[Media] [Announce] [LACTTE] Should Linux Australia change its name to Open Source Australia?

Tue Jan 2 18:08:22 AEDT 2018

Dear All,

I think "Open Source Australia" is more meaningful and pertains to broader
scope than just Linux.

Sincerely,
Navjot

On Sun, Dec 24, 2017 at 7:44 PM, Linux Australia President <
president at linux.org.au> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> 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.
>
> To address a number of points that have been raised;
> Should the vote go ahead? Should we add more naming options?
>
> 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.
>
> Essentially we had three options:
>
> 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
>
> 2. Add new names to the ballot
>
> 3. Allow the ballot to proceed, knowing the proposal to rename to Open
> Source Australia will likely be defeated
>
> 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.
> Voting on the ballot is now open to Linux Australia members:
>
> https://linux.org.au/membership/index.php?page=view-election&id=25
> What happens next?
>
> 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.
>
> If the ballot is defeated, we will not proceed to change the name in the
> short term.
>
> 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?
>
> Should the ballot be defeated, further community discussions on proposed
> names may continue; these discussions may lead to another vote at a future
> time.
> Some finer points of discussion
>
> * If we change the name, do we need to change the Constitution?
>
> 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.
>
> * If Linux Australia becomes Something Else, would we still retain the
> trading name?
>
> 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.
>
> * Can't we just own the trading name Open Source Australia?
>
> We already do.
>
> * How much is the Linux Australia brand worth?
>
> We've never formally had the brand evaluated. Most conference brands are
> much more well known than the parent organisation brand.
>
> * Should OSIA merge with Linux Australia?
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> * Do I base leadership decisions on episodes of Bar Rescue?
>
> 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. *Wer
> rastet, der rostet.*
>
> Again, thank you to the community for a robust, and generally, respectful
> discussion and debate on this issue.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Kathy
>
>
> On 19/12/17 19:58, Linux Australia President wrote:
>
> 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.auhttp://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
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/media/attachments/20180102/53022c9c/attachment-0001.html>