[Osmf-talk] Freemap Slovakia Local Chapter application

[Craig Allan]

Hello All,

Some comments with regard to the Freemap Slovak application. I am not 
making a decision yet.

There has been some discussion around membership categories. I am happy 
with a Registered, Regular, Honorary tiered system.

My concern is with the two year qualification period, which seems 
excessive. I would cap Registered status at one year of participative 
membership, with automatic progression to Regular member. I think if 
someone sticks around and participates for a year they have demonstrated 
sufficient commitment.   If there is a claim that they have not 
participated and should serve another year as a Registered member, let 
the Board decide on that as an exception.

The Board of Directors is set at three people - Chair, Vice-Chair, 
Secretary - which seems too few for me.  I'd like to see a Treasurer and 
few ordinary Board members as well - something like six to eight Board 
members.  This allows specialised portfolios, it grooms people for 
succession to office bearers, it allows exhibition of leadership 
potential, it encourages more opinions around the table, it allows 
participation of minorities, it is more transparent, it is more 
democratic, it is probably less corruptible and in general is better for 
the organisation.

I don't think exclusion for violations of the rules should be by the 
full membership - it seems too public a process - let the Board exclude 
offending members and provide a summary of its decision to the members.

Quorum for the AGM is set at 50% of the full membership.  This may be 
ambitious, as it is often difficult to get good attendance, but time 
will tell.  I'd suggest starting at 30% of all regular members.    Also, 
are members who responded to resolutions by email, deemed to be present 
for determination of quorum.  It sort of looks like they will be counted 
as being present, but I'd like to see it stated positively.

I'd like to see a Conflict of Interest section in the Articles of 
Association or a separate Rules document. Here are the CoI clauses I 
suggested for Uganda. No registered, regular or honorary member may 
benefit personally from LC funds, except when being compensated for 
approved out-of-pocket expenses.    No employee of the LC may vote in 
any LC election. No board member may be an employee of the LC.

There is no clarity on signing powers for bank accounts.  I would 
suggest that the Chair and Secretary should co-sign bank documents. I'd 
also suggest that the finance department whoever that is, should NOT 
have signing powers. It is morally useful to clearly separate the 
spending authority from the accounting authority.

On cancellation and termination of the association, (Section VI) surplus 
funds should be redirected to a charity, not to any member or members.

I hope that these suggestions are useful.

best wishes

Craig Allan
OSM: cRaIgalLAn
------------------------------------------

On 2020/11/22 21:09, Joost Schouppe [OSMF secretary] wrote:
> Hi,
>
> You may be aware that Freemap Slovakia has applied to become an 
> official Local Chapter of the OpenStreetMap Foundation. As part of the 
> application process, we would like to ask you, the OSMF membership, 
> how you feel about this. Do you support this application? Do you have 
> any questions, comments or concerns?
>
> You can find all the information about this Local Chapter application 
> on the OSMF website: 
> <https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Local_Chapters/Applications/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo>https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Local_Chapters/Applications/Slovakia 
> <https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Local_Chapters/Applications/Slovakia> 
>
>
> We will close this round of discussion two weeks from now (7 Dec 2020).
> You can reply here or send a message to /board (at) osmfoundation.org/
> I am looking forward to hearing your responses.
>
> Thank you to the Freemap Slovakia team for this submission.
>
> Joost Schouppe
> /Secretary/
> /OpenStreetMap Foundation/
>
> Name & Registered Office:
> /OpenStreetMap Foundation
> /
> /St John’s Innovation Centre/
> /Cowley Road/
> /Cambridge/
> /CB4 0WS/
> /United Kingdom/
> /A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales
> Registration No. 05912761/
>
> _______________________________________________
> osmf-talk mailing list
> osmf-talk at openstreetmap.org
> https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/osmf-talk


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