SPI invited X.Org to join as Associated Project

[Alex Deucher]

On Sun, Jan 11, 2015 at 7:32 PM, Luc Verhaegen <libv at skynet.be> wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 09:43:17AM +1000, Peter Hutterer wrote:
>>
>> We'll get a summary sent out asap, in the meantime a few incomplete answers
>> from the back of the head:
>> - timeline: we have 90 days to accept the invitation, rest TBA
>> - asset list still needs to be compiled, assets will be transferred to SPI.
>>   we have 3 years after joining to do this. assets include domain names, a
>>   bit of hardware (that's mostly outdated/unused) and other IP dating back
>>   to the X Consortium that we're chasing up
>
> Really? Wow. That smells an awful lot like the open group. Maybe Egbert
> can enlighten us all on what it took after the xfree86 fork to get x.org
> out of the claws of that defunct organization.
>
> I am amazed though. It took the best part of a decade to finally become
> 501c3. It then took the best part of a quarter iirc to lose that status
> again, to have it reinstated afterwards with the help of SFLC. And then
> what seems like a clone of the open group is quickly ran off to.
>
>> - the xorg treasurer (legal status) will be replaced by the spi treasurer.
>>   all money including travel expenses will be reimbursed directly from SPI.
>>   since we're already a 501c3, the rules of what we're allowed to spend
>>   money on remain the same.
>
> As for that hardware, when will the Xorg foundation finally become more
> than just an organization that lives to support itself and use its
> budget to have servers professionally, reliably, and independently
> adminned?


The reason we lost our 501c3 status is one of the reasons why we want
to join SPI.  We don't have any accountants or lawyers on our board
that have the necessary know-how to keep up with the appropriate
business and tax filings.  SPI handles that for us.  Same goes for
donations.  We don't have the time or resources to run our own secure
donation servers, etc.  SPI provides that service for us.  The
foundation does not have the budget to provide pay for those services
in addition to sponsoring conferences and EvoC.

With all of these things in mind, we looked for possible solutions and
SPI came up.  We read through their website and talked with them
extensively and it seemed like a good fit for Xorg.  That said, this
is new to us too.  It helps that other organizations we know and trust
also trust SPI.  So, based on what we've discussed and researched, it
is our understanding that things won't really change much from an
organizational standpoint other than that SPI will be managing the tax
and business, donation acceptance, and reimbursement duties so that we
can focus on conferences and student projects like EVoC.

For more background on the associated project process and what is
entailed, please see these pages from the SPI site:
http://www.spi-inc.org/projects/associated-project-howto/
http://www.spi-inc.org/projects/relationship/
http://www.spi-inc.org/projects/services/

In particular from the relationship page:

"Relationship Between SPI and Associated Projects

Fiscal Sponsorship

SPI acts as a fiscal sponsor for associated projects.

Project Independence

SPI does not own, govern or control the associated projects. All
actions by SPI on behalf of associated projects must comply with
relevant laws, SPI's By-Laws and 501(c)3 status. SPI does not prohibit
the project having a similar relationship with other fiscal sponsors.

Freedom to Leave

The project liaison may decide that the project is leaving SPI at any
time.  Any assets and money held by SPI for the project may be
transferred to a 501(c)3 US non-profit of the liaison's choice, or
simply held until expended.

Liability

SPI does not indemnify associated projects or members."



Alex

>
> Luc Verhaegen.
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