On 26/01/12 08:43, Robert Schweikert wrote:
All,
During today's project meeting a discussion about openSUSE membership started, see earlier posts to the list for meeting minutes.
While we have documented procedures (http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Members) on how to become a member, we do not have any guidelines about what it means to be a member in good standing. Additionally, the only way to get pruned from the list of members is to repeatedly violate the guiding principals or actively request removal.
I am suggesting that the conditions for loss of membership are not sufficient. As briefly discussed in the meeting today we have about 500 or so members. Also in a recent meeting it was suggested that we have a large contingent of non active members. This would then explain why we end up with only 200 and some odd votes of 500 members for the board elections.
As probably anyone who is a member of some club or association knows, there is always some condition, often a fee, that assures continued membership in said club or association. No I am NOT proposing a membership fee for openSUSE. However, I am proposing that we come up with a mechanism to prune our list of members and that there is no such thing as a "free" (as in I don't contribute) life time membership.
I propose the following guideline:
" On even years of membership anniversary (that would be year 2, 4, 6...) a member gets an automated e-mail.
- If the e-mail bounces and there is no other means to contact the person than the person is removed as a member.
- If the person does not respond within two weeks, another e-mail is sent. If after 2 additional weeks no response is received the person is removed as a member.
A response to the received e-mail should include a short list of areas in the project where the member was active during the past two years. This can be verified by the membership team. With the response and verification membership continues.
I think that you are putting the cart before the horse. Get rid of the Board, and the membership committee, and your problem is solved. Furthermore, what benefits does "membership" bestows on you? The ability to vote for the Board? Woo-hoo. BC -- But when you take arms from people, then you start to upset them, you show you do not trust them because you are frightened or cagey. Niccolo Machiavelli -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner@opensuse.org