Hello,
The thread about Fedora European Infrastructure (FEI) has been silent for quite a while – too long IMHO. It would be a pity if this idea went down, because we have the possibility to enhance the infrastructure in Europe now, and chances like this don't come along every day. By now, European Ambassadors are dependent from RedHat US when it comes to shipping dvds, merchandise, or having money for events etc. If the FEI idea succeeds, Europe could have its own budget (and more autonomy), and FEI will decide who will get the money.
I've got the impression that there is no clear picture of what FEI would do and what it would be good for. Let give me some very simple „use cases" of what FEI could do.
Someone wants to do a fedora booth on an important event. For costs like printing flyers, merchandise, travelling and hotel he can ask FEI who will decide if and how much money from the budget he will get.
Some events are more important than others, and the budget may not be enough to cover all of them. FEI will create a public list with events who have to be covered (with the help of all European Ambassadors).
Someone experiences problems while organising an event (this problems may be: finances, the application for the event or others) FEI is the point of contact.
Non-local European events (like Fosdem or European FADs) where Ambassadors from all over Europe/the world will meet will be coordinated by FEI.
French Ambassadors have made the decision to create a local entity. If Ambassadors from a country do so, they will have all the support from FEI (and from all other Ambassadors, too, of course). Creating a local entity though is a lot of work which is not Fedora specific, meaning the work is mostly bureaucratic and centering at legal tasks. This is - with FEI - not imperatively needed, because FEI will create the missing infrastructure and step in, especially where Europeans feel left behind. But if Ambassadors from a country are still convinced that they need a legal entity, they merit the support from all of us.
The question if FEI should be a legal entity: personally, I wouldn't like it, because FEI is not there for doing bureaucratic tasks. But this point should be clarified by a lawyer, to be sure that there won't be any legal problems.
Another proposition on this list was to wait till LinuxTag to discuss the subject over there. I think it's better to discuss and make the decision here, because this is an important subject where everybody should have the possibility to discuss about and get involved. Let's use Linuxtag as a place to officially launch FEI. Chitlesh and I think Gerold will be the perfect ambassador to cut the ribbon ;-)
Now, I ask every Ambassador on this list: take five minutes and think about this idea, and how we can get it to work. Then reply here, or better: speed to the wikipage to edit it (http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Ambassadors/Drafts/Europe).
And last but not least: if you are interested in becoming the FEI, raise your hand!
Regards,
Mirjam
a non profit organisation, and sell things through a shop, there are no tax at all normally (or at least in france)
Personally, I'm not sure it the best way, because the high risk is to forget we are a Global community, i think we can use the existent tool RedHat is offering, we can use RedHat Germany or France or something else as our money box or just open a Swiss account (as Joerg proposed) that will solved this issue (you can chose an anonymous account, with password, as someone said).
bank account managed by a legal entity (not by an individual)
See the text above.
a swiss bank account (proposed by JoergSimon)
- before or after LinuxTag2007 ? - not yet decided
I think it's better to open this one after LinuxTag, so we can decide all together the best solution (real discussion is, in my opinion, one of the best tool to decide about this issue).
I encourage all European (and non) to say their opinion.
Regards
Francesco Ugolini
Mirjam Wäckerlin ha scritto:
Hello,
The thread about Fedora European Infrastructure (FEI) has been silent for quite a while – too long IMHO. It would be a pity if this idea went down, because we have the possibility to enhance the infrastructure in Europe now, and chances like this don't come along every day. By now, European Ambassadors are dependent from RedHat US when it comes to shipping dvds, merchandise, or having money for events etc. If the FEI idea succeeds, Europe could have its own budget (and more autonomy), and FEI will decide who will get the money.
I've got the impression that there is no clear picture of what FEI would do and what it would be good for. Let give me some very simple „use cases" of what FEI could do.
Someone wants to do a fedora booth on an important event. For costs like printing flyers, merchandise, travelling and hotel he can ask FEI who will decide if and how much money from the budget he will get.
