<div dir="ltr"><div>Great input and similar opinion to my own.<br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Apr 13, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Randall G. Arnold <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:randall.arnold@texrat.net" target="_blank">randall.arnold@texrat.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<br>> I'm not sure though, that incorporating a foundation would help bring
<br>> attention back. I'm not sure either it wouldn't. Thought?
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<br>> hk
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I'm new to this list but not new to making and open source endeavors.
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Several years ago as a Nokia employee I helped get a once-popular open source community going: <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">http://maemo.org</a>. The original model was clearly split between commercial (Nokia) and community interests; Nokia owned the product but to its credit made as much of Maemo open sourced as it could (while coveting the portions that made that opening financially feasible). Nokia maintained a mostly hands-off position on governance... that was left to the community. All Nokia asked for was clear input from the community, which was often difficult to obtain in a leadership vacuum.
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As we grew it became obvious that we needed *some* form of organization and leadership. I think most of us on this list understand and agree that the majority of any community looks for leadership but won't step up to provide it. The leaders in such cases tend to be easily-identifiable though-- they are the ones constantly Doing Stuff even as names and agendas and resources come and go.
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In the case of <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a>, I proposed the need for a council and the de facto leaders agreed. The Doers hammered out a framework and we held elections. No surprise: the rank and file nominated the obvious leaders time and time again and that's who served. I did so three times.
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The only real drama to emerge in all of this was when Nokia pulled the plug on Maemo (and later, MeeGo) and left a funding vacuum. I reluctantly left the community as its purpose evaporated.
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Sorry for rambling... I have a point somewhere and trying to get to it.
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In the case of Makerspaces there is no real product, which actually benefits us. There is no corporate entity, really, to which we are beholden. On the surface, though, that means the absence of a single guiding force that identifies purpose. Some can say that in our world O'Reilly is or means to be that force... but as noted, they have a financial agenda of their own that may often get in the way of maker/hacker goals.
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All this longwinded stuff said, I think we can borrow from <a href="http://maemo.org" target="_blank">maemo.org</a> and similar models and allow O'Reilly to be the "Nokia" of the venture IF they are willing to play the same sort of role: support, but hands-off for governance. Nokia benefited significantly by enabling the Maemo community to just do our thing, in useful feedback, PR, best practice development, etc.
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I have taken what I learned from the Maemo experience to help create a local umbrella foundation for Make activity. We're still young but so far our approach seems to be working. We are growing in a VERY conservative region that seems allergic to collaborative development models.
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Ultimately this sort of endeavor is meritocratic and the leaders easy to identify. Again, they are Doing Stuff-- even contributing to discussion here counts. I say we support them in developing a governance solution, be it a council, foundation or what have you. No one should have to beg permission IMO-- I am sure there are enough Doers in this community to Just Do It. And Matt seems like an awesome resource but if he bore the burden alone IMO that's an epic community fail.
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Randall Arnold
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co-founder/director, Tarrant County Maker Community Foundation (dba Fort Worth Makerspace)
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