Some questions about "becoming member of SPI"

[Joshua D. Drake]

Michael Renzmann wrote:
> Hi all.
> 
> It took a while, but we (the MadWifi project) are getting closer to a
> decision about how to go to incorporate as non-profit organisation
> (references are [1], [2] and [3]). As things stand now we most probably
> would like to apply for SPI membership.
> 
> However, there are some questions left:
> 
> So far, the MadWifi project is not more than a loosely organised bunch of
> developers who work on the same piece of software.

You mean you are an open source project? ;)

> As far as I understood
> it's necessary to get some paperwork done to become SPI member. But who
> exactly is entitled (or required) to sign this paperwork? One of the
> developers? Some of them? Or even all?

Well not so much paperwork (in the traditional sense) but your community 
does need to pick someone who is the Liaison to SPI. PostgreSQL did this 
via an email vote.

Here is an unofficial HOWTO:

http://www.spi-inc.org/treasurer/associated-project-howto.html

Which I think answered most of your questions here.

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake

> 
> Which obligations and/or liabilities will result out of this paperwork for
> those (personally) who sign it? When and how can each signee lay off these
> obligations/liabilities, and which consequences would that have on the
> "continuance" of the membership and thus the non-profit status of our
> project?
> 
> Usually non-profits want (and/or need) some kind of charter that deals
> with stuff such as "which goals do we have", "who can become a member and
> how", "who is allowed to vote and who is not", and so on. Are there any
> "defaults" that apply to any member of the SPI (and which each member can
> then "override" with their own charter)? If not, at which point are we
> required to come up with a charter, and would you provide some kind of
> councelling for that task?
> 
> Bye, Mike
> 
> [1] http://lists.spi-inc.org/pipermail/spi-general/2007-September/002413.html
> [2] http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.drivers.madwifi.devel/5188
> [3] http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.drivers.madwifi.devel/5325/focus=5408
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