Re: [Gegl-developer] Re: [Gimp-developer] more GIMP foundation stuff
Hi, Michael Schumacher wrote: Daniel Rogers wrote: To be a little more clear: I need volunteers to be an initial board of directors. Might be an important question: does one have to live in the US to be able to become a director? (and/or president, secreatary, treasurer, ...) No. For example, several of the GNOME Foundation board members are not in the US. Cheers, Dave. -- Dave Neary [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
Re: [Gimp-developer] more GIMP foundation stuff
Carol Spears wrote: On Sat, Apr 24, 2004 at 09:44:49AM +0200, Marc A. Lehmann wrote: On Fri, Apr 23, 2004 at 08:00:17PM -0700, Daniel Rogers [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've put it here: http://www.phasevelocity.org/bylaws.doc These bylaws Woaw, the bylaws for a free software organisation, written in a proprietary microsoft format! this summed up my feelings very well. Might be another reason for lack of feedback. did they discuss file formats with you when you discussed this at the gimp convention? Maybe something about this is in the minutes of the last GIMPCon. Anyway, are there any suggestions (or requirements?) for an official format for all TGF documents. PDF seems reasonable. HTH, Michael -- The GIMP http://www.gimp.org| IRC: irc://irc.gimp.org/gimp Sodipodi http://sodipodi.sf.net | IRC: irc://irc.gimp.org/sodipodi ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
Re: [Gimp-developer] more GIMP foundation stuff
Michael Schumacher wrote: Carol Spears wrote: On Sat, Apr 24, 2004 at 09:44:49AM +0200, Marc A. Lehmann wrote: On Fri, Apr 23, 2004 at 08:00:17PM -0700, Daniel Rogers [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've put it here: http://www.phasevelocity.org/bylaws.doc These bylaws Woaw, the bylaws for a free software organisation, written in a proprietary microsoft format! this summed up my feelings very well. Might be another reason for lack of feedback. Dude. The lawyer gave me doc. Open office read it fine. I didn't think it woudl be a problem. I used open office to make a pdf. It's at http://www.phasevelocity.org/bylaws.pdf did they discuss file formats with you when you discussed this at the gimp convention? Maybe something about this is in the minutes of the last GIMPCon. Anyway, are there any suggestions (or requirements?) for an official format for all TGF documents. PDF seems reasonable. She is just trying to goad me, so I tried to ignore her. It is not an official document yet, but yes, I agree that PDF is reasonable for all TGF documents. -- Dan ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
Re: [Gimp-developer] more GIMP foundation stuff
Daniel Rogers wrote: So, I noticed the resounding silence surrounding this thread. Is anyone still interested in a foundation? I went into this foundation thing thinking I had support from the community. I cannot do this all by myself. The Foundation is about getting involved. If noone wishes to get involved, then there is nothing left I can do. Here are the things left to do. Within a week I need to get the parts in red of the draft bylaws fleshed out at at least the majority satisfiaction of the community. In addition to the red parts, the membership section needs to be writtin. The week is gone, obviously, but this still needs to be done. I just lose legal support for a while after a few days, which is ok. I just slows things down a bit. Do these issues interest anyone in particular? I need to appoint an initial board, whose job will be to set up a membership system, start collecting members, and allow those members to vote in a non-interim board (any takers?) To be a little more clear: I need volunteers to be an initial board of directors. I need to send in the corporate paperwork to the IRS (with the filing fee) and wait a few months for the IRS to send some questions answer those questions, and wait a few more months to get our non-profit status approved. Instead of all this though, I've been talking to Tim Ney about having the GNOME Foundation take a more active role in supporting the GIMP. If GNOME was willing to do this, this would probably be a good option for us. Gnome already has the infrastruction and ability to act as a non-profit, as well as plenty of corporate suppport. What do people think of this plan? Again, to be a little more clear. GNOME would like to support us more than just in name. All we (e.g. more than just me) have to do is say yes. It is unclear, at this point, how exactly GNOME would be involved with The GIMP, but those details could be worked out. Does this interest anyone? Is anyone outright opposed (and why)? -- Dan ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
Re: [Gimp-developer] more GIMP foundation stuff
