Dear Board members, As previously discussed, during the board meeting next week I will propose the creation of a new class of members called "Associate members". Here is a short description of that new class: ======================================================================= Associate member class The Associate member class is an Open Infrastructure Foundation (“the Foundation”) member class that does not have a vote for a member of the Board of Directors to represent it, or a vote on any other matter. It was created on XXX by a resolution of the Foundation Board of Directors, under the provision of section 2.1 of the Foundation bylaws. The Associate class is open to two types of organizations: non-profit organizations sustaining open infrastructure projects, and notable academic and public research institutions making extensive use of open infrastructure projects. The Executive Director of the Foundation has authority to admit and terminate members of the Associate Class. The Associate class does not require any membership fee. Members of the Associate class support the Foundation mission by associating their organization name with it and allowing the Foundation to promote that association. For non-profit organizations sustaining open infrastructure projects, the Foundation in return may reciprocate through membership in equivalent affiliate membership programs, engage in co-marketing opportunities or sharing events. For notable academic and public research institutions making extensive use of open infrastructure projects, they benefit in return from the Foundation support of their activities like any other Foundation member, through programs like job posting promotion or help in navigating our open source communities. ======================================================================= Such class creation just requires a resolution from the Board, similar to the one passed during the January Board meeting, which you can find at: https://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Governance/Foundation/26Jan2021BoardMinutes Let me know if you still have concerns about this new class. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to the discussion of this proposal during the Board call. -- Thierry Carrez VP Engineering, Open Infrastructure Foundation