Some events are more important than others, and the budget may not be enough to cover all of them. FEI will create a public list with events who have to be covered (with the help of all European Ambassadors).
Someone experiences problems while organising an event (this problems may be: finances, the application for the event or others) FEI is the point of contact.
Non-local European events (like Fosdem or European FADs) where Ambassadors from all over Europe/the world will meet will be coordinated by FEI.
French Ambassadors have made the decision to create a local entity. If Ambassadors from a country do so, they will have all the support from FEI (and from all other Ambassadors, too, of course). Creating a local entity though is a lot of work which is not Fedora specific, meaning the work is mostly bureaucratic and centering at legal tasks. This is
- with FEI - not imperatively needed, because FEI will create the
missing infrastructure and step in, especially where Europeans feel left behind. But if Ambassadors from a country are still convinced that they need a legal entity, they merit the support from all of us.
The question if FEI should be a legal entity: personally, I wouldn't like it, because FEI is not there for doing bureaucratic tasks. But this point should be clarified by a lawyer, to be sure that there won't be any legal problems.
Another proposition on this list was to wait till LinuxTag to discuss the subject over there. I think it's better to discuss and make the decision here, because this is an important subject where everybody should have the possibility to discuss about and get involved. Let's use Linuxtag as a place to officially launch FEI. Chitlesh and I think Gerold will be the perfect ambassador to cut the ribbon ;-)
Now, I ask every Ambassador on this list: take five minutes and think about this idea, and how we can get it to work. Then reply here, or better: speed to the wikipage to edit it (http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Ambassadors/Drafts/Europe).
And last but not least: if you are interested in becoming the FEI, raise your hand!
Regards,
Mirjam
-- Fedora-ambassadors-list mailing list Fedora-ambassadors-list@redhat.com https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-ambassadors-list
On 4/1/07, Francesco Ugolini wrote:
- before or after LinuxTag2007 ? - not yet decidedI think it's better to open this one after LinuxTag, so we can decide all together the best solution (real discussion is, in my opinion, one of the best tool to decide about this issue).
Hello there, Ok, if we _open_ it (as you said) after LinuxTag, - when will the discussions take place ? - who will engage into _serious_ discussions ? - who will lead ? no one stepped forward yet. If it continues, let's forget FEI.
May, June and July are always busy months for students like me. So you will less likely see some of us active during that period.
In general, the best solution is always taken out from many solutions. The latter hasn't yet made surface. And "many solutions" implies real discussion, we haven't yet done.
regards, Chitlesh
Sorry I've misspelled what i want to say. I mean during LinuxTag.
Sorry again
Chitlesh GOORAH ha scritto:
On 4/1/07, Francesco Ugolini wrote:
- before or after LinuxTag2007 ? - not yet decidedI think it's better to open this one after LinuxTag, so we can decide all together the best solution (real discussion is, in my opinion, one of the best tool to decide about this issue).
Hello there, Ok, if we _open_ it (as you said) after LinuxTag,
- when will the discussions take place ?
- who will engage into _serious_ discussions ?
- who will lead ? no one stepped forward yet. If it continues, let's forget FEI.
May, June and July are always busy months for students like me. So you will less likely see some of us active during that period.
In general, the best solution is always taken out from many solutions. The latter hasn't yet made surface. And "many solutions" implies real discussion, we haven't yet done.
regards, Chitlesh
As an European, I think it's quiet a risk like been said earlier in this mail. It does not contribute to the global aspect of Fedora. A Swiss account can be an option. Luxembourg maybe?
Regards,
Mirjam Wäckerlin ha scritto:
The question if FEI should be a legal entity: personally, I wouldn't like it, because FEI is not there for doing bureaucratic tasks.
Yes, i agree. We have to focus more on promoting Fedora and working with people.
Regards
Francesco Ugolini
ambassadors@lists.fedoraproject.org
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