Re: What do you think of the foundation?

[Dave Neary <dneary gnome org>]

Hi Behdad,

Behdad Esfahbod wrote:
> Note: this is a personal response.  I  may disclose information only 
> available to the board, but in no way any line in this message 
> represents board's opinion.

For the record, I don't expect the board to take a position on this - I 
do hope that prominent foundation members, including current & future 
board members, will take the opportunity to get beyond the details and 
talk about their vision for the foundation.

> I agree that an check for what foundation is and what we want it to be 
> is long overdue.  I don't think this is the best timing though.  Do you 
> expect the candidates to speak up and reply?  Shut up?  How does this 
> relate to the upcoming election?!

Good question.

It is my hope that this election campaign we can get beyond the type of 
election campaign that we have had, where every candidate says that they 
want to "delegate more", "improve transparency", "make the foundation 
relevant to foundation members" - and while previous boards have all 
succeeded in greater or lesser measure in those goals, it has felt like 
we're not pulling in the same direction, in brief, that there is no 
vision for the foundation at the moment.

So, I've detailed my vision, with two major changes:
- include foundation members in the daily running of the foundation by 
having the majority of board business happen in the open on 
foundation-list, including having the working version of the accounts in 
a publicly accessible place, posting draft minutes straight after 
meetings, rather than going through the 2/3 day review period we've had 
in the past, posting agendas for meetings to foundation-list, and using 
foundation-list as the main board mailing list, only going to board-list 
for board-confidential issues.
- the foundation, through the board, should be empowered and committed 
to maintaining a friendly and productive working environment

I would like to hear candidate's thoughts on this, and I will be voting 
for those that agree with me. Since you disagree with me on the second 
point, I probzbly won't be voting for you, but you will doubtless get 
the votes of many others who disagree with me.

We'll be voting for candidates ased on their ideas and their vision of 
the foundation, rather than picking the most prominent & popular board 
members! It'll be like a real election!

I'll reply to the rest of your mail separately.

Cheers,
Dave.

--
Dave Neary
GNOME Foundation member
dneary gnome org