Board elections soon - think about your candidates!

[floeff]

Hello,

as announced shortly before the Milan conference, the elections for TDF's next board of directors will soon be officially and formally announced. The membership committee is finalizing the draft and the timeline, but I expect the nomination phase to start within the next one or two weeks, with the board being elected until late this or early next year, and then officially in charge on February 17. In the meantime, during this transition phase, the plan is that the old and the new board work jointly together to make the final transition as easy and as smooth as possible.

This also means that _now_ is the time to think about your favorite candidates, asking them if they would stand, and whether you want to run for the board yourself (self-nomination is explicitly allowed!). Any TDF member as of October 1st [1] is eligible to vote and to be voted into the board.

It's fair enough to say that TDF is in a very good shape these days, with lots of new members, lots of contributions, and a financial basis. This also means that the new board will face new challenges as we will grow further, but at the same time has a lot of chances and options for creating, and I'd like to invite all of you to think if you are a good candidate for shaping TDF's future and defining its strategy during the next two years.

In Milan, we have already talked to many of you about the requirements such a board role has, but for everyone who is interested in details, please feel free to poke any member of the current board at any time, or use the public board-discuss@documentfoundation.org mailing list for asking your questions. (Please do not nominate anyone in public as of now, until the official announcement has been sent.)

That being said, maybe one personal sentence: Being in the board surely is a big responsibility, but I enjoyed my time during the last two years quite a lot - and while it was challenging, it was also an honour to serve the community and fulfill the duty. I really would like to encourage you to stand for the board if you think you're capable of contributing to TDF's future in this body, and I am looking forward to the candidates!

Thanks a lot,
Florian

[1] http://www.documentfoundation.org/foundation/members/

[mmeeks]

This also means that _now_ is the time to think about your favorite
candidates ...

...

In Milan, we have already talked to many of you about the requirements
such a board role has, but for everyone who is interested in details,

  One detail that was shared at the conference, and is worth saying is
that the current board is working to move more of the day-to-day
administrative burden that is really a lot of work onto the shoulders of
TDF admin staff. That should free up the next board for a somewhat
lighter form of oversight & responsibility. At least that's the plan.
Hopefully that allows volunteers and contributors with less time to
spare to work as a team effectively in that role.

That being said, maybe one personal sentence: Being in the board surely
is a big responsibility, but I enjoyed my time during the last two years
quite a lot - and while it was challenging, it was also an honour to
serve the community and fulfill the duty.

  And a quick note of commendation here; Florian has done more than
anyone to make TDF a reality, and ensure that the many balls don't get
dropped here. We owe him a public debt of thanks.

  HTH,

    Michael.

[thb]

Michael Meeks wrote:

  And a quick note of commendation here; Florian has done more than
anyone to make TDF a reality, and ensure that the many balls don't get
dropped here. We owe him a public debt of thanks.

Indeed we do, for the past & the future - thanks so much, Florian, for
your dedication, passion, and your outstanding paid, and (much more
so) pro bono work for TDF!

Cheers,

-- Thorsten

[Joel_Madero]

Likely to result in a flood of emails but I'll add my two cents. Florian, incredible work, incredible colleague. You're always cool headed, encouraging, and hard working.

Thanks for all the work.

All the best,
Joel

[cornouws]

Joel Madero wrote (17-10-13 19:10)

Indeed we do, for the past & the future - thanks so much, Florian, for
your dedication, passion, and your outstanding paid, and (much more
so) pro bono work for TDF!

Likely to result in a flood of emails but I'll add my two cents.
Florian, incredible work, incredible colleague. You're always cool
headed, encouraging, and hard working.

Sure, let me rise this flood
So high, that other board members get their share too

Cor

[floeff]

Hello,

thanks a lot for the warm and gentle words everyone, it's really appreciated!

For me, it was two exciting and fascinating years, and it was truly an honour serving as chairman of The Document Foundation, being with this fantastic community, and seeing TDF grow from a small idea of many, to a well-established foundation and one of the largest and most valued free software projects worldwide. I would like to thank everyone for the trust you have put in me, and I hope working with me was not too exhausting :-), and of course that I could do a good service for the community and the foundation.

With so many fantastic community members with us today, I am sure TDF has its best times still ahead, its future will be bright. I am looking forward to the elections and the candidates!

Florian