[CREATE] Libre Graphics Whatever - charter prototype

[Jon Nordby]

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.

-- 
Regards Jon Nordby - www.jonnor.com