[Osmf-talk] Operating reserves

[Jean-Marc Liotier]

On 12/15/20 9:49 AM, joost schouppe wrote:
> [..] I think the main benefit is that there is less need to trust the 
> Board, since their freedom is restricted in a way that should 
> automatically safeguard the Foundation. However, I personally trust 
> the Board to make the right calls when it comes to decisions like 
> this. I think a simple statement about having the goal of maintaining 
> three (or two) years of reserve would be enough to provide a guideline 
> for spending ambitions, and would be enough to call the Board out on 
> if they seem to be overspending.

In principle, everything depends on the Board - a formal policy drawn by 
the Board can be canceled just as well. But formalization helps 
nevertheless: by encoding the default behaviour ang giving it 
visibility, it makes deviation obvious - which makes it easier for 
Foundation members to call the Board out. Same as the Software Dispute 
Resolution Panel - disputes could still be resolved by mailing list 
storms and social media grandstanding but a formal framework makes the 
process less volatile.

Would a simple statement by the board about the goal of maintaining a 
reserve suffice ? It is actually the gist of my proposal - an Operating 
Reserve Policy for a Board-Designated Operating Reserve is essentially a 
simple statement with a pompous name.