[Talk-ug] Many new OSMF members from Uganda

[michael spreng]

Hi Geoffrey

Thank you for the response. I don't see much of a problem with internet
access being given away for mapping. But that doesn't really explain the
work week pattern. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to inspect
mapping patterns of all applicants. We will think about it some more,
maybe adapting the sign-up / renewal process to make applicants aware of it.

Kind regards
Michael

On 17.01.22 13:29, Geoffrey Kateregga wrote:
> Hi Michael,
> 
> Thank you for reaching out to the OpenStreetMap Uganda community, and
> are really glad you have noticed the increase in the number of members
> from Uganda. Since the beginning of the year, we have been encouraging
> our members to sign up for the Active Contributor Membership and paid
> membership for those who can afford it.
> 
> There is still very low representation in the OSMF Membership from
> Africa and Asia, and I think that is why this kind of membership was
> introduced, to help encourage more people to become members of the
> foundation. And although it has been there for some good time now, only
> a few people have signed up for it, many are not aware of it. I think it
> would be helpful if the membership working group, sends a message to all
> that qualify for this kind of membership and encourage them to sign up,
> this will help.
> 
> In Uganda, we are using our community forum to encourage everyone who
> qualifies to sign up, and we are mobilizing OSM communities
> across Africa to do the same. 
> 
> To address your issue, about paid mapping, I think it would be better
> for the membership working group to reach out to the individual
> applicant to ask them to explain their contributions. Sometimes when
> funding allows we do support volunteers in Uganda with internet data to
> help them map, otherwise they wouldn't afford to. Internet data is very
> expensive here and not everyone can afford it, it is not a salary per
> se, but something to cover their expenses to be able to volunteer for
> OpenStreetMap.
> 
> Good advice for those who do mapping as a job to have two different
> accounts, one they can use for paid mapping and another they use for non
> paid mapping.
> 
> Interested to hear what other members on the talk-africa mailing list
> have to say on this issue.
> 
> Kind regards,
> Geoffrey
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>     From: *michael spreng* <osmf at m.spreng.ch <mailto:osmf at m.spreng.ch>>
>     Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2022, 11:49 pm
>     Subject: Many new OSMF members from Uganda
>     To: <info at mapuganda.org <mailto:info at mapuganda.org>>
>     Cc: membership working group <mwg at osmfoundation.org
>     <mailto:mwg at osmfoundation.org>>
> 
> 
>     Hi dear mappers
> 
>     We are pleased to see so many new mappers from Uganda joining the OSMF.
>     In the last few days the membership from that country almost doubled.
> 
>     However, there is a pattern that makes us a bit uneasy, and that is why
>     I wanted to reach out. I guess this increase originates from mapuganda,
>     talk in the group or something similar. Which is totally fine. However,
>     when we see such an inrush we look a little closer. We see that at least
>     a few applicants (I didn't look at all of them in detail) have a quite
>     strong "work" pattern. Meaning the great majority of edits fall on
>     Monday through Friday during working hours.
> 
>     I would like to point out that paid mapping does not "count" for the
>     active contributor membership. If indeed some are paid for mapping, it
>     would be best to have separate accounts for paid, directed mapping and
>     for private activities.
> 
>     I hope to get into contact with this group this way, without singling
>     anyone out in particular. Or at least make you aware of the potential
>     problem we see.
> 
>     happy mapping
>     Michael
> 
>     Membership Working Group
>