What does building community mean to you?

Building community requires equal opportunities, shared respect, a value on diverse people and talents, and a desire to empower people so that they can fully continue the journey. In some ways, I don't even like the usage of the word "build" when it comes to community; you build dead, static things, like chairs and tables. Instead, for communities, you want to nurture and grow them with the result that you leave them in a better state than when you found them.

What does advocating for Drupal mean to you?

Advocating for Drupal means ensuring that individuals and organization truly grok the importance of the Drupal Community as the lifeblood of the Drupal project itself. It means that we should always err on the side of the community. Today, many open source projects have a difficult time balancing the needs of the un-aligned, volunteer, contributor community with the corporate side of the community and, IMO, Drupal is no exception. The board exists to help Drupal walk that tightrope, and my decades of involvement on both sides of projects and communities, as well as my reputation, would be a true asset.

What is your favorite Drupal moment or memory?

Baltimore Drupal Camp 2015 - my 1st keynote explicitly to Drupal

Board Skills & Strengths (indicate those that apply to your experience)

Marketing/Public Relations, Strategic Planning, Product Development, Program Development, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Financial Oversight, Organizational Management, Risk Analysis, Open Source Industry Knowledge, Fundraising (includes sponsorships, charitable giving, grant writing), Community Building/Understanding of Community Needs, Volunteer Training/Development, Talent Development, Human Resources, Legal, Governance

What best describes your personal style? (select all that describe you)

Director, Motivator, Inspirer, Helper. I am a big believer in the concept called Radical Candor. I am honest; I am direct. I wear my heart on my sleeve.

Do you have experience as a board member? If yes, what organization(s)?

The Apache Software Foundation, OSI, CodePlex, OuterCurve and others.

Region Represented

Americas

Comments

e0ipso’s picture

e0ipso
Primary language Catalan
Location Can Picafort
commented

Excuse me if I make no sense in my questions. I am no lawyer either, and the U.S. is not my home country. My questions are framed around legal figures, however I only intend to get a sense of what your values are as a potential director are.

The Drupal Association (DrupalCon Inc.) currently declares itself as a 501(c)(3) (as per 2018's tax filing). According to the IRS website:

A section 501(c)(3) organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, such as the creator or the creator's family, shareholders of the organization, other designated individuals, or persons controlled directly or indirectly by such private interests. No part of the net earnings of a section 501(c)(3) organization may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. A private shareholder or individual is a person having a personal and private interest in the activities of the organization.

(emphasis of my own)

I sense a lot of effort in promoting business using Drupal in what the Drupal association does (my perception might be wrong). From my limited understanding, this is typical from 501(c)(6) organizations (Business leagues, Chambers of commerce, Boards of trade, ...). For context, the Linux Foundation declares itself as 501(c)(6) (as per 2018's tax filing).

My questions are:

  1. Do you feel the current Drupal Association is living to the 501(c)(3) spirit? (I am not asking about the legality, but the spirit).
  2. Should a voting arise: do you lean towards promoting the project itself and stay as a 501(c)(3)? or do you think that promoting business with Drupal is the best course of action and, therefore, the Drupal Association should become a 501(c)(6)?

My questions are geared towards: how will you position yourself in the balance between promoting the common good vs. fostering healthy business using Drupal? But I would love to get specific answers to the two questions above.

jimjag’s picture

jimjag commented

Yes, I think the current Drupal Association is living the spirit. The main idea of a 501(c)3 is that it is a public charity, and serves the public good. In some ways, being structured as a 501(c)3 instead of a 501(c)6 provides the sorts of guardrails required (IMO), because it emphasizes the need for community as a prime mover.

If a resolution was brought up proposing a change from a (c)3 to a (c)6 (a trade group), I would need to really understand the rationale behind it, as well as ensure that people understood the risk in doing so. You don't NEED to be a 501(c)6 to foster and encourage businesses to be involved.

super_romeo’s picture

super_romeo commented

Really?

jimjag’s picture

jimjag commented

Yes, it is true. I've used and promoted Drupal for years but never officially joined until very recently.