[maemo-community] Open Letter from the Hildon Foundation Board to the Maemo Community

[From: Community Council: Ivan Galvez Junquera]

By Tim Samoff, chairman of the Hildon Foundation Board.

Dear Maemo Community,  
  
As long-time supporters and contributors -- and, in all humility, quite  
honored to be counted among all of you -- we, the inaugural Hildon  
Foundation Board felt it necessary that we put forth an open, public  
statement about how we feel the "Board" should be considered and engaged  
with.  
  
At this point, the first Board meeting minutes have been published for  
public review. As we hope you'll see, it is nothing but the Maemo  
Community's best interests that we are concerned with. In fact, the  
entire reason for the Hildon Foundation to exist is so that the  
community may continue with as few interruptions as possible. So, as  
you read on, please keep this in mind.  
  
A little history first...  
  
Sometime in 2007 this community reached a tipping point. There were many  
active users, new devices, new code, and a lot of questions pertaining  
to the future of the [maemo.org][1] website and the community's relationship  
with Nokia. Because of this, the idea to create a "community council" as  
a way of fielding community issues and communicating them with Nokia was  
proposed. Those of you who have been a part of this community for a  
while will remember that the idea was widely agreed upon and the Maemo  
Community Council was born.  
  
This new entity, while totally unpaid and volunteer, ended up being an  
amazingly efficient conduit between community matters and those at Nokia  
who considered Maemo their charge. Both the community and Nokia  
flourished because of this relational reorganization.  
  
Fast-forward to the present...  
  
Nokia is leaving the scene (figuratively, of course, as we hope that the  
community still sees some Nokia faces here and there); the community is  
in a bit of an identity crisis; the Council and Foundation Board  
elections are rife with issues... The list could go on. But, regardless  
of these problems, we now have a new phase of community life to forge.  
  
Because of this, it is necessary to reevaluate how the community  
operates and who is responsible for its continued operations.  
  
Today's Maemo Community Council...  
  
Thankfully, the new Maemo Community Council is made up of very dedicated  
and trustworthy folks. And, as it has been since the Council's

inception, these are the people who will directly fend for the daily  
life of our community. It is with gratitude that our community should  
receive this new Council. Treat them respectfully and always give them  
the benefit of the doubt. They are our dedicated and faithful guides.  
  
The Hildon Foundation...  
  
The Hildon Foundation and, specifically, the Foundation Board should be  
viewed in quite a different light, though. It is the Hildon Foundation  
that will oversee the transition of the Maemo Community away from Nokia

and into the hands of the community. Of course, the Foundation is also  
very concerned with ongoing development within both the Mer and Nemo  
projects, so facilitating their future is also quite important.

  
It is the Hildon Foundation that will administer such things as  
community infrastructure, managing money needed to continue the  
community, and general oversight of features and functionality in and

around the strata of the community. Understand that it is the  
"Foundation Board" -- regardless of the individuals who actually occupy  
the roles within -- who accept and administer responsibilities.

![cleardot.gif][2]

Because of this, it is the current Board's opinion that the relational  
dynamic between the community, the Council, and the Board should remain  
very similar to how they existed between the community, the Council, and  
Nokia in past years. And, because of this, it is the Boards opinion  
that the community should continue to communicate directly with the  
Council, and not necessarily with the Board. (Hence, discussion forums  
such as "Ask the Board" are quite inappropriate for these purposes as  
they never existed between the community and Nokia.)  
  
In Conclusion...  
  
All of this being said, the Hildon Foundation Board will make every  
attempt to run "business" in an open source manner. We will publish as  
much of our meeting minutes as possible without violating any non  
disclosure agreements. Likewise, we will make every attempt to respond  
to community communication via the Maemo Community Council, especially  
those things that pertain to community infrastructure and daily  
operations. Lastly, we will remain active within the community as  
regular community members.  
  
Thank you...  
  
Thank you for supporting this community. It is the reason why we who  
choose to serve in more political capacities like the Community Council  
and the Board. There is no other reason. We believe in this community.  
We desire this community to succeed. We will do everything we can to  
facilitate the growth of this community.  
  
In service,  
The Hildon Foundation Board

   [1]: http://maemo.org
   [2]: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif

URL: http://maemo.org/community/council/open_letter_from_the_hildon_foundation_board_to_the_maemo_community/