On 08/30/2018 03:49 PM, Nikos Roussos wrote:
This brings me back to the original question then: democracy. Annual
elections and allowing all the community to participate can provide
regular renewal. When somebody doesn't have the time any more, either
they don't run for re-election or the community will help them depart by
voting for an alternative candidate. Changing the tools and arbitrarily
expelling people are a crazy alternative to something as easy to
understand as democracy.
I understand that this may be your expectation, but this hardly true for any
non-profit organization out there. You have a very specific view on how FSFE
should operate democratically, but that doesn't mean that this is the only way,
or even that democracy is the only way to run an organization.
I have been (and still am) member/supporter of various non-profit organizations
and none of these apply the kind of democracy you envision. Rightfully so, in
my opinion. As an example, I'm a member of EFF but there is no democratic way
for me to be elected in the Board of Directors, or participate in their private
strategic meetings. Same applies for FSF (US).
Many NGOs that I know of are run as traditional associations, with a
yearly general assembly as te highest authority, a board elected by the
participants at the general assembly; with all members being eligible to
attend the general assembly and run for the board, and membership being
open to everyone (maybe with well-defined limitations, such as a
profession or geographical area) willing to pay membership dues.
That's true of some of the largest NGOs here in Denmark, and I believe
it's a requirement in order to receive various kinds of public support
(e.g., access to venues, for small associations). That has, on the other
hand, of course, never been how e.g. the FSF or the FSFE (or the EFF)
have worked. But it is true that such organization is a norm in some
circumstances.
Best
Carsten
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