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<p>Hi everyone, <br>
</p>
<p>Firstly, thanks to everyone for the open, candid and robust
discussion of renaming. Secondly, apologies for the timing of this
email, late on Christmas Eve. I've been spending the last couple
of days with family and friends, and much as I love this
community, they take precedence. <br>
</p>
<p>To address a number of points that have been raised;<br>
</p>
<h4>Should the vote go ahead? Should we add more naming options? <br>
</h4>
<p>Council discussed this at length at Thursday night's Council
meeting, noting how close the proposed Open Source Australia name
was to Open Source Industry Australia. We followed up with Jack
Burton on Friday as an OSIA representative to seek input as to
next steps - and I'd like to publicly thank Jack for his time and
professionalism. <br>
</p>
<p>Essentially we had three options: <br>
</p>
<p>1. Stop the election/ballot on a new name, and allow for more
time for community discussion on alternative names, and whether to
rebrand at all</p>
<p>2. Add new names to the ballot</p>
<p>3. Allow the ballot to proceed, knowing the proposal to rename to
Open Source Australia will likely be defeated</p>
<p>Given the timeframes involved, and recognising that there are
community opinions expressed for and against a name change, for
many reasons, we have decided to proceed with the ballot, knowing
that the name change will likely be defeated. I would also like to
be transparent that this was not the preferred course of action
from OSIA; we recognise that and this is in no way intended to
antagonise that relationship - we've started something and we want
to follow it through to a logical conclusion. Further, adding more
potential names at this late stage is unlikely to be productive;
the reason Open Source Australia was given as an alternate name is
that it had the highest polling in the last name change poll
around 5 years ago. <br>
</p>
<h4>Voting on the ballot is now open to Linux Australia members: <br>
</h4>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://linux.org.au/membership/index.php?page=view-election&id=25">https://linux.org.au/membership/index.php?page=view-election&id=25</a></p>
<h4>What happens next? <br>
</h4>
<p>We have committed to changing the name if we receive a mandate,
via a majority of votes on the ballot, to do so. This would be
raised as a Special Resolution at the January AGM. <br>
</p>
<p> If the ballot is defeated, we will not proceed to change the
name in the short term.</p>
<p>Regardless of outcome, the discussions around changing the name
of Linux Australia will likely continue; this is a positive step.
What I *would* encourage is some broader debate about not only
what we label ourselves; but what it is that label encompasses.
Our activities, our functions, our remit, our mandate. What do we
want to do in the future? What do we start doing? What do we stop
doing? A name has meaning. A name is powerful. Who are we? <br>
</p>
<p>Should the ballot be defeated, further community discussions on
proposed names may continue; these discussions may lead to another
vote at a future time. <br>
</p>
<h4>Some finer points of discussion<br>
</h4>
<p>* If we change the name, do we need to change the Constitution? <br>
</p>
<p>No, but we do need a Special Resolution to be passed, and then we
need to apply to the Office of Fair Trading NSW to change the
name. A Ballot would be used as evidence to show that members had
been consulted on the decision. <br>
</p>
<p>* If Linux Australia becomes Something Else, would we still
retain the trading name? <br>
</p>
<p>Yes. We've traded as Linux Australia for over 15 years, and we
would retain the trading name to prevent other organisations
leveraging the name. If someone would like to form a "Linux"
subcommittee, go right ahead. <br>
</p>
<p>* Can't we just own the trading name Open Source Australia? <br>
</p>
<p>We already do. <br>
</p>
<p>* How much is the Linux Australia brand worth? <br>
</p>
<p>We've never formally had the brand evaluated. Most conference
brands are much more well known than the parent organisation
brand. <br>
</p>
<p>* Should OSIA merge with Linux Australia? <br>
</p>
<p>This is a decision for OSIA first, and only an issue for Linux
Australia should OSIA wish to broach it; this has not been
formally broached. Our understanding is that OSIA are attempting a
"reboot" to breathe new life into the organisation - and my
feeling is that it is premature to ask this until the outcome of
this measure is clearer. <br>
</p>
<p>Discussions with OSIA over the last few days have highlighted a
number of areas and specific paths with with Linux Australia and
OSIA could co-operate as independent, yet collaborating
organisations - my thanks are again extended to Jack Burton for
outlining these. They centre around co-operation on approaches to
government around policy formation. <br>
</p>
<p>* Do I base leadership decisions on episodes of Bar Rescue?<br>
</p>
<p>While I'm sure Bar Rescue is a fine series, I haven't had the
pleasure of watching it myself. I'm currently binge-watching
Berlin Station. <i>Wer rastet, der rostet.</i></p>
<p>Again, thank you to the community for a robust, and generally,
respectful discussion and debate on this issue. <br>
</p>
<p>Kind regards, <br>
</p>
<p>Kathy<br>
</p>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 19/12/17 19:58, Linux Australia
President wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:5850b2ee-35f8-131a-b8ba-0bb32e4fab5a@linux.org.au">
<pre wrap="">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:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.linux.org.au/membership/index.php?page=view-election&id=25">https://www.linux.org.au/membership/index.php?page=view-election&id=25</a>
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
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Kathy Reid
President
Linux Australia
0418 130 636
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:president@linux.org.au">president@linux.org.au</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://linux.org.au">http://linux.org.au</a>
Linux Australia Inc
GPO Box 4788
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia
ABN 56 987 117 479 </pre>
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