Discussion about membership

I've especially have an idea that may seem shocking, but seems however interesting to me, that consists in paying a membership annual fee, even very low.
For the reason that:
* Even low, it would bring some money to the association that may be necessary for paying servers etc
* It may help managing membership, especially management of "zombie" members (nothing mean in what I say)
* This financial effort, even short, would show that the member is really interested in being member and participate.

The disadvantages are:
* It adds some complication in money management, maybe this should be done through paypal or something like this, but maybe it's not a good solution.
* depending on countries, the money rate is not the same, so the financial effort, even low, would not be the same. Maybe then a variation should be calculated depending on some data.
* Maybe some would think unfair that a big and devoted contributor make the same effort as a non contributor.

It's just an idea that seems interesting to explore to me.

Yes

Rgds.
Edward
Registered Linux User #224802

I'm favorable, I've been a long time Mandriva supporter. But this should correspond to a bit better work. What I mean is quicker response to bug and more attention to users need in developing new releases.

As for having a membership fee, most online credit card processors such as paypal, or google, will automatically convert the currency. Charging a fee might be a good idea. If it is done, it should only be done annually, and kept rather small.

Wayne Sallee
[email protected]

At this moment I can not be of great help, and my presence is probably a fugitive, I hope in future to be more useful to the community, and in a way more consistent.
Regarding the proposal of Raphaël Jadot (annual membership fee), I am essentially favorable.
Although I have some doubts on the real effectiveness, indeed, I think that may be an obstacle to new entry.
They are more inclined to start, in a timely manner, an activity "request donations." But I'd wait for the next version of OpenMandriva, first we need to consolidate the distribution, (my opinion).

I was quite involved the the "making" of that document. I have strong ideas about the payments, contributions, etc. but I was never against non-free membership, that option in the beginning came from the fact that we wanted people to join freely independently of money. Kind of, if you are a member and to be a member you must contribute, therefor your work given to OMA valued money. Moving forward: It has to be a subscription calculated with the Human Development Index in mind. This means that we define a value of subscription for Norway (the 1st in HDI) and then apply a function of porportion based on that for others. That means that a Person in Norway will pay Fee weighted as 0,944 (the index of Norway) and a person in Niger will pay Fee weighted as 0,337. Si this could be done simply by assuming 1€ month for Norway (for example), so if Norway pays 12€ year and has a DHI of 0,944, Niger will pay (12*0,337)/0,944, something like 4€. For example. We can also use other methods like weight it based on GDP per capita or Purchasing power parity. But GDP don't has the influence of social indicators. We can think of it. Payment could be in currency or open virtual currency also, like litecoin.
We also should have money to organize a OpenMandriva Members Meeting.

We should never forget also that a horse that is used to eat fresh grass will not want dry haulm. if the land that provides fresh grass is closed, and the horse needs to eat dry haulm, he will get time to get used to it. If the owner has no money for dry haulm, he must set him free or watch him die.
that's why freedom is important, and being dependent on others farm a bad idea when it comes to volunteer based projects. It creates the same amount of dependence as a closed source software to users, and one time, if the company that produces him closes the user is lost.

So, wee need to have money for the dry haulm until we have a open land of free green grass.

@joaoazevedopatricio1 what if we trust people, telling that membershipfee is, let's say minimum $2 (most people should be able to convert USD to their own currency), and max $25 (giving more would be considered as membership + donation)

@raphaeljadot I agree having only a minimum subscription, but also I would like to see it weighted. Because 2€ is nothing for some and something for others. We cannot also have a membership fee that has no value for the association :-) So i prefer to think a bit more about the issue. I don't want to have something like this https://www.fsf.org/associate/dues.html and we will need something like this https://www.fsf.org/associate/benefits
In the end if we promote cooperation and solidarity we should act like it :-)
p.s.: let's brainstorm this @ IRC.

the difference in membership payment by country suggested by Joao is indeed good.
I am not against membership fee, but more in favor of financing campaign, like Loomio did, imo just more efficient and creates no extra barrier for those who want to join