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

Fri Nov 27 23:41:00 UTC 2015

Nicolas

I hardly think my response was a condemnation. You incorrectly stated that
I represent HOT when I'm serving on the board of the OSMF. What part of my
email was not true and what part of it was a "condemnation"?

When people serve the OSMF they are acting in the best interests of the
OSMF, not another organization. I have always acted in those interests.

Thank you,

-Kate

On Fri, Nov 27, 2015 at 11:13 AM, nicolas chavent <nicolas.chavent at gmail.com
> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> In this email [Balancing the presence of the US NGO HOT US Inc within
> OSMF], I shared my concern about a possible over-representation of HOT
> US Inc organization viewpoint over OpenStreetMap at the OSMF Board, a
> consequent shrinking of diversity and an change in terms of checks and
> balances beneficial for HOT US Inc and detrimental for other OSM
> viewpoints.
>
> I did so in the context of the OSMF Board election, on the right
> places for discussion for this election (the osmf, osm and hot mailing
> lists) as per the OSMF election calendar and as encouraged to do so
> like any OSMF members by the very same Foundation.
>
> Those views are mine, they have been forged over the last 7/8 years
> through my experiences as :
> - a cofounder of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) project
> which started as an OSM informal collective,
> - a co-founder of the US NGO HOT US Inc, the first legal body of the
> HOT Project which works as a mix of an association (playing de facto
> the rôle of an OSMF chapter for the humanitarian action and
> development aid sectors as well as a support-providing entity for
> local OSM groups)
> - a Project Manager and then the Operations Director of HOT US Inc in
> charge of HOT US Inc field work in Haiti (2010-2013) and Western
> Africa (2012-2013)
> - a Board Member of HOT US Inc Aug 2010 – March 2014
>
> As pointed out by Severin, and as noticed by some people on the
> osmf-talk mailing list, the simple public expression of this concern
> in this time of election triggered condemnations by Blake Girardot and
> Kate Chapman both members of HOT US Inc.
>
> On the HOT US Inc's members mailing list, this simple expression of a
> different view point over the running of 3 members of the organization
> triggered :
> - similar condamnations
> - the HOT US Inc President (Heather Lesson) announcing that as next
> steps action on that matter, the HOT US Inc Code Of Conduct might be
> use to determine disciplinary actions towards those who did share the
> same concern that I have.
>
> This is just an example of how HOT US Inc internally can deal with
> diversity of opinions and is one of the reasons why I, like others
> inside HOT US Inc, do think that it's important for OSMF voting
> members to think about balancing the HOT US Inc presence within the
> OSMF Board prior casting their ballots in the coming hours and days
>
> Best,
> Nicolas
>
>
> On 11/26/15, Severin Menard <severin.menard at gmail.com> wrote:
> > 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
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> osmf-talk mailing list
> >> osmf-talk at openstreetmap.org
> >> https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/osmf-talk
> >>
> >
>
>
> --
> Nicolas Chavent
> Projet OpenStreetMap (OSM)
> Projet Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)
> Projet Espace OSM Francophone (EOF)
> Mobile (FRA): +33 (0)6 52 40 78 20
> Mobile (CIV): +225 78 12 76 99
> <nicolas.chavent at hotosm.org>
> Email: nicolas.chavent at gmail.com
> Skype: c_nicolas
> Twitter: nicolas_chavent
>
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