It’s that time of year again! Nominations for the OpenStreetMap US Board are now open and we hope that you consider running. As a member of the OpenStreetMap US board, you have the opportunity to help shape the strategy and future of OpenStreetMap US at an exciting time of growth for the organization. The benefits and responsibilities of the board include:
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Supporting our Executive Director
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Supporting the staff team in strategic planning efforts
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Supporting the mapping community through mailing lists and chat rooms
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Making a difference at the local, national, and international levels
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Facilitating interactions with other organizations, academics, government, and private companies.
As a reminder, board members now serve staggered, two year terms. This year, three seats on our board will be open for election as the terms end for Daniela Waltersdorfer, Minh Nguyễn, and Diane Fritz (eligible to run this cycle).
What makes a great board member?
Any active, paid member of OpenStreetMap US can become a Board member, but what makes a difference is being passionate about the growth of the OpenStreetMap community in the United States and supporting our organization’s mission. Any legal, fundraising, or financial management experience (particularly in nonprofit and open source spaces) is optional but highly beneficial to supporting the growth of our organization. Overall, a great board member prioritizes providing guidance in achieving our organizational goals and aligning these with the needs of our community.
The OpenStreetMap US board is a governance style nonprofit board - which means our volunteer board members focus on the overall mission, strategy, oversight, and accountability for the organization. If you want to learn more about nonprofit boards and how to be an effective board member for OSM US or any nonprofit organization, we recommend this free short course from Nonprofit Ready (this is not a requirement for running).
Still want to learn more? Join us for our Board Member Town Hall on January 23, 2023 at 7 pm ET to hear from our existing Board Members to learn more and ask questions about board roles and activities. This event is open to all, including non-members. Register here!
Requirements & Expectations
To be eligible for nomination:
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Have a passion for OpenStreetMap and its community and an interest in shaping strategy and helping with governance.
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Be a current member of OpenStreetMap US by February 8, 2023. Join us today!
As an elected Board member, you will be expected to:
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Attend 1 hour, virtual board meetings on a monthly basis;
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Read materials provided by the Executive Director prior to board meetings;
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Communicate with the board and staff team on a regular basis;
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Contribute 1-5 hours per month to community engagement in some form such as hosting a Mappy Hour, participating in a Working Group, actively supporting the community through mailing lists and communication channels, or writing a blog post.
Nomination Instructions
Nominations will be open today, Friday, January 20, 2023 through Saturday February 5, 2023. 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.
Nominees are encouraged (but not required) to provide position statements upon nomination via links on the election wiki page, or a statement embedded in the table. In lieu of requiring position statements on the wiki, nominees will have the opportunity to state their positions and answer questions during the virtual Nominee Town Hall.
Town Halls
We’ll be hosting 2 virtual town halls over Zoom. Dates and times will be posted on the Wiki.
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Town Hall 1 - January 23, 2023 at 7 pm ET. Hear from our existing Board Members to learn more and ask questions about board roles and activities. This event is open to all, including non-members. Register here!
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Town Hall 2: Week of February 12, 2023. A conversation with the board candidates. Before voting begins, you will have a chance to ask questions and hear from each of the candidates. More information, including date, time and registration, will be posted to the wiki and updated here closer to the Town Hall.
Election
To vote in the OpenStreetMap US Board elections, you must be a paid & active voting member of OpenStreetMap US AND have selected Opt-In for your voting status. You must meet these requirements by Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST to receive a ballot and vote in this year’s election. If you are an active member but have not indicated your voting status, you must do so by the date and time listed above using this link. Questions about your membership or voting status? Please email us. Not a member? Join us today!
Voting will start on Sunday, February 19th at noon PST and end on Sunday, February 26th at 11:59pm PST. This year we’ll continue to use Ranked Choice Voting which will be confirmed by a member of the OpenStreetMap US Governance Committee. We will announce the new board on February 27.
Questions? Join the #elections channel on OSM US Slack, tweet us, or email us anytime.
A Note on Systems & Processes
Last year, we encountered a few technical and procedural challenges that motivated us to review our technical systems and processes surrounding elections. Since the last election, we’ve made some promising changes based on this review including the migration to a new system for managing membership and the formation of the OpenStreetMap US Governance Committee that will oversee voting moving forward. As this will be the first election using these new processes, we kindly ask for your patience and feedback.
Best of luck to all the nominees and happy voting!
