Updates from foundation-building...
On the legal front, we're getting bylaws worked out on the back-burner,
but by the end of this month. We're also going to start with filing for
501c3 status, hope for the best, and fall back to something else if
(like trying again or 501c6) if that's rejected. It seems plausible and
doesn't really risk anything significant.
On the fundraising front...
I've sent Microsoft, Google, HPE, Western Digital, OxidOS and zeroRISC
the attached membership prospectus and gift agreement. These are meant
as "starting bids" and I don't really expect anyone to sign the gift
agreement as is.
So far, there is a back-channel response from Google (through their
lawyer and our lawyer) asking for some structure in the foundation that
would provide more specific technical decision making---"durable
technical decision making." We took that that to mean that something
like a Technical Advisory Board, composed of foundation members, which
has regular interaction with the Core WG, though doesn't actually have
oversight, might be what would satisfy them.
I still need to actually talk to Cyrus synchronously (probably Friday or
early next week), but I proposed something like this via e-mail ("I
wonder what you think about doing something like this?").
The main contact at Microsoft, Nazmus Sakib, is about to go on parental
leave. He hasn't taken a close look yet, but because of that I'm trying
to get him to connect us to someone else who can make decisions
(probably at their Open Source Programs Office). If we make progress
with Google on a structure for membership, I'll update/propose the same
thing to Microsoft, and the hope is that that one brings along the
other.
HPE is moving up the chain, since the only people we know there don't
have decision making power. I'm going to visit them in-person the week
after next, which will be an opportunity to pursue that.
Alistair is our only contact at Western Digital really, was luke warm
about WD's ability to participate last I talked to him, and has yet to
respond to my e-mail.
OxidOS (Alex) and zeroRISC (Dom) both want in, but OxidOS would need a
way lower tier than Google/Microsoft, so that probably need to wait
until we have a sense of what Tiers mean, and zeroRISC is at least a few
weeks too early until they close their series A.
-Amit