Hi, Daniel Rogers wrote: Instead of all this though, I've been talking to Tim Ney about having the GNOME Foundation take a more active role in supporting the GIMP. If GNOME was willing to do this, this would probably be a good option for us. Gnome already has the infrastruction and ability to act as a non-profit, as well as plenty of corporate suppport. What do people think of this plan? Again, to be a little more clear. GNOME would like to support us more than just in name. All we (e.g. more than just me) have to do is say yes. It is unclear, at this point, how exactly GNOME would be involved with The GIMP, but those details could be worked out. Does this interest anyone? Is anyone outright opposed (and why)? For the record, I'm in favour of this approach. There is no real benefit in setting up a foundation structure which will just be a fundraising structure, causing some people lots of work and cost, when there is an organisation prepared to partner us which already has all of this in place. Of course, that does mean that we will be taking a small piece of a bigger pie, rather than having our own independent revenue source, but since we currently have no revenue source, that won't make a big difference. Cheers, Dave. -- David Neary, Lyon, France E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
Re: [Gegl-developer] Re: [Gimp-developer] more GIMP foundation stuff
Daniel Rogers wrote: Daniel Rogers wrote: So, I noticed the resounding silence surrounding this thread. Is anyone still interested in a foundation? I went into this foundation thing thinking I had support from the community. I cannot do this all by myself. The Foundation is about getting involved. If noone wishes to get involved, then there is nothing left I can do. Well, I started to read the bylaws and was overwhelmed a bit. Being totally unfamiliar with stuff like this, I found it a bit too much to read, comprehend and evaluate in one week... maybe this happened to others as well? I need to appoint an initial board, whose job will be to set up a membership system, start collecting members, and allow those members to vote in a non-interim board (any takers?) To be a little more clear: I need volunteers to be an initial board of directors. Might be an important question: does one have to live in the US to be able to become a director? (and/or president, secreatary, treasurer, ...) Michael -- The GIMP http://www.gimp.org| IRC: irc://irc.gimp.org/gimp Sodipodi http://sodipodi.sf.net | IRC: irc://irc.gimp.org/sodipodi ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
Re: [Gimp-developer] more GIMP foundation stuff
On Sat, Apr 24, 2004 at 09:44:49AM +0200, Marc A. Lehmann wrote: On Fri, Apr 23, 2004 at 08:00:17PM -0700, Daniel Rogers [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've put it here: http://www.phasevelocity.org/bylaws.doc These bylaws Woaw, the bylaws for a free software organisation, written in a proprietary microsoft format! this summed up my feelings very well. did they discuss file formats with you when you discussed this at the gimp convention? carol ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
[Gimp-developer] more GIMP foundation stuff
Hi again, I have almost completed all the paperwork to get The GIMP Foundation up and running. The last slightly compliciated bit left is to get the bylaws finished. I have a draft version of the bylaws that need a few gaps filled in. I've put it here: http://www.phasevelocity.org/bylaws.doc These bylaws get sent with the rest of the paperwork (and the filing fee) to the IRS to get tax-exempt status. This copy of the bylaws is pretty standard stuff, with parts that need filling in, highlighted in red. We are, of course, free to change the bylaws at anytime in the future (within certain limits), but we do need a copy of the bylaws, and a first board meeting held within the rules of those bylaws, where the bylaws are formally approved by the board. Here are the things left to do. Within a week I need to get the parts in red of the draft bylaws fleshed out at at least the majority satisfiaction of the community. In addition to the red parts, the membership section needs to be writtin. I need to appoint an initial board, whose job will be to set up a membership system, start collecting members, and allow those members to vote in a non-interim board (any takers?) I need to send in the corporate paperwork to the IRS (with the filing fee) and wait a few months for the IRS to send some questions answer those questions, and wait a few more months to get our non-profit status approved. Instead of all this though, I've been talking to Tim Ney about having the GNOME Foundation take a more active role in supporting the GIMP. If GNOME was willing to do this, this would probably be a good option for us. Gnome already has the infrastruction and ability to act as a non-profit, as well as plenty of corporate suppport. What do people think of this plan? -- Daniel P.S. Real life is taken over recently. I have a new child on the way, my wife is almost finished with school, I'm looking at grad schools, and I have a practical need to focus my work on the bits that I get paid a regular salery for. This means I have very little time for gimp related stuff recently. In fact, I'm looking to get TGF (or whatever this becomes) handed off to a competent interim board as soon as I can. ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
