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[Max Mehl]

Disclaimer: I am an FSFE employee.

# Daniel Pocock [2018-02-01 18:16 +0100]:
> On 01/02/18 17:16, Florian Snow wrote:
>> Werner Koch <wk at gnupg.org> writes:
>>> I personally see a lot of problems that employees of the FSFE are also
>>> members _and_ that they make up a large part of the membership.
>> Would you care to elaborate a little bit on this point?  I am curious
>> about it.
> 
> It is quite simple to explain:
> 
> - the funds from fellowship/supporters pay the salaries and other major
> expenses (over 50% of the budget comes from fellowship/supporter donations)

Ok, so people working and caring for the FSFE have no right to
contribute to the organisation's mid- and long-term strategy? Do you
want to keep out input from people working day-to-day for the FSFE? Do
you see a threat in them being members?

Please keep in mind that there's no automatism for employees to become
GA members. They have to apply and convince the GA of their motivation
just like any other person.

> - but the fellowship/supporters only have 2 votes in the GA (and none
> after the change), although some GA members are also
> fellowship/supporter members too

The current system has many more flaws, for example that the Fellowship
representatives don't represent the non-paying volunteers, and that the
voter turnout often is below 20%. That's why we discuss better solutions
to grant membership to interested people but this process needs time. So
as many others wrote here: no need to rush things. If procedures for
becoming a member change (this is still not decided), they will be more
open and transparent.

Best,
Max

-- 
Max Mehl - Program Manager - Free Software Foundation Europe
Contact and further information: https://fsfe.org/about/mehl
Support advocacy for Free Software:  https://fsfe.org/donate