[CREATE] Libre Graphics Whatever - charter prototype

[Andreas Vox]

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: nordby.jon at gmail.com [mailto:nordby.jon at gmail.com] Im Auftrag von
> Jon Nordby
> Gesendet: Montag, 31. Mai 2010 16:53
> An: create
> Cc: Andreas Vox
> Betreff: Re: [CREATE] Libre Graphics Whatever - charter prototype
> 
> 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.


Hi,

maybe I should have explained why I propose a difference between Members and Endorsed Projects.

Endorsed Projects need not be members. They are the projects that should be promoted by the organization, ie. 
1) LG software like Blender, Gimp, Inkcape, Krita, Scribus, ...
2) Open content sites like openclipart, openfontlib etc.
3) maybe others, like the Create Mailing list

The members decide which projets should be endorsed (a simple majority vote should be enough). Endorsed Projects are then promoted on the website and publications and *may* receive untargeted funding. I'll explain in an answer to Dave's post why I think this is needed.

As a corner case it would be possible that a project becomes an Endorsed Project which is not a member of the organization, or which even doesn't want to be endorsed (if that would be a wise decision is on another plate, but in the and a majority vote of members decide).

Members could be any person or organization that identifies the the goals of the organization. Very useful members would be the Endorsed Projects themselves and foundations like GNOME Foundation, KDE Foundation or Blender Foundation. Since most members would be natural persons and important votes need a 3/4 majority, the influence of organizational votes would be marginal. There are other reasons for organizations to be a member, which I will outline in the answer to Dave's post.

Membership fees should basically cover administration and communication needs of the organization. All other activities should be run as projects with dedicated funding.

Regards,
/Andreas