I'm glad to see this survey.
I'm not to particular about which method of non profit you use. However, I think if you combined the two following methods you might end up with the best options available. In other words, don't box yourself in.
An online community sponsored by several entities (individual and organization members, sponsors) and with funds derived from the services and/or products that are sold by its members (examples: Typo3 CMS, OpenACS CMS)
An online community + commercial company that lead the development and support the ongoing costs (example: ClarkConnect, Redhat/Fedora, Trustix)
Here's my post from the general discussion forum. Just some extra suggestions you might want to consider, however, the ultimate setup of the organization must protect the future of the project. So if you go with a non voting member setup, that's fine by me. I wouldn't be eligible to run for any of those positions anyway. I just firure that the more people involved in supporting the project, the better the furure system will be.
Some of you guys have a point.
However, you are all also missing a point.
Every company, no matter what, where, when,
or how must have a single leader in charge.
When it comes to making the decision as to what direction that SME should go in, there can be no we. It has to be an I as in I am going in this direction, if you agree follow me. This of course will offend many, howeveer, it will give concrete decisive direction to the project. So as opposed to voting on a direction for the future of SME, why not vote for a project director who has a vision and a direction that he or she would like to see the system go in?
A community can provide suggestions, however, there can be only one person with the final decision and responsibilty to lead and direct the project. This person would also be responsible for providing a monthly report to the community as to the status of the project. The project director would be primarily responsible for testing the changes and thereby making a decision as to whether a development is stable for release or not.
This is how Linus Travoldi develops the kernel. It works for the kernel and it can work for the SME development project as well.
Once a project developer has been chosen, he can set up a non-profit organization to receive donations and membership dues. Where Only due paying members would be allowed to vote for the board of directors and the project director. Requirements for President and board members would be as follows. He or she would have to be first and foremost, a due paying member, other eleigibilty requirements could be set such as, achieving a certain amount of time invested in the project. The criteria for determining this would be based upon area's such as developement, contribs donated to the community, support given through the forums ect. In this way, only those people who actively give to the community and support the project in one way or another will be eligible to run for the position of board member or the president (project director) of the corporation. The dues paid by voting members would then be utilized to pay developement costs such as salaries for the President and board members, developers, and those additional staff members that would be needed to support the project.
While tis wouldn't allow for every little things someone wants added to the system, this would allow for a proper and continueing development of the SME distro, as well as maintain it's free distro standing.
Scott
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