[Announce] Call for Nominations for 2021 Linux Australia Council

[Julien Goodwin]

Dear Linux Australia Community,

Pursuant to clause (15) of the Linux Australia constitution [1] we
hereby declare an election open and call for nominations to the Linux
Australia Council for the term January 2021 to January 2022.

All office bearer and ordinary committee member positions are open for
election.

   * Nominations will open from 00:00am (AEDT) 15 December 2020 and run
until 11:59pm (AEDT) 30 December 2020
   * Voting will open 00:00am (AEDT) 31 December 2020 and run until
11:59pm (AEDT) 14 January 2021
   * Results will be announced during the AGM to be held on the 15th of
January 2021
   * Results will be available on the website on or after 16th January 2021

To view and participate in the election please visit
https://www.linux.org.au/
   * Click on “Login” located on the top right hand side of the page and
log in.
   * Click on “Elections”.
   * Under “Linux Australia Council Elections 2021”, click on “View &
Submit Nominations”.

*What do I need to do?*

First of all, make sure your details are correct at Linux Australia’s
website [2]. If you need assistance accessing the membership portal
please contact secretary at linux.org.au. Note that in line with common
election conventions, new membership requests are not processed during
the election period.

If you wish to nominate yourself, identify the positions you wish to
nominate for and get an understanding of what each position involves.
Think about what you might bring to the role and prepare a short pitch.
Then, accept the nomination you've been given by clicking the 'Accept
nomination' link.

*You must accept your nomination to move to the next stage of the
election process*

If you wish to nominate another person for a position, you may wish to
contact them first and have a chat to make sure they're happy being
nominated. Then follow the 'Nominate' link to nominate them.

Once voting is open, you will be able to vote for candidates. Results
will be announced at the Linux Australia AGM to be held on the 15th of
January 2021.

*Why should I nominate?*

Being a member of Linux Australia Council is a fun way to meet new
people, work on exciting projects and expand your skill base. It gives
you excellent transferable skills to help build your career, and allows
you to grow your professional network. It looks great on a CV, and is
also a chance to give back to the vibrant Linux and open source
ecosystem in Australia and globally. If you're passionate about Linux
and open source, it's a great opportunity to help drive and steer
Australia's contribution in this field.

*What is the commitment required?*

If you are contemplating nominating for a role on Council, in addition
to referring to the Position Descriptions provided [3], you are strongly
encouraged to approach current and former council members for their
perspective.  You will find them, to a person, willing to discuss the
roles and responsibilities in a more informal manner.

The roles do require a time commitment.
* Ordinary Council Member: a minimum of 2-3 hours per week.
* Office bearers: 8-12 hours per week.
Please allow for this when considering your nomination.

*Why should I run?*

If you’ve been nominated, or are thinking of nominating yourself, you
should give the opportunity serious consideration. Being on the council
is both hard and often thankless work, but it is also incredibly
rewarding. Linux Australia can only achieve what it does by its members
and helping out with the council responsibilities is a great way to
ensure Linux Australia continues to be successful. It is also an
opportunity to help the organisation grow, reach into new areas and to
succeed on important topics of national relevance.

As always, your feedback and questions are warmly welcomed. If you'd
like to have a chat with anyone on Council around what it involves,
please do make contact.

Kind regards,

Julien Goodwin
Secretary,
Linux Australia

[1]http://www.linux.org.au/constitution
[2]http://www.linux.org.au/membership
[3]https://github.com/linuxaustralia/position-descriptions