<br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_quote"><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="im"><div>On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 10:34 AM, Andrew Flegg <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:andrew@bleb.org" target="_blank">andrew@bleb.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 15:16, Sunny B <<a href="mailto:sunnyb7532@gmail.com" target="_blank">sunnyb7532@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
> The wording is still to be debated (until August 22nd). I don't<br>
> know why you are unclear about what the referendum is deciding.<br>
<br>
</div>I'm "unclear" on the extent of the referendum and the options.<br>
However, as you say:<br>
<div><br>
> But I guess debating the wording will provide additional clarity.<br>
<br>
</div>Indeed. I quote:<br>
<br>
"GOVERNANCE REFERENDUM - Due to Nokia's announcement that it will stop<br>
funding for <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> in 2012, there will be a referendum and a vote<br>
to determine the future of <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a>. There will be an opportunity to<br>
vote in favor of updating the role of Council so that it can organize<br>
a form of governance for the community OR in favor of winding down<br>
<a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> when the funding stops (thus making new form of governance<br>
unnecessary)."<br>
<br>
Is this a binary selection:<br>
<br>
"Should the Community Council form a governance structure which<br>
sees the continued survival of <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> without Nokia involvement?<br>
<br>
[ ] Yes<br>
[ ] No"<br>
<br></blockquote></div></div><div><font color="#ff0000">Yes, like this but "Should the Community Council be authorized so that it can form..." I might also say not limit it to <a href="http://maemo.org">maemo.org</a> but say "support of maemo devices and survival of maemo-based and derived open source software" in case Nokia refuses to let us continue to use <a href="http://maemo.org">maemo.org</a>.</font> <br>
</div><div class="im"><div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
Is this a selection between options:<br>
<br>
"What action should the Community Council take in preparation for<br>
Nokia's withdrawal of funding for <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> infrastructure?<br>
<br>
[ ] Nothing<br>
[ ] Find additional sponsors<br>
[ ] Open a PayPal fund<br>
[ ] Join an existing organisation (e.g. LF, SPI, Debian, ...)<br>
[ ] ..."<br>
<br></blockquote></div></div><div><font color="#ff0000">I would say no to this form of the question. It should be a referendum on the major issues that allows us to proceed not a poll on how to proceed. </font> <br>
</div><div class="im">
<div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
Is it something else? That's what I'm not clear on, and why I asked<br>
about the wording.<br>
<div><br>
> At least the primary issue is whether <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> should be wound<br>
> down when Nokia funding stops.<br>
<br>
</div>Indeed, and then there's all sorts of things when you say something like:<br>
<div><br>
> The results of the referendum will be binding on the incoming council.<br>
<br>
</div>Really? That's not been discussed, so where did it come from? What<br>
happens if the Council decides the landscape has fundamentally shifted<br>
again? (e.g. Nokia changes its strategy, gives all <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> users<br>
N9s, ...) Are they bound to continue a course of action which is then<br>
widely considered to be incorrect?<br></blockquote></div></div><div><br><font color="#ff0000">Well, like I said above I think the referendum should be whether or not to <b>authorize</b> Council to implement a governance structure - not to decide a specific structure or a specific course of action. So a broad decision such as to establish a non-profit foundation is not going to be affected by changing circumstances. It is the nature of referendum that it makes a binding decision. I would like the referendum to address and decide the issue that is impeding the community's ability to move forward. I do not want to see <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> wound down, but if that's the vote, then I'll abide by it (if I am a council member). <br>
<br></font> <br></div><div class="im"><div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<br>
What's "<a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a>"? If there's a transition plan to shutdown<br>
<a href="http://garage.maemo.org" target="_blank">garage.maemo.org</a> but continue running <a href="http://lists.maemo.org" target="_blank">lists.maemo.org</a>, is that<br>
"continuing <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a>"?<br>
<br>
All things which need to be considered when using words like<br>
"binding", IMNSHO. Especially if options might not consider the<br>
nuances like someone wanting to vote for "<a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> can be 'wound<br>
down' as long as there is a software building & distribution<br>
mechanism, repository and some form of QA processes [even if it's<br>
manual decisions by the packager]; but these are the things which must<br>
be continued at all costs". Such thoughts could lead one to ask people<br>
to prioritise the services they want, for example. However, that<br>
rapidly gets complicated and horrible to manage in terms of the<br>
election.<br></blockquote></div></div><div><br><font color="#ff0000">Agreed, it is important to strike the right balance with this referendum - giving Council the authority but not tieing their hands.</font> <br></div><div class="im">
<div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
Andrew<br>
<br>
[1] "due to Nokia's announcement that it will stop funding for<br>
<a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> in 2012" - *Niels* has said "In reality, the servers will<br>
stay on until 31-12-2012" in the meeting you had[2]. Can you confirm<br>
what *Nokia* has said, rather than a Nemein contractor? Will Nemein<br>
turn the servers off at that point no matter if someone steps forward<br>
to cover the costs (which *will* need to be published at a high-level<br>
if we're to realistically work out if there's a viable continuation<br>
plan)?<br>
<br>
[2] <a href="http://www.mwkn.net/2011/33/community.html#community-2" target="_blank">http://www.mwkn.net/2011/33/community.html#community-2</a><br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
--<br>
</font><div><div></div><div>Andrew Flegg -- mailto:<a href="mailto:andrew@bleb.org" target="_blank">andrew@bleb.org</a> | <a href="http://www.bleb.org/" target="_blank">http://www.bleb.org/</a><br>
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