I’ve been meaning to write a usefully detailed email about why I’ll be voting
“NO” for the current GNOME Foundation referendum (about reducing the number of
board members), but with my insane travel schedule at the moment, I haven’t had
an opportunity to sit down and write it. A journalist (who hasn’t pushed out
an article yet, so I’ve not identified them or their publication here) asked me
a few questions the other day, so I’ve sent my answers along with a bit of commentary to foundation-list.
Lots of sensible people with experience on the board are voting “YES”. I think this is mostly out of frustration with the board’s inability to execute on a few difficult issues. They have outlined the board’s problems very well, but I think reducing the number of board members is not the right solution (even though I think 7 is the right number for most organisations). We need to foster a better understanding of the board’s role, and create positions of responsibility within it. Hrm, anyway, read my email above. I’ll be running for the board again this year, on this platform.
