[Osia-members] OSIA membership renewals -- notice of fee increase

[Jack Burton]

Afternoon, all.

At its meeting last Saturday, the board resolved to increase OSIA
membership fees slightly for FY2016/17.

It has been several years since membership fees were last increased, and
the modest fee increases adopted for the new FY are for the most part
less than cumulative inflation over that period.

The annual membership fees for FY2016/17 are:

$120 for individuals & sole traders
$185 for small companies (up to 10 employees)
$405 for mid-sized companies (11 to 200 employees)
$595 for large companies (more than 200 employees)

Our secretary Steven Sackett <secretary at osia.com.au> will be issuing
annual membership renewal invoices this week. If you have not received
your renewal invoice by next week, please contact Steven.

OSIA is a relatively small industry body, which has consistently punched
well above its weight in the public policy arena.

We rely for the most part on our members' subscriptions to cover our
costs in doing so.

Note that, in parallel, OSIA is also expanding its sponsorship
programme. We are currently in negotiations with two large, well known
companies in the global OSS space regarding new sponsorship
arrangements and we are about to launch a new & reinvigorated
sponsorship programme -- stay tuned for an upcoming announcement from
OSIA Director (Communications) Jessica Field. Any members with an
interest in contributing financially to OSIA above and beyond the
annual membership fees are encouraged to contact Jess after that
announcement comes out.

The board is making these changes to ensure that OSIA will have
sufficient funds at its disposal not just to maintain, but to expand,
its core activities (again, principally in the public policy arena) in
the coming financial year.

The opportunities presented by the various inquiries being undertaken at
present by the Productivity Commission, together with the risks posed by
dangerous treaties such as TPP, highlight the importance of OSIA
engaging on these sorts of matters to an even greater degree than we
have in the past.

The third piece of the puzzle is of course people.

The call is currently open for volunteers to contribute analysis &
drafting for OSIA's submission to the Productivity Commission's inquiry
into data availability and access -- please contact OSIA Director Paul
Foxworthy <paul.foxworthy at osia.com.au> if that is of interest to you.

Note also that the board is planning to hold this year's AGM in Sydney
on 18 November (just a working date at this stage) and naturally there
will be a call for nominations for the 2016/17 board going out in due
course. Financial members (or their senior employees) with the time,
capability and desire to contribute directly to the governance,
management & operations of OSIA are encouraged to seek nomination when
the time comes.

Regardless of which avenue(s) you choose to do so, please help support
the organisation that stands up for our industry sector.