NOSI Steering Committee: Minutes 9/03/04
Present: Rich, Michelle, Reuben, Rich, John, Amanda
Not present: Arif, Steve
Agenda
I.Michelle's departure
II. Johns proposal
III.Web/email/domain name:
IV.Bringing on other SC members
V. Who will chair for the next 6 months?
I.Michelle is stepping down from NOSI to pursue divinity school. This
move is effective immediately.
SC members thank her for all of her work on behalf of NOSI.
Michelle is informed that she is the rock star of the FOSS/NPO set.
II.John's proposal.
John makes a statement about wanting to link FOSS with issues of
social justice, and thinking that NOSI might be a vehical to do this.
He thinks NOSI should be THE place people go to when they are thinking
about NPO's and FOSS.
Reuben :
says ambitious projects need continuity:
John made an offer and it seems like a good fit.
Amanda:
what would be the role of a staff person be?
says Rich has listed tons of activities that a staff person could do
but is shouldn't be completely mundane.
however, shouldn't get to a situation where NOSI's commitment to
maintain a staff person overrides other priorities that NOSI has
Reuben:
wasn't thinking of it as a staff person, rather as a consultant
position directly related to particular project. Seed funding would
allow secondary fund raising efforts.
wary of making a general commitment to staffing, it should always be
tied to a particular project.
Michelle:
Steering committee should understand and accept the role that John
proposes. NOSI has actually not focused on Social Justice issues. They
have tried to stay away from being dogmatic.
Rich:
Approaching FOSS in a social justice context might allow NOSI to find
funding in diverse areas. NOSI might be able to get dollars that would
be too "political" to be palatable for some funders of organizations
that we work for. [I hope I have this transcribed correctly, Rich will
need to set me straight if this isn't the case].
Reuben:
suggests something should be put in writing describing what a
position would look like. What John wants to do, what he would need in
terms of support. There needs to be an explicit understanding that we
are on the same page
Rich:
Wants us to think about who is going to be on the steering committee.
Also is there any institutional commitment from the board members
employers to NOSI?
Reuben:
what are the practice implications of the relationships between NOSI
and organizations we work for? Do you want material support for NOSI?
Amanda:
LINK gives Amanda's time. To the extent that it is DIRECTLY consistent
with its mission, LINK can put more time and work into it. Ex: where
NOSI mission effects grass roots organizations LINK can be more
involved.
Rich:
Can we get agencies on board and on the website. Can we have a
formalized relations and presence on the website
Questions:
can a contract person "speak for NOSI"? If John goes to an
organization, can he make relationships ties etc? Is this the role of
an executive director?
One of the roles of an ED or rep would be talking to organizations
that SC committee members, belong to to see if we can build some
institutional relationships. The relationships that SC members have
with other organizations and personalities can be a resource for us as
we move forward.
[my notes aren't clear whether these were questions in my own head, or
if these were questions that were asked on the call, does anyone else
remember?]
Next steps:
John will put together something in the next two weeks. We should have
more discussions after we see a draft "job description"
III. Web/email/domain name:
Michelle: Hosting should be somewhere else
Amanda: What does Michelle do now.
Four lists currently on sympa.
Amanda and the LINK project will currently take over hosing for DB and
mail etc. Also domain name registrar of record.
iv. Bringing on other SC members
Amanda says we should be intentional about the next board member.
v.who will chair for next six months?
No one comes forward but John agrees to arrange next months call.
Your corrections to this are very much appreciated.
John
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