[Osmf-talk] Possible vote on membership prerequisites

[john whelan]

So we are saying that those who support our aims should not be allowed
membership unless they map?

Many find our maps useful.  There are those who are partially sighted for
example, asking them to map first before showing support by joining OSM is
creating a barrier to entry.  Then we have the multitude of small
businesses who print out or use our map to show where their businesses
are.  They have no interest in mapping but OSM makes a very useful
contribution to their business.

I've long thought that consumers of our data or end users if you like often
have their desires ignored.  For practically everything else the end
consumers have some impact.  With osm they get what we give them.

If we lowered the membership fee to ten euros but invited a wider range of
membership that would help block any takeover bids and might even raise a
few more euros.

Cheerio John

On Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 06:56 Tobias Knerr <osm at tobias-knerr.de> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> some people have expressed concerns that this resolution needs more time
> and more careful consideration. Therefore, I would like to hear your
> feedback on the alternative approach included below.
>
> The main change is that this resolution would task the board + MWG with
> working on a proposed resolution, or set of resolutions, for a general
> meeting next year. The final decision would then be made by a membership
> vote at that meeting. This means that it will take longer for the
> measure to be implemented (which could potentially be lessened by having
> a second, earlier general meeting in 2021 specifically to decide on AoA
> changes and resolutions), but it would allow the membership to have a
> more specific suggestion in front of them before making their decision.
>
>
> ## Potential text of the resolution:
>
> The board of directors shall, together with the OSMF Membership Working
> Group, work on a set of proposals to ensure that all successful
> applicants for membership or associate membership in the OpenStreetMap
> Foundation have made a reasonable amount of contributions to
> OpenStreetMap. The specific form of the contributions (e.g. mapping vs.
> non-mapping) does not make difference for the fulfilment of these
> prerequisites. The board shall submit these proposals as possible
> resolutions at a general meeting in 2021.
>
> ## Rationale:
>
> This change would more firmly establish the OSMF as an entity serving
> the people and communities who create OpenStreetMap. By ensuring that
> votes in Foundation elections and resolutions are cast by OpenStreetMap
> contributors, it becomes more likely that the Foundation will continue
> to support the the project well.
>
> The criteria are meant to be similar in spirit, although not necessarily
> in scale, to the fee waiver criteria (known as active contributor
> membership). In particular, they are meant to allow for non-mapping
> contributions.
>
> Until the next general meeting, the board and MWG would have time to
> perform a more thorough legal and community review. The membership would
> then be presented with a set of fully-fleshed out proposals to adopt or
> reject.
>
> A possible implementation could be based on powers under §15 of the
> Articles of Association. Unlike the fee waiver, eligibility would then
> be evaluated as a one-time step during application for membership,
> rather than annually. As such, members do not have to fear losing their
> membership if their activity fluctuates or declines. Other
> implementations, e.g. based on a change to the Articles of Association,
> would be feasible as well.
>
> --
>
> Tobias
>
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