De werkgroep rechtspersoon Ubuntu-NL is van mening dat zij direct met Canonical in contact moet treden om duidelijk te krijgen over de positie van Canonical inzake het instellen van een rechtspersoon voor onze gemeenschap. Wij willen dit echter uitsluitend doen met steun van de gemeenschap. Ben je bereid om dit verzoek mede te ondertekenen en op deze manier de werkgroep het mandaat te geven direct met Canonical in contact te treden?
De (concept)tekst van de petitie is:
Dear Sir/Madam <wordt nog specifieker ingevuld>,
The Dutch Ubuntu community kindly requests your urgent attention for the following.
We are members of a technical committee that was requested by the community and leadership of Ubuntu-NL to work on establishing a legal entity to support the work of Ubuntu-NL in the Netherlands. The community has expressed the need for such an entity on various occassions and more forcefully as time progresses. It is safe to say the issue is one of the most divisive in the community, one that needs solving.
The technical committee drafted a proposal for it's task. This task consists of the following elements:
(1) Research into which legal entities are available under Dutch law and which of these entities fulfil the needs of Ubuntu-NL, taking into consideration the Ubuntu Code of Ethics and wishes of Canonical;
(2) Support Ubuntu-NL in formally establishing the legal entity that is chosen by the community and leadership of Ubuntu-NL.
The process should be supported by a steering committee, consisting of members of both the community and leadership of Ubuntu-NL, and contains various moments for decision making. We believe this process creates maximum support for the outcome and takes into account all aspects concerning the legal entity, including aspects raised or to be raised by Canonical.
However, the leadership of Ubuntu-NL stated that it will not consider the outcome of the process binding. It refers to the position of Canonical concerning this, however without given any specifics on the forementioned position. The leadership states it is unable to provide any further specifics other than that Canonical is looking into the matter.
Considering the amount of work that needs to be done and the uncertainty on what will be done with the outcome, the technical committee decided that, in good faith, it could not begin with it's work. The process involves such a strong commitment by the community that it will increase expectations, and we believe it is irresponsible to do so without solid guarantees that the outcome will be honored by the leadership of Ubuntu-NL.
On the other hand, the issue is so divisive in our community that it requires a solution. Barring such a solution we believe that future activities of the Dutch Ubuntu community will seriously be hampered, up to a point that for instance no Ubuntu Release Parties can be organized since the needed legal framework would be missing.
Thus, on behalf of the Dutch Ubuntu community, we urgently request you to clarfiy your position on establishing national legal entities that have no other goal than to support the local communities and provide them with a legal framework for their activities. Considering the fact that both Germany and France have established such legal entities already, why would a similar entity for the Netherands necesitate further scrutiny?
The technical committee understands it is bypassing the normal channels of communication of Canonical with the leadership of Ubuntu- NL. We do this reluctantly and only because the leadership had been unable to receive the needed information. With this petition, signed in the Dutch Ubuntu forum by various members, we add our voice to theirs.
We kindly request your urgent response,
With the kindest regards.
Je kunt naast je stem via een reactie een nadere toelichting geven. Bij voorkeur in het Engels, want dan kunnen wij daar naar verwijzen, maar het mag natuurlijk ook gewoon in het Nederlands.
Bedankt,
namens de werkgroep
Jan Stedehouder