[Osmf-talk] New idea: Invite a LC to speak at each OSMF Board meeting

Christoph Hormann chris_hormann at gmx.de
Mon Apr 6 18:36:57 UTC 2020


On Monday 06 April 2020, Rory McCann wrote:
>
> So, OSMF members, do yous think this is a good idea? Would yous like
> the board to do this?

I am not sure this would work so well.  The right to speak at an event
is fairly ill defined.  Granted - skillfull people, in particular
native English speakers, could potentially use such a slot for example
for lobbying for specific interests but as an equal opportunity option
to be heard for all local communities it would probably not work so
well.

Also it would require local chapters to select an individual to speak
for the organization.  This is not necessarily something that will be
always be feasible in a way that would at the same time allow
expression of a candid view.

I also have doubts about the random selection of who is going to have
the opportunity to speak - we have eight local chapters currently and
probably more to come.  With random selection it can easily happen that
an unfortunate local chapter will not be able to speak for a whole
year.  That would therefore likely not really be a meaningful
opportunity to be heard for everyone.

What i think - and i mentioned that before [1] - is that it is more than
time to give the local chapters a meaningful voice in the foundation's
decision making processes, in particular policy decisions affecting the
OSM community.  And with 'voice' i don't mean a speaking slot in a
meeting, i am more thinking of written input.  This would allow all
local chapters to articulate their views on matters equally, it would
scale with a growing number of local chapters, it would offer a level
field less dependent on English language skills and with such input
being published with the decision it would carry significant weight
even without a formal veto right.

Of course the local chapters could simply out of their own initiative
take the right to comment on OSMF policy decisions - still it would be
a helpful gesture from the side of the OSMF to specifically invite such
input.

[1] https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/imagico/diary/392431

--
Christoph Hormann
http://www.imagico.de/



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