[Osmf-talk] AGM

[Simon Poole]

A couple of observations:

Yes, the OSMF board seems to have had a bad year, from the outside it is 
difficult to tell if the escalation is due to personality clashes, or if 
differences of opinions on certain key projects (for example moving out 
of the UK) are the driver, in any case it shouldn't end in what the 
chairpersons report paints as open warfare.

But not being privy to the details, there is nothing more that can be 
said specifically and I would note that this year due to the vandalism 
issues clearly had stressful events outside of the control of the board 
that likely didn't help.

What however is quite noticeable from the outside are two trends that if 
left unchecked are going to continue make the board less functional than 
it could be, and no, they wont be fixed by employing an executive 
director, if anything they will make any sane candidate run away as fast 
as possible.

- lack of delegation. The board has always been in a tricky place 
between strategic and operational duties, but this year I've seen some 
things on the boards agenda that are simply insane (like minor textual 
changes to documents without any legal implications). The board really 
needs to take a hard look at what is on its plate and delegate what ever 
possible, at the danger that some things might simply not get done (like 
chasing after minor licence infractions), that is still better than what 
you are doing right now.

- shadow power structures. We've had this one before, a decade ago. 
What's novel this time around is Mikel and Guillaume trying to out do 
each other in occupying strategic positions in the organisation. Both of 
you: stop. We are all grateful for the time you volunteer, but you both 
need to realize that you need to leave space for other people, and if 
you don't get a say in something that you believe you know better than 
others, regardless if true or not, then you don't get a say, that's life.

Simon

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