Re: clarifying membership criteria
Joel Addison via linux-aus <[email protected]> Sun, 8 Feb 2026 14:12:40 +1000
| Newsgroups | gmane.linux.australia |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
--===============7084858236115677024== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="Apple-Mail=_C5A0DAB9-CB6A-442F-B044-3EA3D358423E" --Apple-Mail=_C5A0DAB9-CB6A-442F-B044-3EA3D358423E Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > On 8 Feb 2026, at 00:47, Russell Coker via linux-aus = <[email protected]> wrote: >=20 > On Saturday, 7 February 2026 23:41:45 AEDT Arjen Lentz via linux-aus = wrote: >> If you refer to the articles, you'll have the official definition. = Then, if >> the website doesn't match or has a typo in those paragraphs, the = website >> should be updated as the articles are the authoritative source of = truth for >> this. >=20 > = https://github.com/linuxaustralia/constitution_and_policies/blob/master/ > constitution.md >=20 > This seems to indicate that the only criteria for being a member is = paying the=20 > entrance fee of "$1, or another amount determined by the committee" = (which=20 > presumably has been set to $0) and that the only limitation on = membership is=20 > that to vote at a general meeting "is at least 18 years of age, and > has paid all money owed by the member to the association". As Arjen mentions, and you have found, our constitution lists all the = offical details of becoming a member of Linux Australia. The membership = form on our website reflects this policy. Going back to your original email - Nobody automatically becomes a = member of Linux Australia from being part of a subcommittee or group = affiliated with Linux Australia. We also do not automatically make = conference attendees a member. In the past there was an option on the = linux.conf.au <http://linux.conf.au/> registration form to become a = member, but this has not been in place for several years. We now direct = everyone to the website to ensure they go through the standard process = and all applications are reviewed according to our member policy.=20 Anyone is able to become a member, and we have members from other = countries. We look for some connection to the open technologies = communities as part of our screening process, to avoid allowing spam or = other misaligned applications through. This is not a difficult hurdle to = pass.=20 >=20 >>> https://linux.org.au/ >>>=20 >>> The above page has "Linux Australia is the peak body of Open Source >>> communities in Australasia. Linux Australia represents Australasian = users >>> and developers of ..." >=20 > I think that "Australasian" as is currently on that page is = misleading. I=20 > think it would be better to state "represents Australasian users and=20= > developers and supports events and groups based in Australasia, and = people who=20 > are involved in those events and groups who live outside Australasia = are=20 > welcome as members of Linux Australia". There is a difference between who we represent and who can become a = member. Linux Australia operates events in Australia and New Zealand, = and has recently assisted some events to run in the Asia-Pacific region = for Drupal. We do not represent people in open source in the Americas or = Europe. The statement on that page reflects this pretty well I think. >=20 >>> So that's either "Australia" or "Australiasia". >>>=20 >>> https://linux.org.au/membership/ >>>=20 >>> The above page has a list of countries for address which appears to = list >>> every country in the world. >=20 > I think this page needs a clear statement that "people who don't = reside in=20 > Australasia are welcome to become members". Having more members is a = good=20 > thing and we should make anyone who is considering it feel welcome to = apply. >=20 > https://linux.org.au/about-us/organisational-details/ >=20 > Also I think that the above page should have a link to the github of = the=20 > constitution and policies to make it easier for people to find these = things. =20 > Ideally no-one should need to have the articles handy, it should be = easy to=20 > find from the web site. The constitution is available on the website at = https://linux.org.au/about-us/constitution/ We have a link to the original copy in GitHub on that page. Kind regards, Joel Addison President Linux Australia [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>=20 http://linux.org.au <http://linux.org.au/>=20 Linux Australia Inc GPO Box 4788 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia Limited Liability (NSW) Y2998126 ABN 56 987 117 479 ARBN 618 108 544 --Apple-Mail=_C5A0DAB9-CB6A-442F-B044-3EA3D358423E Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <html aria-label=3D"message body"><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" = content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dus-ascii"></head><body = style=3D"overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = line-break: after-white-space;"><br><div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div>On= 8 Feb 2026, at 00:47, Russell Coker via linux-aus = <[email protected]> wrote:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><div><div>On Saturday, 7 February = 2026 23:41:45 AEDT Arjen Lentz via linux-aus wrote:<br><blockquote = type=3D"cite">If you refer to the articles, you'll have the official = definition. Then, if<br>the website doesn't match or has a typo in those = paragraphs, the website<br>should be updated as the articles are the = authoritative source of truth = for<br>this.