Re: Governance for PGUS

I'm noticing from JD's blog that the 501(c)3 paperwork is nearly ready.
Given that, I think it's past time that we discuss how PGUS should be run.

What are we committed to from the 501(c)3 papers? I know that a mission
statement and initial bylaws are required. Can we see these documents?

We can start from there and figure other stuff out. One question is
does PGUS support primarily US users, or US user *groups*? It would be
organized differently depending.

--Josh Berkus

On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:49:55 -0300
Josh Berkus <josh(at)agliodbs(dot)com> wrote:

>
> What are we committed to from the 501(c)3 papers? I know that a
> mission statement and initial bylaws are required. Can we see these
> documents?

Actually a mission statement isn't required. The bylaws and
incorporation is required. Our incorporation is done (in Oregon). The
only thing the incorporation references is that everything will be
described in the bylaws.

We are currently waiting for a review set of the bylaws. We expect to
have them late this month. The board likely will not have time to
review them until after linuxfest nw.

> We can start from there and figure other stuff out. One question is
> does PGUS support primarily US users, or US user *groups*? It would
> be organized differently depending.

Our draft mission is here:

http://www.postgresql.us/mission

The current board members are working up their initial professional
goals based on the mission/bylaws. For example, Michael is focusing
heavily on education. We are also currently working up a draft budget.

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake

--
The PostgreSQL Company since 1997: http://www.commandprompt.com/
PostgreSQL Community Conference: http://www.postgresqlconference.org/
United States PostgreSQL Association: http://www.postgresql.us/
Donate to the PostgreSQL Project: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate

JD,

> We are currently waiting for a review set of the bylaws. We expect to
> have them late this month. The board likely will not have time to
> review them until after linuxfest nw.

> The current board members are working up their initial professional
> goals based on the mission/bylaws. For example, Michael is focusing
> heavily on education. We are also currently working up a draft budget.

This is sounding scarily like nobody other than the three of are welcome
to review anything or be consulted. Surely that's not what you intended?

Given our collective experiences with broken bylaws, I'd think you'd
want as many eyes on them as possible.

--Josh Berkus

On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:03:08 -0300
Josh Berkus <josh(at)agliodbs(dot)com> wrote:

> Given our collective experiences with broken bylaws, I'd think you'd
> want as many eyes on them as possible.

I suggest you read my email again.

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake

--
The PostgreSQL Company since 1997: http://www.commandprompt.com/
PostgreSQL Community Conference: http://www.postgresqlconference.org/
United States PostgreSQL Association: http://www.postgresql.us/
Donate to the PostgreSQL Project: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate

Joshua D. Drake wrote:
> On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:03:08 -0300
> Josh Berkus <josh(at)agliodbs(dot)com> wrote:
>
>> Given our collective experiences with broken bylaws, I'd think you'd
>> want as many eyes on them as possible.
>
> I suggest you read my email again.

I just read it again, and it still says the same thing.

--Josh

On Apr 20, 2008, at 14:14, Josh Berkus wrote:

>> I suggest you read my email again.
>
> I just read it again, and it still says the same thing.

/me conks the two Joshes heads together.

C'mon guys, let's try to minimize assholism. I save it for my talks,
personally.

Can we try this again?

Best,

David

David, Josh,

> Can we try this again?

OK:

Great! I look forward to reviewing the bylaws. Is the draft organized
around the idea of individual membership, or membership by PUG? I can
see both ideas having merit.

One other issue I'd like to deal with through the PGUS is to have some
way for individual PUGs to raise funds which they can spend at their
discretion. It's kind of sucking that SFPUG is raising around
$1000/year, but David and I are still paying for a lot of pizza out of
our own pockets.

--Josh Berkus

On Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:14:31 -0300
Josh Berkus <josh(at)agliodbs(dot)com> wrote:

> David, Josh,
>
> > Can we try this again?
>
> OK:
>
> Great! I look forward to reviewing the bylaws. Is the draft
> organized around the idea of individual membership, or membership by
> PUG? I can see both ideas having merit.

The current bylaws, and I should say as we requested them to be written
(we are not writing them the lawyers are) are designed around the idea
of individual membership.

We want to support PUGs but want to do so in an autonomous fashion. For
example, the Conference series is a Affiliated/Sponsored project but it
is autonomous.

>
> One other issue I'd like to deal with through the PGUS is to have
> some way for individual PUGs to raise funds which they can spend at
> their discretion. It's kind of sucking that SFPUG is raising around
> $1000/year, but David and I are still paying for a lot of pizza out
> of our own pockets.
>

Financial sponsorship is on the table, although we have not yet
determined the exact details. I don't know if we want to go the SPI
route where everything is classified per project or per PUG etc...

And on that note, you realize the only reason SFPUG hasn't received any
sponsorship to date, is because SFPUG hasn't asked. (but please respond
on another thread if you wish to talk about that).

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake

P.S. No, we have not see anything from the lawyer yet, that was what my
blog was about.

--
The PostgreSQL Company since 1997: http://www.commandprompt.com/
PostgreSQL Community Conference: http://www.postgresqlconference.org/
United States PostgreSQL Association: http://www.postgresql.us/
Donate to the PostgreSQL Project: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate

JD,

> Financial sponsorship is on the table, although we have not yet
> determined the exact details. I don't know if we want to go the SPI
> route where everything is classified per project or per PUG etc...

Well, I know better than anyone what that leads to accounting-wise. But
if I can make/get the SW to do it, it would be valuable.

> And on that note, you realize the only reason SFPUG hasn't received any
> sponsorship to date, is because SFPUG hasn't asked. (but please respond
> on another thread if you wish to talk about that).

We're not looking for sponsorship but to be able to spend at least part
of what we raise.

--Josh

Josh Berkus wrote:

>> And on that note, you realize the only reason SFPUG hasn't received any
>> sponsorship to date, is because SFPUG hasn't asked. (but please respond
>> on another thread if you wish to talk about that).
>
> We're not looking for sponsorship but to be able to spend at least part
> of what we raise.

I do not see that as a problem, every PUG meeting I have gone to falls
under educational guidelines even if it involves beer and pizza.

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake