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# System prepended metadata

title: LCCWG 2019-11-12 meeting notes

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# LCCWG 2019-11-12 meeting notes

*Meeting started at 18:04 UTC.*

## 0. Attendance

### Present

* Patrick - CH
* Clifford - US
* Eugene - PH
* Joost - BE
* Maggie - US
* Rob - UK

### Not present

* Ben - BE
* Stefano - IT

## 1. Administrative

### 1.1. Approval of the 2019-10-09 meeting minutes

https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Local_Chapters_Working_Group/Meeting_minutes/2019-10-09

*Unanimously approved*

### 1.2. Previous action items

| Assigned | Item | Status | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Eugene | Send an email to the osmf-talk list about the re-launch of the WG and solicit members who want to join the WG | deferred until ToR approved | 2019-09 meeting |
| ? | Publish WG ToR to the local-chapters list | Not yet | SotM 2019 LCC |
| All | Create a page at the OSM Wiki to provide a curated list of these projects/tools and to promote this as widely as possible | Page created, needs to be completed some more, and then promoted as widely as possible | 2019-10 meeting |
| Joost | Seek ways to improve the Matrix bridge technical problems | Not yet done | 2019-10 meeting |
| Eugene | Answer the emails from the Board regarding the WG creation | Done (2019-10-14) | 2019-10 meeting | 

## 2. Discussion regarding WG focus items

_Per the Terms of Reference, we should start discussing the focus items._

### 2.1. Building local community cohesion

> "We will explore and develop ideas for the Foundation to support the growth of Local Chapters and local communities, including helping mappers communicate or meet up with other local mappers, and working to reduce the challenges created by the fragmented nature of OSM."

* A page on the OSM Wiki was created to have a curated list of tools, apps, and projects to help local communities: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Building_local_communities
    * TODO:
        * Add welcome mat
        * Add welcoming tools
        * Add a section about "building inclusive spaces", with reference to Codes of conduct, to Etiquette page, community code of conduct https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Community_Code_of_Conduct_(Draft)

* Update on Board approval of the LCCWG as an official WG.
    * Joost: This question may be included in the Board's November meeting agenda.

* What can the WG do to support the development of the tools for building communities (e.g., Brian's "microcosms").
    * Rob: DevSeed would welcome microcosms but they are using OSM Teams now because it is already available.

### 2.1b Question from Heather
> "Would the local chapters working group be open to mentoring 'local chapter' elects - we have a few chapters in progress and want to assist them." —Heather

Ideas mentioned:
* lack of resources
* lots of experience
* reach out to existing groups that haven't formalized yet
* advising on bylaws before they are approved
* "affiliations committee" at wikimedia: mentor+scrutinize, then recommend to Board. Not a model, but might be a thing in the future.

### 2.2. Facilitating a global exchange of ideas

> "We will aim to provide Local Chapters and local communities with venues and communication channels to exchange ideas and share best practices in growing their communities. This may include reviving/managing the local-chapters mailing list and organizing sessions like the Local Chapters Congress during State of the Map or other events."
 
* No additional topics were discussed for this item.

### 2.3. Improving the Local Chapters affiliation scheme

> "We will review the role of Local Chapters within the Foundation and the interactions between them. Based on our findings we will make recommendations to the Board as to how the affiliation scheme can be improved to provide a stronger case for local communities to eventually become Local Chapters, or possibly suggest creating new affiliation models such as less-formal user groups."

* Discussion on possible user groups models.
* How do we handle organisations like HOT? Should they become a "local chapter" or otherwise be affiliated with OSMF especially since they are using "OpenStreetMap" in their name which would require a trademark agreement with the OSMF.
  * As an example of what we *could* do, the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) has three types of affiliate models: chapters, user groups, and [thematic organizations](https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_thematic_organizations). WMF currently has two thematic organizations: Amical Wikipedia (community of Catalan Wikimedians and overlaps with Wikimedia España, Wikimedia France, and Wikimedia Italia), and Wikimedia Medicine. HOT would definitely fit a "thematic organization" model should we choose to adopt such a model.

* **Action item:** Run a survey with existing chapters and chapters-to-be to get their views why they applied/will apply to become a chapter. Afterwards based on the results, we may consult with other WGs (mainly LWG) to ask regarding legal aspects of relationships of other orgs with the Foundation.
 
## 3. Other items

### 3.1. WG members running for the OSMF Board

Just an announcement: Clifford and Eugene have put themselves up as candidates for the OSMF Board election: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Foundation/AGM19/Election_to_Board#Candidates

Note that if Eugene is elected, the WG would need to appoint a new chair.

## 4. Next meeting

Next meeting will be sometime in December. A Doodle poll will be created to set the meeting date and time. Eugene will ask Rob to setup the next meeting (Doodle poll and invitation).

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*Meeting closed at 19:03 UTC.*
