[Osmf-talk] Survey plans on membership prerequisites decision

[Stephan Knauss]

On 01.09.2022 14:24, Tobias Knerr wrote:
>
> - Should the OSMF restrict at all who can get a membership with voting 
> rights?
>   * Yes/No/Unsure
>
> - (skip if "yes" to previous) On how many days should a person 
> contribute to OSM before they can become a voting OSM Foundation member?
>   * 1 day (i.e. any contributions at all)
>   * 7 days
>   * 16 days
>   * 21 days
>   * 42 days
>   * 3 months
>   * more

It would skip, if the previous answer was "no", so OSMF should not 
restrict the voting, right?

I understand the second question about asking the membership on high the 
bar should be to lift that restriction and allow voting.

> - Would you like to share any other thoughts on the topic? 

I would explicitly state a combination of editing and days. Something 
like at least edits to 10 elements AND 5 mapping days prior the application.

This is in my opinion a very low bar. I think we had some time in the 
past a regulation defining "active contributor". We could also use this 
definition.

While I fully understand and acknowledge that some people contribute to 
OSM in other ways than editing the map, having at least some minimal 
experience on editing gives them the required understanding on the 
process to vote with some understanding on what is going on in the 
community and can by this make better informed decisions influencing the 
foundation. And even if you are not interested in editing: Doing five 
times edits is very low. Likely you had been in touch with OSM way more 
often if you consider paying money for a membership and you want to vote 
in this organization.

The initial question was lacking this detail, but it likely is about 
"normal" members which have full voting rights in the foundation.

As this is about membership and voting, this does not prevent anyone 
from doing donations to support OSMF or having associate or company 
memberships which come without full voting power.

Stephan