards,
> Blake
>
>
>
> On 11/24/2015 11:56 PM, nicolas chavent wrote:
>
>> Dear OSMF voting members and mappers,
>>
>>
>> This short note (also published in my diary [1]) to draw your
>> attention on the danger for OSMF (and the OSM project) in the case the
>> United States NGO "Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team US Inc" (aka HOT US
>> Inc) got a majority at the OSMF Board after this 2015 election.
>>
>> Mikel Maron, Joseph Reeves and Yantisa Akhadi, all members of the NGO
>> HOT US Inc, are running for the OSMF Board [2]; Kate Chapman, the
>> former ED of HOT US Inc serves already as Board Officer in OSMF.
>>
>> Shall Mikel Maron, Joseph Reeves and Yantisa Akhadi be elected, HOT US
>> Inc will get a majority at the Board of the Foundation.
>> This will provide a single organization of the OSM ecosystem (HOT US
>> Inc) with an unprecedented and excessive power of influence over the
>> Foundation.
>>
>> This running of three candidates from the same organization is
>> puzzling and troublesome when one considers that HOT US Inc (and
>> therefore its perspective around OpenStreetMap) is already represented
>> at the OSMF Board since Sept 2013. Why extending its presence and
>> influence and consequently diminishing the OSM diversity represented
>> at the OSMF Board?
>>
>> A greater HOT US Inc presence at the OSMF Board would be a matter of
>> concern in terms of :
>> - balance of powers
>> - diversity of visions, thoughts and practices around OSM
>> - board dynamics: a collective of HOT US Inc Boardees would interact
>> with single individuals.
>> This is a bad practice which is not followed by any Organizations;
>> this is specifically true for representative bodies (organization
>> representing organizations) such as OSMF
>>
>>
>> Here are some elements that OSMF voting members shall have in ming
>> prior casting their ballot 28-Nov onwards bearing in minds that HOT US
>> Inc and this perspective about OSM is already represented at the OSMF
>> Board through Kate Chapman.
>>
>> The HOT US Inc perspective informs, like other perspectives, the work
>> of the Foundation and has its effect on the OSM project, there is no
>> need to take risks in providing this group with more room in the
>> Foundation which is hot enough in these times of winter.
>>
>> Best,
>> Nicolas
>>
>> [1]: https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Nicolas Chavent/diary/36750
>> [2]:
>> https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Foundation/AGM15/Election_to_Board
>>
>>
>>
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