Proposed Ubuntu-au Council structure

3. Australian Community Council (ACC) Model (Ideally 7 +- 2 people) :Democratic

What is the Purpose of an ACC ?

• It is made up from a group leaders from the various 'Local' Ubuntu groups around Australia.
• It gives 'Local' Members of these groups a representation in the administration of Ubuntu-au.

• Members on the ACC are there to provide 'Support & Consultation' to the Ubuntu-au community.

• Members on the ACC will help in decisions affecting Ubuntu-au.
• It will provide a means of 'communicating' decisions/information to members of Ubuntu-au.
• It will give members in the general community a 'Direct-Contact', if they require more information about Ubuntu-au.
• To Share Leadership Responsibilities.

• To Follow-up on Issues & Problems.

• 'Event' co-ordination at a National level.
• Foster the creation of 'Local' ubuntu groups.

• Uphold the spirit of 'ubuntu' in the community.

What an ACC IS NOT !

• It is not three levels of 'Bureaucracy'.
• It will not 'Control' the activities of Groups or Individuals.

  • Groups & individuals are autonomous

  • Individuals have the freedom to make a contribution to 'Ubuntu' in anyway they please.
  • Individuals do not need to have permission from the ACC to make these contributions.

Positions

Team Contact

• Calls Ubuntu-Au elections
• Liaises with Ubuntu-CC
• Allocates people access to resources (In consultation with the ACC members)
  • eg. Website Admin, List moderators, IRC Ops.

Election: Is reviewed yearly and appointed by Ubuntu-CC (with recommendation from outgoing Team Contact)

Chair Person

• Chairs ACC meetings (Driving discussion and decisions)
• Chairs General meetings (Driving discussion and decisions)
• Ensures that rules and processes put in place are adhered to

Election: A rotational position, decided by the members of the ACC.

Web Master

• Responsible for setting up and maintaining the website(s)
• Website contact
• Reports to ACC
• Seeks approval to change website(s) structure (conducts reviews)
• Seeks approval to grant members restricted access to website(s)

Elections: Elected (Annually) by ACC Members, Nominations from Members.

Representative

• State/City/Region contact person (see model '3A' or Model '3B')

• Liaises with LUGS & other organisations

• Drives goals of Ubuntu-au at a local level

• Provides Advice & Support.

• Raises issues (sets agenda items) with the ACC at Council meetings.
• Reports back to ACC Council on progress of said goals/functions etc.
• Drives Important Events/Functions i.e. Release parties etc.
• Helps with website 'News/Announcement' items
• Chairs General Ubuntu-au Meetings (when needed)
• Chairs State Ubuntu-au Meetings (when needed)
• Helps with Elections
• Has official status within ubuntu-au and as such represents Ubuntu-au LOCO

Elections: Each representative elected/appointed by Ubuntu members in each corresponding State/City/Region. (Seats are to remain open if no-nominations have been received. Team Contact to assume responsibility)

Other positions

• Marketing - Media - Publicity
• Junior contact (Under the age of 18)

Elections: Elected or appointed by ACC

PROs

• Gives each State/Region/City a voice in the direction of the community
• Delegates responsibility
• A local contact person

• Open & Transparent process

• Decision making process easier ie. 8 instead of 40 in an IRC meeting
• Group leadership Team
• Country wide co-ordination

CONs

• Election process & politicisation

• A structure

3A. Local City/Region Representative

• Each City/Region LoCo elects/appoints a representative to the ACC

• Its members would represent a City or Region.
  • e.g. Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Toowomba, Mt Isa, Western QLD, Sydney, Newcastle, Northern Rivers, Dubbo etc.
• Role: As per description in Model 3.

PROs

• City/Regions have a direct representation on the ACC
• Each member in the City/Region has a say in appointing/electing representative.

CONs

• Election/Appointment Process

3B. State Council Representative

• A 'State Council' would be created when there are 5 or more city/Regional representatives (in One state) on the ACC.
• Cities/Regions would then elect/appoint representatives to the 'State Council' rather than the ACC.
• A State Representative, would then be appointed/elected to represent their respective state on the ACC.
• Roles: As per Description on Model 3.

PROs

• Each state is responsible for appointment/election of the ACC representative for the ACC
• Reduces the size of the ACC (Making decisions easier).

CONS

• Another structural layer

Meetings

• Ubuntu-au ACC- At least every 3 months, more if urgent issues arise. Quorum: 50% of Council members + 1

• Ubuntu-au General- Once a Month, if agenda items are posted. Quorum: # of Council members + 1

• Ubuntu-au State Council- Once a Month, if agenda items are posted. (Only required if "State Councils" are created)

Notices are to be posted to email lists, Wiki and ubuntu.com.au and Facebook.

Election Process

ACC Non-Representatives

• Notice to members, Email Lists, Wiki, ubuntu.org.au, Facebook.
• To be Eligible for a seat on the ACC, each candidate needs to be nominated by two(2) other members.
• Candidates are displayed on ubuntu.org.au, All positions.
• Web Master appointed by council members, in consultation with Ubuntu-au Team Contact.

City/Region Representative

• Each City/Region appoints/elects a representative (if more than one nomination).
• Each Candidate needs to be nominated by at least two(2) other members from their respective City/Region.
• The election can be done using an online poll or a local meeting.
• Only City/Regional members eligible to vote.

• Each City/Region will keep their own 'official' membership list. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/AustralianTeam/Brisbane

State Representative (if required)

• Each State appoints/elects a representative to the ACC (if more than one nomination).

Note: This document is a Template subject to modification

• The post to the ubuntu-au mail list on the 16th of April is here Ubuntu Post 16-04-10