FYI for those of you not on Talk-US ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sarah Manley <sarah.m.man...@gmail.com> Date: Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 10:07 AM Subject: Re: [Talk-us] U.S. Local Chapters To: Peter Batty <pe...@ebatty.com> Cc: Kate Chapman <k...@maploser.com>, talk...@openstreetmap.org, Nick Black <n...@cloudmade.com>
All, I was planning to send a similar email this week, so Kate, thanks for beating me to it. I agree that it is important to get the US chapter up and running, and that local groups can then use the national non-profit status for their efforts. One place we may want to look to as an example is the Wiki Media Foundations Chapter agreement and processes ( http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Step-by-step_chapter_creation_guide ). I know that folks at OSMF are working on the agreement with the foundation, and I think we can start a team to look into gaining non-profit status. The best bet is probably to form into committees to carry out the needed steps. So far, some folks who want to be involved have signed up here: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Foundation/Local_Chapters/Proposed_Chapters I can create a new page that is Foundation/Local_Chapters/United_States where we can form into the committees and start to delegate tasks. We will most definitely need a lawyer, accountant and some start up funds.There may also be organizations that exist that can help us in the process ( If anyone is in NYC, i know the foundation center helps with this: http://www.foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/starting_nonprofit.html). Since there is a strong DC team and its the capital, it may be good to incorporate there. I can also volunteer to be a lead contact in California. I know the state of CA is already using OSM, and is interested in becoming more involved( http://recovery.ca.gov/HTML/RecoveryImpact/map.shtml). I also have a contacts at WikiMedia Foundation if we would like to ask them any advice. Best, Sarah On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 8:50 PM, Peter Batty <pe...@ebatty.com> wrote: > Based on some of the other discussion I've seen about local chapters, it > seems as though it may well be useful for us to have an OSM legal entity in > the US for various reasons. So if it's not too much hassle to set up I think > it's probably worth doing. I would vote for doing just one at the US level > though, I think that more local groups (state level etc) can just be > informal organizations as they are now, and can use the US local chapter if > and when they need a legal entity. > So I'd be supportive of setting something up, and happy to help out. > > Cheers, > Peter. > > On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 9:39 PM, Kate Chapman <k...@maploser.com> wrote: > >> I currently do work with my local group that organizes around a wiki >> page: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/MappingDC I think there >> potentially can be some cash flow. >> We have been approaching local governments to get permissions to import >> their data. In the case of the District of Columbia we can just download it >> off their website. Some our municipalities there is a fee for them to make >> a DVD of their data. There are individuals willing to pay in order to >> obtain the data, but it does amount to cash-flow. There may be other >> situations where organizations would like to donate equipment such as GPS >> units as well. Also when dealing with NGOs and governments having legal >> standing can also potentially give us more weight as well. >> >> Also since OSMF is U.K. based they can't necessarily handle legal issues >> within the United States depending on the scope of them. >> >> I'm not saying it is necessary to form a legal entity, but I don't think >> it is totally black and white either. >> >> -Kate Chapman >> >> >> >> On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 11:19 PM, Bill Ricker <bill.n1...@gmail.com>wrote: >> >>> At least some US local cadre organize around the state and city >>> wiki.osm.org pages, with just an event announcement on the list. >>> eg http://wiki.osm.org/wiki/Boston >>> >>> I've been around 501(c)(3) and related state incorporation and >>> charitable regs more often than I'd like. I'd rather spend my mapping >>> time mapping and leave any corporate governance to the OSMF and >>> CloudMade. >>> >>> Incorporation is useful if there are assets or liabilities. I don't >>> see a cash flow in a OSM chapter. If there isn't enough cash flow to >>> pay for Directors' Liability Insurance, incorporating just focuses >>> Liability on the Officers and Directors. The asset is the Map date, >>> rights for which are held by OSMF. CloudMade and the OSMF should >>> handle the legal issues. Let's map. >>> >>> -- >>> Bill >>> n1...@arrl.net bill.n1...@gmail.com >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Talk-us mailing list >> talk...@openstreetmap.org >> http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us >> >> > > > -- > Peter Batty - President, Spatial Networking > W: +1 303 339 0957 M: +1 720 346 3954 > Blog: http://geothought.blogspot.com > > _______________________________________________ > Talk-us mailing list > talk...@openstreetmap.org > http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us > >
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