Re: [Gimp-developer] more gimp foundation stuff
Daniel Rogers wrote: 1. I heard that some people have been asked to be on the board, why weren't the developers consulted? I'm a developer, why wasn't I asked? Who are these board members? Keep in mind that developers will not necessarily make good board members. The sort of decisions that a board of directors has to make really don't have that much in common with those made by a developer. Developers need to be involved in the operation of the foundation, but it's unrealistic to expect a majority of the board to be active developers. It might even be counterproductive. Kelly ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
[Gimp-developer] more gimp foundation stuff
Here is few notes to address a few more concerns I have encountered, I'll pose them retorically. 1. I heard that some people have been asked to be on the board, why weren't the developers consulted? I'm a developer, why wasn't I asked? Who are these board members? In California every corporation that has not applied and achieved tax-exempt status from the IRS has to pay an 800 dollar franchise tax. In order to get tax-exempt status, you must meet certain requirements, write your bylaws, have your first board meeting, and attach the bylaws and the minutes of your first meeting to the tax-exempt form and set it to the IRS (and the state franchise tax board). At some point, I needed to make sure that there would be sufficient interest in being board members to be able to have the first board meeting. Otherwise, seeing how I am the only board member at the moment (every corporation needs one initial board member) I would have to pay the 800 dollar franchise tax fee. I didn't want to do that. I also didn't know if non-US-residents can be on the board, so yosh and I came up with a list of all US contributors and interested people and sent them mail asking about being TGF board members. Yosh, Mat, Nathan, were the ones who expressed interest at the time. This meant I had enough poeple interested that I felt I could contine without undue risk to myself. They are, in fact, not board members, though it seems likely that they will try to become one. I can't elect new board members until the bylaws are written (and, in fact, if the bylaws define a voting membership, I _can't_ elect. That is the members job). Now that I know that there are no residency requirements and and the only age requirement is 18 (so that you can enter contracts) I've asked (in my last mail) more generally, and with greater specificity, who would like to be involved. 2. Will The GIMP Foundation have a steering committee? No, not exactly. The GIMP has always been a contributor driven project, and I see no reason (or even ability) to change that. If TGF has an object called a steering committee it will only be able to be in charge of TGF employees. Noone is going to be telling volunteers what to do (unless of course, they are specific volunteering their time to TGF, but that is another matter entirely). 3. This thing is still vague to me. Aren't you assuming you will have money? What exactly is it supposed to do? Why should I care? Why should I get invovled? Why should I not get invovled. Yes, I am assuming we will have money. Without money, this whole thing is just an exercise is futility. Getting more money will be one of this things TGF will need to focus on. More or less, the purpose of TGF is to provide a public (and scientific) service by ensuring the distrobution, and development of The GIMP. What this boils down to it getting and spending money for the good of The GIMP. You should care because the money will be spend to support your activities (and perhaps even compensate you directly). You should get invovled if you want to have a say in how that money is spent, or want to get invovled with The GIMP in other ways. Undoubtably marketing style stuff will have a place in The GIMP, and I already know that there are more than a few non-technical people interested in contrubting to something like that. The only reason you should not get invovled is if you don't want to spend the time on it. By the nature of a corporation, no one is personally liable, so there is no risk for getting involved (including, but not limited to, protection for lawsuits and bad business deals made in good faith). Please let me know if anyone has and more concerns. I will address them as best I can. -- Dan ___ Gimp-developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
