diff --git a/content/blog/2024/12/2024-12-20-governing-board-first-report.md b/content/blog/2024/12/2024-12-20-governing-board-first-report.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..46a4e1920 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2024/12/2024-12-20-governing-board-first-report.md @@ -0,0 +1,122 @@ ++++ +date = "2024-12-20" +title = "First report from the Matrix Governing Board" + +[taxonomies] +author = ["Matrix Governing Board", "Greg Sutcliffe"] +category = ["Governing Board"] ++++ + +Hi all, + +It’s been 6 months since the first ever Matrix Governing Board (GB) was +formally elected & announced, and it has recently had its first official +meeting. As such, we felt it was time that you, our constituents, had a report +on how things are going and what we’ve been doing. We appreciate that the work +of the GB is often in the background, and we want to be as transparent as we +can. + + + +### What’s been happening? + +Since our election in June, the GB has mainly been focussed on internal +structure. We began with the most basic part of this - getting to know each +other! We have quite a large group, and we all needed time to understand what +each of us would like to achieve, and to assist with. We also needed to get to +know the Foundation better, and time spent with Josh has been extremely +valuable too. + +The other, even bigger, topic to tackle has been structure. We are a new board, +and as such we need to lay down the processes and hierarchy that will govern +our work in the near-to-medium future. There is ample inspiration around us in +the many other communities we are part of, but we do have to write down our +versions of these. + +### What about the recent Governing Board meeting? + +The GB had its first official meeting on Nov 15th, and the topic of structure +took up all of our time - this is key since that structure is blocking the work +we want to do in various topic areas (which we’re calling Committees). There +are [detailed minutes available here](/assets/governance/governing-board/2024-11-15-meeting-minutes.pdf) but here is a high +level summary - you’ll note that these all relate to the structure and norms of +the GB: + +* We elected our first Chair and ViceChair - Greg Sutcliffe (gwmngilfen) and Kim Brose (HarHarLinks) respectively +* We discussed some of the core elements of the GB - voting processes, quorum, timescales, etc +* We discussed the organisation layout, Committees, and Working Groups - more detail on that below +* We talked a lot about norms as well - how we expect members of the GB to behave. + +The last point is actually really important - while it sounds quite simple, +it’s critical for setting expectations for us and also helps set overall policy +when an explicit rule or process doesn’t exist. The culture that we set out +with this first board will likely set the tone for the future, and we should +get it right. + +### Committees and Working Groups + +Probably the decision with the biggest impact (thought we agreed it fairly +quickly) was around the hierarchy of the GB, so let’s expand on that a bit. + +As we reported in TWIM [at the +time](https://matrix.org/blog/2024/11/15/this-week-in-matrix-2024-11-15/#first-official-governing-board-meeting), +we have convened 4 initial Committees (Governance, Trust & Safety, Community, +and Finance & Fundraising), and these are board-level subgroups with a focus on +that specific area. Each Committee will have one or more Working Groups (WG) +that focus on something related to that topic, and WGs must have a board member +involved - but can (and probably should) involve more people from the community +who wish to be involved in that effort. + +Drawing on my own background in operating systems, this is somewhere between +the CentOS model (which just has Special Interest Groups under the CentOS +Board) and Fedora (which has a [detailed & complex org +chart](https://fedoracom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/orgchart-1024x492.png)). +As an example, we’ll (probably) have a Website WG under the Community +Committee. + +Each Committee and WG will need a charter - this can be pretty short, but sets +out the remit of that group. Committees will also need a Chair (and probably a +Vice Chair, just in case) so that we can ensure things keep ticking along. Those +positions are open for voting within the GB at the moment! + +For the community, you can expect regular reports from the committees once +they’ve formed, and we’ll bring those to you as we can - how we do reporting +with transparency is also a topic we're discussing. You can also expect a +process for people to propose new Working Groups - that is also under discussion! + +### Reports? + +Yes! So, as said above, the Committees will have an obligation to report on +their activity. Since most have only existed for 3 weeks so far, there’s not +yet much to say, but I hope that in the next few weeks we’ll be able to +announce the Committees are up-and-running, and that we have a proposal system +for new WGs. + +We also have a report from the Spec Core Team which they’ve asked us to share +with you - you can [read that SCT report here](/assets/governance/governing-board/2024-11-15-spec-core-team-report.pdf). + +### What’s next? + +Right now, elections are in progress for the people who will run the +Committees, and we want to finalise the norms and processes - these have had +significant discussion already, and once we’ve tidied up the last points we can +vote them in. Then comes the serious work of setting up WGs, and all that +entails. + +We know that this seems a very slow process, especially in today’s world of +fast moving technology - but the work of discussion, negotiation, and consensus +can’t be rushed. It’ll be worth it. + +If you want to chat with us, we are always happy to chat! You can find us in +[the Office of the Governing Board +room](https://matrix.to/#/#governing-board-office:matrix.org), but many of the +GB will also be [present at +FOSDEM](https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6236-matrix-state-of-the-union/) +as well as being at the [Friday Matrix +event](https://matrix.org/blog/2024/11/matrix-fosdem-full-force/) - please talk +to us, bring us your thoughts, tell us your worries. We’ll do what we can to +help. + +Until next time! + +Greg (on behalf of the Governing Board) diff --git a/static/assets/governance/governing-board/2024-11-15-meeting-minutes.pdf b/static/assets/governance/governing-board/2024-11-15-meeting-minutes.pdf new file mode 100644 index 000000000..4c0526f0f Binary files /dev/null and b/static/assets/governance/governing-board/2024-11-15-meeting-minutes.pdf differ diff --git a/static/assets/governance/governing-board/2024-11-15-spec-core-team-report.pdf b/static/assets/governance/governing-board/2024-11-15-spec-core-team-report.pdf new file mode 100644 index 000000000..9c6fd0a36 Binary files /dev/null and b/static/assets/governance/governing-board/2024-11-15-spec-core-team-report.pdf differ