Open Source Matters, Inc. and the Joomla! Project is now operating under the new structure that was formalised in March 2017, then updated in 2021. This article sets out the new Election Cycle that is now in place.
The first post-transition new board of directors (NBOD), was deemed complete on March 23, 2017. All election cycles will be based upon the completion date of the NBOD.
According to the Bylaws, Section 5.03 (B), and additionally with motion #2017/041, The Board of Directors and Officers of Open Source Matters, has divided the board into the following Election Groups in order to stagger elections to assist with continuity and minimise disruption in leadership, with Group 1 having an initial 6 month term.
Team Members (Class 3) and Team Leaders (Class 2) have the right to cast their vote for the Department Coordinator of the Department to which their team belogs. Only Team Members and Team Leaders of any first-level Team listed as Official in the Volunteers Portal. Subteam members don't have the right to vote, as well as Teams listed as "Unofficial" or "In formation".
Team Members (Class 3), Team Leaders (Class 2), Department Coordinators (Class 1) and Officers (Class 1) have the right to cast one vote for each Officer position. In case of multiple membership, each individual shall have only one vote. Only Team Members and Team Leaders of any first-level Team listed as Official in the Volunteers Portal. Subteam members don't have the right to vote, as well as Teams listed as "Unofficial" or "In formation".
The following methodologies have been introduced after the Community vote on the "Changes to the Nomination and Election Process", approved on December 29, 2019.
| Reporting cycle | Group 1 | Group 2 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Day of Term | September 29 | March 24 | The newly elected DC/Officers are effective in their position. |
| 90 Day Report publishing deadline | January 11 | July 06 | Each DC/Officer shall prepare a quarterly report with their progress and achievements. Report is due 14 days after the 90th day of the term. |
| 180 Day Report publishing deadline | April 10 | October 04 | Report is due 14 days after the 180th day of the term. |
| 270 Day Report publishing deadline / Declaration of Intention deadline | July 09 | January 02 | Report is due 14 days after the 270th day of the term. The DC/Officer shall send also the declaration of intention and their manifesto to the Secretary if they are interested to run for another term. |
| Year End Report | October 12 | April 06 | Report is due 14 days after the end of the term. |
There are many areas in the Joomla project that need specific know-how, and our community includes people who are passionate about contributing in one or more particular areas of interest. These people are organized in teams where they can perform their work, make decisions and collaborate on projects. Teams are dynamic and can be formed and disbanded as needs arise and goals are accomplished. Any individual can propose a new idea for a team via an email that goes to the Department Coordination Leaders.
Each team has a similar structure containing the following roles:
Team Contributors are community members who offer to take part in the work of the teams. The Team Contributors can be of a temporary nature, to work on specific tasks. As all team positions and tasks will be posted publicly on the Volunteer Portal, anyone can apply to complete them. The Team Contributor role is there to make sure that anyone can contribute and become familiar with a team.
Team Contributors are non-voting team participants, and they work with the Team Members to carry out tasks. As their experience grows and vacancies arise they may apply for Team Member positions.
Team Members form the core of a team. Their tasks are the main tasks that are needed to keep the work within the team moving forward. They also mentor new Team Contributors who join the team and help them get familiar with the workflow in a team. As all team positions and tasks will be posted publicly on the Volunteer Portal, anyone can apply to become a Team Member.
Additionally, Team Members can cast a vote in the elections for the Team Leader and, if applicable, the Assistant Team Leader of their team.
The Team Leader is leading the team and is empowered to make decisions on how the work within the team will evolve and move forward. They allow their Team Members to work effectively, facilitate communication channels and meetings where needed and communicate with team leaders of other teams where collaboration between those teams is desired. Anyone can apply to become a Team Leader. Specific information about the nomination, election and appointment procedure of a Team Leader can be found in chapter 4 of this document.
Additionally, Team Leaders can cast a vote for the Department Coordinators within their department that will form the Department Coordination Team of that department. Team leaders are also recognized as Members of the legal organization and will have voting rights to elect the four required Officers of the Board of Directors.
Team Leaders responsibilities are outlined in this policy.
If applicable, one of the Team Members will be appointed to be the Assistant Team Leader. The Assistant Team Leader will work closely together with the Team Leader and assist where needed. An Assistant Team Leader needs to be well-informed by the Team Leader and, in case of absence of the Team Leader, the Assistant Team Leader can resume the Team Leader role.
The Team Leader proposes a preferred Assistant Team Leader amongst the Team Members. The Team Members can approve or decline the proposed Assistant Team Leader.
Depending on the composition and the work of a team, a team can decide to have subteams. The tasks of the subteams are supporting the work of the parent team and specified to a certain area of the parent team. Subteams can have the same structure as teams, however, Team Leaders of a subteam do not have voting rights similar to Team Leaders of a main team. Subteams don’t need to be proposed in the way main teams are, and therefore don’t need to be approved by the Department Coordination Team Leaders. They are formed and organized by the parent team where needs arise.
This document serves to outline the roles of each member of the board of Open Source Matters Inc.
The Board of Directors of Open Source Matters, Inc. as required by the bylaws of the Corporation, is made up of 6 (six) Department Coordinators and 4 (four) Officers.
The Board of Directors is tasked with and responsible for providing holistic organisational, legal and financial support to the Joomla! Project.
The role descriptions laid out below have been written by the current officers collectively from their viewpoint of the roles. These role descriptions will change over time as new people come and go and the roles expand, contract or change over time.
In short this is an ever evolving document, just like the Joomla project.
The Officer roles are President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Three of these positions, President, Secretary and Treasurer, are required by New York State law.
The Officers of the Corporation have fixed roles which span the entire organisation, the directors are responsible for the departments over which they oversee.
Overviews of the Officer roles are as follow.
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