[Osia-members] OSIA February update

[Jack Burton]

Morning, all.

It's been a very busy couple of weeks at OSIA, characterised by
constant action, intense thought, robust debate and much focus on the
future ... so it must be time for the next regular update.


** Special General Meeting held **

OSIA's second SGM for the term was held in Sydney on 25 Jan (after the
close of proceedings for the day at LCA2018).

Draft minutes will be made available as soon as they've been endorsed
by the board.

Thankyou to all those members who attended in person or by proxy and to
those other interested parties who joined us on the day.

Also a special thanks to the LCA2018 team for generously hosting our
SGM.


** The future of OSIA **

Following the general discussion on OSIA's future during the SGM, the
directors considered the matter at great length during the 27 Jan board
meeting.

The 2018 board has decided to persevere with the OSIA's "resurrection",
with a strong commitment to rebuilding a vibrant and effective industry
body for the present and the future.

Having said that, the board recognises & accepts the challenge of
rejuvenating OSIA following 12 months of inaction. Accordingly, a
deadline has been set: the board has given itself until the 2018 AGM to
deliver substantial progress toward rebuilding OSIA as a durable,
relevant, effective & successful organisation.

If that deadline is not met, alternative proposals for the future will
be floated at the 2018 AGM.

Please support your board as it does everything in its power to
revitalise OSIA during that time.


** Board changes **

At its 27 Jan meeting, the board appointed Mr Mark Phillips (Automated
Test Systems, Vic.) and Mr Josh Stewart (Vic.) as directors of OSIA.

Mark & Josh are both well known within the Australian FOSS industry &
community, so require no further introduction. Please join me in
welcoming Mark & Josh to their new roles on the board of OSIA.

Also at that meeting, Ron Skeoch resigned as chairman (although he
remains a director of OSIA), having discharged his duties as chairman
admirably during the interregnum.

Please join me in thanking Ron for the significant contribution he made
to OSIA at such a crucial time -- whilst it may well have been the
shortest in OSIA's history, Ron's term as chairman will no doubt go
down in history (alongside the likes of Andrew Yager & Stuart Guthrie
in days gone by) as having been key to the continued existence of our
industry body.

The board unanimously elected Mark Phillips as our new chairman. This
marks another unique moment in OSIA's history. For the first time, OSIA
has elected a chairman on the strength of a platform statement made
publicly prior to his appointment to the board -- a very welcome first
step down the path of open governance. Please join me in congratulating
Mark on his new role and in supporting his leadership of OSIA
throughout the remainder of the term.

Your board and their portfolios are now:

* Chairman:
  Mark Phillips (Automated Test Systems, Vic.)

* Director & Company Secretary:
  Jack Burton (Saosce, SA)

* Director (public policy):
  Josh Stewart (Vic.)

* Director (member services):
  Alexar Pendashteh (Vic.)

* Director (unencumbered open standards):
  Ron Skeoch (Muli Management, NSW)


** Collaboration with Linux Australia **

One point discussed at the SGM on which there was clear consensus was
the need for OSIA to collaborate closely with Linux Australia on select
matters of mutual interest.

Your 2018 board agrees wholeheartedly with that sentiment. We'd like to
thank Linux Australia for their commitment to working with OSIA and to
add our own commitment to working closely with Linux Australia on such
matters.

To that end, Josh Stewart will be acting as OSIA's principal point of
liaison with Linux Australia during the remainder of the current term.
Given his extensive experience with the governance of Linux Australia,
I'm sure you'll all agree he's the ideal person for the role.


** The zombie treaty apocalypse (well, hopefully not) **

After five years of OSIA consistently and relentlessly opposing the
Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), no doubt many OSIA members celebrated
its demise on 24 Jan 2017.

Exactly one year later, we were greeted with the appalling news that
TPP had apparently risen from the dead, this time under the a moniker
almost as unwieldy as the 30 Chapters & 49 Annexes of its text:
"Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for a Trans Pacific
Partnership" (CPTPP).

At its 27 Jan meeting, the OSIA board resolved to make addressing the
CPTPP matter its number one substantive priority for 2018.

Josh & I are working on it already. Stay tuned for more information on
our progress and on how you can get involved in due course.

This will also be the first public policy matter on which OSIA intends
to collaborate with Linux Australia.


** Board meetings **

The board met (in Wahroonga NSW) on Sat 27 Jan. It was a productive
meeting, with 5 more resolutions passed and 20 new actions delegated.
2018 is set to be a very busy year!

The board will next meet (in Melbourne) on Sat 24 Feb.

As always, OSIA members are encouraged to bring any pertinent matters
(and indeed your views on them) to the attention of the board, either
on this list or by contacting any of us directly. The email addresses
of all board member are available here:
http://osia.com.au/drupal7/corporate-documents/osia-board-members