Xfce Foundation status

[Gilbert Sullivan]

On 10/13/2010 02:42 PM, Jannis Pohlmann wrote:
> Hey everyone,
>
> I am currently working on some of the documents required to create a
> non-profit organization for Xfce under German law (so it would be
> called "Xfce e.V." or "Xfce Foundation e.V." to give it more of an
> international touch). This mail reports the progress I made lately and
> there are a few questions I'd like you all to think about and help me
> answer at the bottom of the mail as well.
>
> The benefits are obvious: Xfce would become a legal entity with an
> official board of directors and we could raise funds in the form of
> donations and via supporting members in order to organize hackfests
> etc.

I have been hoping for a development like this. I'm a relative beginner 
with both Linux and Xfce, but the combination of Debian with Xfce has 
been by far my favorite overall computing environment since I started 
using computer systems on a daily basis in 1969. After having paid many 
thousands of dollars over the years for operating systems and software 
that were absolute junk in comparison, it has grated on my nerves that 
there seemed to be no established way I could make a monetary 
contribution to Xfce.

> I've been in contact with the president of the KDE e.V., Cornelius
> Schumacher, and have been granted permission to re-use their articles
> of association (German: Satzung) for Xfce. You can read the KDE
> version on
>
>    http://ev.kde.org/corporate/statutes.php
>
> Based on this I created a draft for Xfce. So far I only have a
> German version ready, but I basically replaced "KDE" with "Xfce" (or
> "Xfce Foundation" where appropriate) and fixed a few typos. I also
> changed the time board members are elected for from 3 to 2 years as I
> think 3 years is a bit too much. We could even say 1 year here.

I'd lean toward three years, but am perfectly happy to rely upon your 
judgment. I guess it's okay to lean toward shorter terms -- as long as 
the terms aren't so short that they interfere with the ability to 
achieve long-term goals.

> The draft is not finished yet but I have a few questions for you anyway
> (please read KDE's articles of association first):
>
>    * Do you think all this makes sense?

Heck yes!

>    * Does a German e.V. (which is a non-profit organization registered
>      in Germany) sound like a reasonable type of organization for Xfce?

I'm unqualified to render an opinion. A rose is a rose, and a name is a 
name. Lawyers be damned. (And I number several lawyers among my dearest 
friends.)

>    * Would you prefer "Xfce e.V." or "Xfce Foundation e.V." to be the
>      name of the organization?

I like the sound of "foundation", regardless of whether or not it's 
technically correct. Scr*w the lawyers. You folks who do the heavy 
lifting can call yourselves whatever the heck you want!

>    * For how many years do you think the board should be elected?
>      3, 2 or 1?

Three, for aforementioned reasons, but -- as I said -- I'm happy to rely 
upon your judgment.

>    * There is one clause about where the raised money should go in case
>      the e.V. is abandoned. The KDE people have decided to forward all
>      their money to UNESCO. I have come up with a few alternatives.
>      Which of the following organizations would you prefer the money to
>      be handed over to in case the e.V. is closed?
>
>        UNESCO, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, WWF or OLPC?
>
>      You can of course make your own suggestions if you want to.

I've seen some discussion about "provocative" organizations. Heck, the 
whole idea of FOSS is provocative to all those folks and governments who 
seem delighted to spend gobs of money on crappy software in order to get 
the latest "shiny" stuff.

You could support the Sea Shepherds for all I care. I'm an old hippie, 
and any effort or contribution which either reduces the suffering of 
people or the planet, or which sticks a thumb in the eye of the 
"establishment" (and I mean just about ANY establishment) is peachy with 
me. Naturally, it would be nice if this provision accommodates the 
sensibilities of the greatest number of Xfce's technical and monetary 
contributors.

> The founding process itself involves a formal meeting in real life
> with at least 7 persons attending. As it seems unrealistic to organize
> such a meeting with Xfce-only people from all around the world before
> the end of the year, I propose that I organize this meeting in
> Lübeck, gathering a few local Xfce users or friends. During this
> meeting they would sign a resolution that says the board of directors
> will be re-elected shortly after the e.V. has been registered. In this
> re-election we can then establish people more deeply involved in Xfce
> as board members. (And we would of course decide not to take money from
> e.V. members, so anyone can become part of the whole thing.)
>
> How does all this sound to you people?

I couldn't be happier. This is the highlight of my year, maybe the 
decade (technically speaking).

Long may you and your fellow venturers wave!