FOSS.my 2008 is Over!
Charter 0.1
FOSSFM Charter
Draft
This document describes the purpose, basic structure and operational policies of a proposed foundation. Although certain issues are not addressed fully, the core functions of the foundation are defined and procedures for them are described.
This document includes broad mission level
statements and
operational provisions. We are in the process of creating Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws that will incorporate this charter, cast in
stone our fundamental beliefs, and give us the flexibility to amend
implementation items.
A ChangeLog and author's list are at the end of this document.
Preface: Why a FOSS Foundation?
Currently the Malaysian Free and Open Source Software developer community is a collection of individual efforts. Developers learn about FOSS on their own and organise efforts such as workshops, seminars, meetups and articles on their own.
The issues are summarised as below.
- Students don't have the opportunity to learn at this level at
universities and the lecturers are unable to teach (using and having knowledge
of using proprietary software only). An analogy would be students who
learn to drive, not become mechanics.
- Small employment pool of highly skilled developers.
- Few FOSS companies with only a few skilled developers who end up doing multiple tasks (due to shortage).
An organisation to organise efforts as a collective community is needed in order to address these issues.
Mission Statement
FOSSFM helps individuals and organisations to realise their potential and supports them in events and schemes to support and help the Malaysian Free and Open Source developer community.
The foundation may produce educational materials and documentation to help the public learn about FOSS. In addition, it may sponsor FOSS-related technical conferences and workshops, and represent the FOSS developer community at relevant conferences sponsored by others, to help promote open standards and promote the use and development of FOSS.
I. Principles of the FOSS Foundation
Open and Public
All FOSS Contributers should have a say on the activities and direction of the foundation. The foundation must stick to the principles of the openness of FOSS. Discussions, meeting notes, plans and budgets are to always be made public.
Meritocracy
Participation in the foundation is intended only for those individuals who are making contributions to FOSS. A corporation, organization or individual should not be granted a place in the foundation unless its presence is justified by the merits of its contribution. Money cannot buy influence in FOSSFM: show us the code (or documentation, or translations, or leadership, or webmastering...). Clarification needed. Funds can be used to support FOSS Projects under FOSSFM or FOSSFM in general, but cannot be used to influence for example dropping an existing project, change in the board of directors or the charter and overall aims of FOSSFM as defined in this charter and guidelines.
Independence
The foundation must act in the best interests of FOSS, independent of influence from outside organizations and corporations. No single entity should have the ability to direct FOSSFM to its own ends.
II. Tasks of the Foundation
Public Image and Voice
The foundation will represent a single voice representing FOSS community of its members and projects. The foundation will also be a hub for joint-marketing efforts by those organizations (corporate and non) which want to make FOSS-related announcements.As part of this role, FOSSFM will advocate FOSS and issue feedback and statements on public FOSS issues and government policy.
Corporate and Organizational Point of Contact
Companies and other organizations which want to communicate with FOSS community of FOSSFM and should be able to use the foundation as their first point of contact. The foundation will be responsible for helping these organizations understand FOSS and become involved. The foundation will be vested with the power to represent FOSSFM community in these conversations.
The foundation will also act as a forum for discussions between the organizations and companies which have an interest in FOSS. There will be a subgroup of the foundation which will include members from these organizations to make this possible.
Direction and Vision
FOSSFM will provide a sense of leadership and cohesive direction to FOSS community projects.
As FOSSFM evolves, other duties which are appropriate and necessary for the foundation to undertake will emerge. Before the board of directors of the foundation takes on any major new duties, it shall consult with the broader FOSSFM community.
Fund Receipt and Disbursement
Individuals and organizations that want to make a monetary contribution to FOSSFM will be able to do so by making a contribution to the FOSSFM. The foundation will be in charge of disbursing these funds to the benefit of FOSSFM and, to the extent possible, in accordance with the wishes of the benefactor.- Open Issues
- encourage certification and adoption of FOSS skilled workers?
- create involvement between developers and students
III. Basic Structure and Operation of the Foundation
From time to time, ad-hoc committees may be formed, formally or informally, either by the board or the membership.
Membership
- Non-voting Members
- The
Membership will be open to all people who want to be a member and who
have made any kind of contribution to any part of a FOSS project, with
no membership fee, and no requirement of organizational or corporate
affiliation.
- Voting Members
- Membership for voting members is by invitation only. Invitations are given to non-voting members by current voting members who have made significant contributions to a FOSS project. The membership will have two responsibilities: electing the Board of Directors, and issuing popular referenda on any issue under the jurisdiction of the foundation, at any time (hopefully an infrequent event).
Board of Directors
The board of directors is elected by the voting members every year. It consists of 5 people. Board members are reponsible for guiding specific member projects. The board of directors also has final say for issues that cannot be resolved by project and membership committees.
Chairman
Trustee(s)
Trustee is a veteran and respected community member. The Trustee(s) has the power to remove members of the board, to arbitrate arguments and to ensure that the committee delivers on the objectives of the board.Arbitration
In situations where problems cannot be solved, a specific third party arbitrator will arbitrate arguments. The decisions by this arbitrator are final.IV. Board Meetings, Voting, Referendum and Election
Board Meetings & Votes
Once a year.
Referendum
In events where a change needs to be done. Must have the support of 50% of members.
Elections and Board Size
5 people. 3 positions have to be filled by nominees that represent a a specific segment of the FOSS community
- Academic
- Developer (General)
- Community
V. Funds
One of the primary purposes of the FOSS foundation is to allow outsiders to contribute financially to the continued development of FOSS. These outsiders will make donations to the project, which will be disbursed by the board, under the advice of the membership.
VI. Bootstrapping the Foundation
VII Authors
Khairil Yusof
Ditesh Kumar
Ezwan Aizat Bin Abdullah Faiz
This document was put together from contributions by many people.
Based on - Gnome Foundation Charter, Linux Australia Charter
VIII. Change log
0.1
Mission Statement
- Added organisations (Khairil - raised by Ditesh Kumar)
- Added clarification on funding and influence, wording needs to improved (Khairil - raised by Ditesh Kumar)
- Expanded on tasks, highlight several unresolved tasks (Khairil)
- Removed student membership. It doesn't serve any purpose and make a single type of membership (Khairil - raised by Ditesh Kumar)
- Added non-voting and voting members and definitions. (Khairil - raised by Ditesh Kumar and Ezwan Aizat)
- Added Chairman of the Board - (Khairil - raised by Ditesh Kumar)
- Added responsibilities of board for projects - (Khairil - raised by Ditesh Kumar)
Initial Document
Outstanding Issues and Concerns
Elections and Board Size
Ditesh raised the issue that there should not be segmentation so that the best candidates are represented.
Khairil says is to ensure that FOSSFM boards will always represents a wider community. Lack of representation from specific segments such as academic, or developers or community in general may deviate from FOSSFM uniting the FOSS community under one banner. There are 2 other places on the board, to ensure some sort of balance to issue raised by Ditesh.
Funding
That any funding received by foundation requires the receipient to be a member of the foundation.
money contributing organization
The idea is to group them according to the amount of money they contribute per year. The classification is using 10^n formula, where n=2,3,4 and 2,3,4 represents Bronze, Silver and Gold respectively.
So, if they contribute
10^2 = 1000 - 9,999 : Bronze
10^3 = 10,000 - 99,999 : Silver
10^4 = 100,000 - 999,999 : Gold
Maybe we can have Platinum level for 1 million and above.
They will have their name and logo plastered all over the place where we held our event, where they will get a free advertisement for their contribution.