<br></blockquote><br>https://github.com/linuxaustralia/constit= ution_and_policies/blob/master/<br>constitution.md<br><br>This seems to = indicate that the only criteria for being a member is paying the = <br>entrance fee of "$1, or another amount determined by the committee" = (which <br>presumably has been set to $0) and that the only limitation = on membership is <br>that to vote at a general meeting "is at least 18 = years of age, and<br>has paid all money owed by the member to the = association".<br></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div><div = dir=3D"ltr">As Arjen mentions, and you have found, our constitution = lists all the offical details of becoming a member of Linux Australia. = The membership form on our website reflects this policy.</div><div = dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Going back to your original email = - Nobody automatically becomes a member of Linux Australia from being = part of a subcommittee or group affiliated with Linux Australia. We also = do not automatically make conference attendees a member. In the past = there was an option on the <a = href=3D"http://linux.conf.au/">linux.conf.au</a> registration form = to become a member, but this has not been in place for several years. We = now direct everyone to the website to ensure they go through the = standard process and all applications are reviewed according to our = member policy. </div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div = dir=3D"ltr">Anyone is able to become a member, and we have members from = other countries. We look for some connection to the open technologies = communities as part of our screening process, to avoid allowing spam or = other misaligned applications through. This is not a difficult hurdle to = pass. </div></div><br><blockquote = type=3D"cite"><div><div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><blockquote = type=3D"cite">https://linux.org.au/<br><br>The above page has "Linux = Australia is the peak body of Open Source<br>communities in Australasia. = Linux Australia represents Australasian users<br>and developers of = ..."<br></blockquote></blockquote><br>I think that "Australasian" as is = currently on that page is misleading. I <br>think it would be = better to state "represents Australasian users and <br>developers and = supports events and groups based in Australasia, and people who <br>are = involved in those events and groups who live outside Australasia are = <br>welcome as members of Linux = Australia".<br></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>There is a = difference between who we represent and who can become a member. Linux = Australia operates events in Australia and New Zealand, and has recently = assisted some events to run in the Asia-Pacific region for Drupal. We do = not represent people in open source in the Americas or Europe. The = statement on that page reflects this pretty well I = think.</div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div><div><br><blockquote = type=3D"cite"><blockquote type=3D"cite">So that's either "Australia" or = "Australiasia".<br><br>https://linux.org.au/membership/<br><br>The above = page has a list of countries for address which appears to list<br>every = country in the world.<br></blockquote></blockquote><br>I think this page = needs a clear statement that "people who don't reside in <br>Australasia = are welcome to become members". Having more members is a good = <br>thing and we should make anyone who is considering it feel welcome = to = apply.<br><br>https://linux.org.au/about-us/organisational-details/<br><br= >Also I think that the above page should have a link to the github of = the <br>constitution and policies to make it easier for people to find = these things. <br>Ideally no-one should need to have the articles = handy, it should be easy to <br>find from the web = site.<br></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div></div>The constitution = is available on the website at <a = href=3D"https://linux.org.au/about-us/constitution/">https://linux.org.au/= about-us/constitution/</a><div>We have a link to the original copy in = GitHub on that page.</div><div><br></div><div>Kind = regards,</div><div><br></div><div><div class=3D"signature">Joel = Addison</div><div class=3D"signature"><br></div><div = class=3D"signature">President</div><div class=3D"signature">Linux = Australia</div><div class=3D"signature"><br></div><div = class=3D"signature"><a = href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> </d= iv><div class=3D"signature"><a = href=3D"http://linux.org.au/">http://linux.org.au</a> </div><div = class=3D"signature"><br></div><div class=3D"signature">Linux Australia = Inc</div><div class=3D"signature">GPO Box 4788</div><div = class=3D"signature">Sydney NSW 2001</div><div = class=3D"signature">Australia</div><div class=3D"signature"><br></div><div= class=3D"signature">Limited Liability (NSW) Y2998126</div><div = class=3D"signature">ABN 56 987 117 479</div><div class=3D"signature">ARBN = 618 108 544</div></div><div class=3D"signature"><br></div></body></html>= --Apple-Mail=_C5A0DAB9-CB6A-442F-B044-3EA3D358423E-- --===============7084858236115677024== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline _______________________________________________ linux-aus mailing list [email protected] https://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/linux-aus To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to linux-aus-unsubscribe-cunTk1MwBs8iFSDQTTA3OBCuuivNXqWP@public.gmane.org --===============7084858236115677024==--