[CREATE] Libre Graphics Whatever - charter prototype

[José Cruz]

Hi! I'm agree with Jon about the differents classes of membership. We are a 
small company (just two persons) in the graphic design world, using only libre 
software, and I think it is interesting to bring more professionals (wich are 
intensive users) to FLOSS.
Jose Cruz

On Lunes, 31 de Mayo de 2010 16:53:05 Jon Nordby escribió:
> On Sat, May 29, 2010 at 6:27 PM, Andreas Vox <avox at arcor.de> wrote:
> > Hi!
> > 
> > After the discussion we had today at LGM about creating an Libre Graphics
> > Foundation or similar, I'd like to make a proposal for the charter. I've
> > concentrated on aims and membership, not procedures. As an umbrella
> > organization, it should concentrate on connecting people and organizing
> > partnerships between its members. The member organizations would actually
> > carry out the projects. This would also keep costs and membership fees to
> > a minimum.
> > 
> > Ok, I'm expecting comments!
> 
> Sorry for being slow on commenting, lots of good stuff in your post.
> 
> > 2 Aim
> > The aim of the organization is to connect people in the Libre Graphics
> > world. Members have been organizing the Libre Graphics Meeting for the
> > last five years. The organization will carry the spirit of the LGM to an
> > organizational level by providing a central point of contact for
> > developers, artists and donators. It will do so in
> > - organizing Libre Graphics meetings
> > - providing a website that links to all Endorsed Projects and promotes
> > the idea of Libre Graphics
> > - uses and protects the terms "Libre Graphics" and "Libre Graphics
> > Meeting" as a trademark.
> > - brings together developers with potential donators/funders
> > - provides certificates for teachers and students of Libre Graphics
> > software (needs clarification)
> > - provides a marketplace for artists and teachers of Libre Graphics
> > - furthers communications between users and developers of Libre Graphics
> > software
> 
> I think this captures the gist of what we can aim to do, and what
> people has voiced intrest in doing in the long term very well.
> 
> > 3 Membership
> > Members can be any person or organization. Each member has one vote.
> > Decisions need 3/4 of the votes, elections to the board need 1/2 of the
> > votes. (TBD)
> > 
> > 4 Endorsed Projects
> > Projects in the spirit of Libre Graphics can become an Endorsed Project.
> > Endorsed Projects are listed on the organization's website, are promoted
> > by the organization and can receive funding from the organization.
> > Endorsed Projects are encouraged to become members, also.
> 
> I was thinking of a slightly different model. I want to raise the bar
> a bit, at least in the start.
> _As I see it_, we want to provide a common face for libre graphics
> software, and not just for hobbyist and amateur users. We want it to
> be a professional level organization, so that we (in the long term)
> can make big things happen, often in contact and cooperation with
> other professional level organizations. If you do not see things the
> same way, please voice your opinion.
> 
> To make such an organization, at least in the start, I see three
> classes of projects/organizations as eligable for membership:
> 1) Projects making free and open source graphics software.
> Examples: GIMP, Inkscape, Krita, Scribus.
> 2) Related foundations, meta-projects and intrest organizations:
> Examples: KDE, GNOME, Linux Foundation, Blender Foundation. Also
> universities, public or ideal organizations
> 3) Commercial companies that use and support libre graphics software
> Examples: O'Reilly Media, River Valley Technologies, ??
> 
> Some differentiation between the different classes of members might be
> wanted, to insure the right mix. All the communication and conduct of
> the organization should be transparent to the wider public, but only
> members have a formal vote. Each member gets one vote, and is
> represented by an official rep and at least one vice-rep.
> 
> Members get an entry on the website that they can use to describe
> their project/organization.
> 
> > 5 Funding
> > Membership fees are supposed to cover only the administrative costs of
> > the organizations. Membership fees are not forwarded to Endorsed
> > Projects or members or any other organization.
> > The organization also collects donations and sponsorships. These are used
> > conforming to the specification of the sponsor/donator. Unspecified
> > donations can be used for administrative costs, forwarded to Endorsed
> > Projects or to achieve any of the goals of the organization.
> 
> I agree with what was stated in the BoF; money looking for a purpose
> is trouble waiting to happen. At least without some very clear
> guidelines and rules for how it should be, this is what tends to
> happen. So I would suggest, as least in the start, to not accept money
> without having a predefined purpose for them.