[Talk-ug] [Talk-africa] Fwd: Many new OSMF members from Uganda

[michael spreng]

Dear Victor

Thank you for your explanations. It's always good to have first hand
accounts.

On 02.04.22 22:45, Victor N. Sunday wrote:
> I am also interested in understanding the weekly pattern being described
> here. Are u saying that consistent weekly pattern of mapping by
> volunteers suggest a paid mapping engagement by a local community?

A typical mapping pattern is quite spread out. Both in time and week
days. When we see "office hours" reflected in the time of day and week
day statistics, that is a sign it could be paid activity, and sometimes
we ask. Someone could simply not be aware that paid mapping does not
count towards an active contributor membership.

> 
> If a local community gets a funding support /micro grant to break the
> barrier of internet data subscription/access and engages volunteers on a
> dedicated project that give them a consistent mapping, does that suggest
> a paid mapping?
Sponsored internet access is no problem. The rule that paid mapping does
not count towards an active contributor membership, as well as the rule
that a paid membership may not be sponsored by the employer or some
other organization, has this purpose: Members should be independent and
personally interested in the project itself. In contrast to people that
see OSM as a means for some other organization. That was discussed under
the topic of "takeover protection", and of course there are a whole
spectrum of opinions around that. These are just the simple rules we
currently go by.
So the part about a dedicated project might be a bit problematic?
Probably no problem if it is a mere suggestion, but problematic if the
internet service is sponsored under the condition that only that project
is worked on.

> 
> In a African countries, volunteers certainly needs basic requirement to
> be efficient and that's where communities come in to provide support .
> 
> Do you think having two accounts would be the best for paid and
> voluntary mapping ? just to solve the problem of assuming that a
> community engages in a paid mapping. Would you also need to stop a
> community volunteer who is actively volunteering while unemployed from
> taking opportunity of a paid mapping ? if at all it comes? 

Yes separate accounts help for the active mapper membership process. But
you can also disclose to the MWG which activities were your own and
which were paid from the same account, to be up front about it.
Many editors allow offline mapping. So you could send a message to MWG
that you mapped all those days, but could only upload each Friday when
you passed the internet access point.

> 
> Please, let the membership working group a clear understanding of the
> above and what is obtainable in African context. There is need to
> encourage African Local communities into OSMF Chapter Membership.
> 

Yes such reports are always quite useful for us for understanding. Thank
you again. As a closing remark, I would like to note that while this
problem is not easily solvable, the consequences of a membership are
kept at a minimum. Everything that can be is open independent of
membership status. But if you don't have sufficient free time and
internet, you can find OpenStreetMap awesome but still not do much about
it unfortunately.

best regards
Michael