OpenStreetMap US is excited to announce that nominations to the Board are now open!
If you care about the future of OpenStreetMap and its community in the United States, please consider running! Being on the board means you get to help shape the future of OpenStreetMap US. This includes:
- Supporting strategic planning efforts
- Supporting our Executive Director
- Supporting the mapping community through mailing lists and chat rooms
- Making a difference at the local, national, and international levels
- Facilitating interactions with other organizations, academics, government, and private companies.
We hope to see new faces and hear new voices on the OpenStreetMap US board. We welcome a new, fresh and respectful election season.
Requirements
- Have a passion for OpenStreetMap and its community and an interest in shaping strategy and helping with governance.
- Be a current member of OpenStreetMap US by the close of nominations (January 31). Join us today!
Nomination Instructions
Nominations will be open until Saturday January 22, 2022. To nominate yourself, please go to the election wiki page, and add yourself to the list. You can also see more information about the schedule and process there.
Town Halls
We’ll be hosting 2 town halls over Zoom video chat. Dates and times will be posted on the Wiki.
- Town Hall 1 - January 17 , 2022. 7pm ET- 8pm ET. A conversation with the existing Board members. Ask questions and hear what it is like to be an OpenStreetMap US Board member. Sign up for the join information here!
- Town Hall 2: Week of January 23. A conversation with the board candidates. Before you vote, you will have a chance to ask questions and hear from each of the candidates.
Election
Voting will start on Wednesday February 2nd and end on Wednesday February 9th. This year we’ll continue to use Ranked Choice Voting which will be confirmed by a community member. To be permitted to vote please make sure your OpenStreetMap US membership is in good standing by January 31st. We will announce the new board on February 10 at our Annual Member Meeting.
Bylaws Amendment & 2022 Policy Change
This year, in addition to the elections, members will vote on an amendment to the OpenStreetMap US Bylaws. This amendment would extend the board term to 2 years instead of 1 and introduce staggered terms of service. Board members would be able to serve two consecutive two-year terms before being required to take a one year ‘vacation’.
This change would be applied to the 2023 elections, and is being proposed to provide better balance and continuity for the organization. Two-year terms give board members more time to grow into their roles, and staggering turnover leads to longer institutional memory and continuity of leadership.
Amendments to the Bylaws require approval by two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of all members in good standing having voted. A similar ballot question did not pass the last two years because not enough members voted, so please cast your vote!
Policy Change: This year we will be introducing a policy for 2022 that will allow for staggered board terms to improve institutional memory and continuity. New board members will serve a 2-year term and incumbents will serve a 1-year term.
Questions? Join the #elections channel on OSM US Slack, tweet us, or email us anytime.
