[Linux-aus] [Announce] Should Linux Australia change its name to Open Source Australia?

Wed Dec 27 06:32:27 AEDT 2017

On Wed, 27 Dec 2017, Bret Busby wrote:

> Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 02:16:30
> From: Bret Busby <bret at busby.net>
> To: Linux Australia President <president at linux.org.au>
> Cc: linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au
> Subject: Re: [Announce] Should Linux Australia change its name to Open Source
>     Australia?
> 
> On Tue, 19 Dec 2017, Linux Australia President wrote:
>
>> Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2017 16:58:05
>> From: Linux Australia President <president at linux.org.au>
>> To: linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au, announce at lists.linux.org.au,
>>     council at linux.org.au, media at linux.org.au
>> Subject: [Announce] Should Linux Australia change its name to Open Source
>>     Australia?
>> 
>> Hi everyone,
>> 
>> Linux Australia is an incorporated association, registered in the state
>> of NSW, and has been in operation since around 2001. Initially convened
>> as a vehicle to operate linux.conf.au, the organisation's remit,
>> activities and scope have broadened significantly over the last decade
>> and a half.
>> 
>> We think it's time to change the name of the organisation to
>> better reflect our widened mission, values, activities, partnerships and
>> influence.
>> 
>> But wait, hasn't this been tried before?
>> 
>> Yes. In 2012/2013, the Linux Australia Council, led then by John
>> Ferlito, attempted a name change. Consensus could not be reached on a
>> name to change *to*, and so Linux Australia remained Linux Australia.
>> 
>> This time, we're learning from the outcome of that process, and would
>> like to present to you a decision:
>> 
>> Should Linux Australia change its name to Open Source Australia (Yes/No)
>> 
>> Other aspects of the organisation - constitution, makeup and so on, are
>> not proposed to be changed.
>> 
>> We're communicating this now to provide the community with time to
>> discuss this proposed change before the AGM, where the resolution will
>> be tabled in the AGM agenda. The result of the vote will be tabled
>> at the AGM. That is, if the majority vote 'No', we won't change the
>> name. If the majority vote 'Yes', we will.
>> 
>> If you are a member of Linux Australia, you will be able to vote on this
>> resolution at:
>> 
>> https://www.linux.org.au/membership/index.php?page=view-election&id=25
>> 
>> Voting will open 25th December 2017, the same time voting opens for
>> Council Elections, and will close on 21 January, the same time voting
>> closes for Council Elections.
>> 
>> Let the discussion begin.
>> 
>> Kind regards,
>> 
>> Kathy
>> 
>> -- 
>> Kathy Reid
>> President
>> Linux Australia
>> 
>> 0418 130 636
>> 
>> president at linux.org.au
>> http://linux.org.au
>> 
>> Linux Australia Inc
>> GPO Box 4788
>> Sydney NSW 2001
>> Australia
>> 
>> ABN 56 987 117 479
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> announce mailing list
>> announce at lists.linux.org.au
>> http://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/announce
>> 
>
> Hello.
>
> Another aspect of this has occurred to me.
>
> Some people may remember that, in previous years, I took issue with Linux 
> Conferences being held in New Zealand, whilsty the organisation name was 
> Linux Australia and the name of the organisation, and, the domain name 
> (linux.conf.au) was also not inclusive of NZ.
>
> In the first paragraph above, is
>
> "
>> Linux Australia is an incorporated association, registered in the state
>> of NSW, and has been in operation since around 2001. Initially convened
>> as a vehicle to operate linux.conf.au, the organisation's remit,
>> activities and scope have broadened significantly over the last decade
>> and a half.
> "
>
> Whilst the web site at
> https://linux.conf.au/
> appears to not include a history of the venues of past conferences, at
> https://linux.org.au/LCA
> is shown that venues for prevous years, include
> 2006 - Dunedin: University of Otago (NZ)
> 2010 - Wellington: Wellington Convention Centre (NZ)
> 2015 - Auckland: University of Auckland (NZ)
> so it appears to be held more frequently in NZ, than in each state of 
> Australia (every four or five years in NZ, and, as Australia has about six 
> states, that is more frequesntly than in each state  (otherwise, it would be 
> about a seven or eight year cycle)) ).
>
> Now, the point here, is that, as stated above, Linux Australia was "Initially 
> convened as a vehicle to operate linux.conf.au", then, the question arises;
> if a change to the name of Linux Australia, is proposed, to change the name 
> to "Open Source Australia (OSA)", then, why not, more appropriately, propose 
> that the name be changed to Open Source Australia and New Zeand (OSANZ), to, 
> more properly, reflect that the operations of Linux Australia, encompass new 
> Zealand (which, whether some Australians like it nor not, IS a separate 
> country)?
>
> After all, some of you may (or, may not be aware of the FSANZ; at
> http://www.foodstandards.gov.au
> is
>
> "
> Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is a statutory authority in the 
> Australian Government Health portfolio. FSANZ develops food standards for 
> Australia and New Zealand. "
>
> and at
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Standards_Australia_New_Zealand
> is
>
> "
> Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) (Māori: Te Mana Kounga Kai - 
> Ahitereiria me Aotearoa), formerly Australia New Zealand Food Authority 
> (ANZFA), is the governmental body responsible for developing food standards 
> for Australia and New Zealand.
>
> FSANZ develops food standards after consulting with other government agencies 
> and stakeholders. The recommendations made by the body are open and 
> accountable, and based upon a rigorous scientific assessment of risk to 
> public health and safety.
>
> All decisions made by FSANZ must be approved by the Australia and New Zealand 
> Food Regulation Ministerial Council, which is composed of the Health Minister 
> from each of the Australian states and territories, and the Health Minister 
> from New Zealand, as well as other participating Ministers nominated by each 
> jurisdiction.
> "
>
> So, as, over the years, Linux Australia has expanded its operations, to 
> include New Zealand, surely, it is appropriate, for Linux Australia to 
> recognise (after over two hundred years of the existence of New Zealand as a 
> country, rather than a colony) New Zealand as a separate country, in which 
> Linux Australia also operates, by, in proposing a change of name for Linux 
> Australia, to "Open Source Australia", amending that proposal to change the 
> name, instead, to "Open Source Australia and New Zealand (OSANZ)".
>

Or, an alternative path, which would probably be better, given that I 
believe that a previous message indicated an expectation that the motion 
to change the name of the organisation, from "Linux Australia" to Open 
Source Australia", would fail, is that a second motion should also be 
discussed, and put to a vote, for resolution at the AGM;

"that the name of the organisation, be changed, so that the word 
"Australia" is replaced with the words "Australia and New Zealand" ".

If such a motion would be put, and, passed, then, regardless of whether 
the motion to change the name from "Linux Australia" to "Open Source 
Australia", passed, the amended name, replacing the word "Australia" 
with "Australia and New Zealand", would formally recognise the inclusion 
of New Zealand, in the operations of the organisation, including that 
the Linux Conferences, for which the organisation was originally 
established, are held and organised to be held, in both countries.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
  you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
   Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
   "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
   A Trilogy In Four Parts",
   written by Douglas Adams,
   published by Pan Books, 1992
....................................................