SC Call Minutes 9-03-2004

NOSI Steering Committee: Minutes 9/03/04Present: Rich, Michelle, Reuben, Rich, John, AmandaNot present: Arif, Steve AgendaI.Michelle's departureII. Johns proposalIII.Web/email/domain name:IV.Bringing on other SC membersV. Who will chair for the next 6 months?I.Michelle is stepping down from NOSI to pursue divinity school. Thismove 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 ofsocial 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 thinkingabout 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 dobut is shouldn't be completely mundane.however, shouldn't get to a situation where NOSI's commitment tomaintain a staff person overrides other priorities that NOSI hasReuben: wasn't thinking of it as a staff person, rather as a consultantposition directly related to particular project. Seed funding wouldallow secondary fund raising efforts.wary of making a general commitment to staffing, it should always betied to a particular project.Michelle: Steering committee should understand and accept the role that Johnproposes. NOSI has actually not focused on Social Justice issues. Theyhave tried to stay away from being dogmatic.Rich: Approaching FOSS in a social justice context might allow NOSI to findfunding in diverse areas. NOSI might be able to get dollars that wouldbe too 'political' to be palatable for some funders of organizationsthat we work for. [I hope I have this transcribed correctly, Rich willneed to set me straight if this isn't the case].Reuben: suggests something should be put in writing describing what aposition would look like. What John wants to do, what he would need interms of support. There needs to be an explicit understanding that weare on the same pageRich:Wants us to think about who is going to be on the steering committee.Also is there any institutional commitment from the board membersemployers to NOSI?Reuben: what are the practice implications of the relationships between NOSIand organizations we work for? Do you want material support for NOSI?Amanda: LINK gives Amanda's time. To the extent that it is DIRECTLY consistentwith its mission, LINK can put more time and work into it. Ex: whereNOSI mission effects grass roots organizations LINK can be moreinvolved.Rich: Can we get agencies on board and on the website. Can we have aformalized relations and presence on the websiteQuestions: can a contract person 'speak for NOSI'? If John goes to anorganization, can he make relationships ties etc? Is this the role ofan executive director?One of the roles of an ED or rep would be talking to organizationsthat SC committee members, belong to to see if we can build someinstitutional relationships. The relationships that SC members havewith other organizations and personalities can be a resource for us aswe move forward.[my notes aren't clear whether these were questions in my own head, orif these were questions that were asked on the call, does anyone elseremember?]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 elseAmanda: What does Michelle do now.Four lists currently on sympa.Amanda and the LINK project will currently take over hosing for DB andmail etc. Also domain name registrar of record.iv. Bringing on other SC membersAmanda 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_______________________________________________Nosi-steering-nosi.net mailing listNosi-steering-nosi.net@lists.nosi.nethttp://lists.nosi.net/listinfo.cgi/nosi-steering-nosi.net