[ENH] steering group minutes 2024-09-19 (#539)

Author: Remi-Gau

docs/blog/posts/2024-09-19-steering-group-minutes.md

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+---
+date: 2024-09-19
+slug: "Steering Group minutes"
+author: anonymous
+categories:
+-   steering group minutes
+---
+
+<!-- more -->
+
+## Participants
+
+-   Ariel Rokem
+-   Yaroslav Halchenko
+-   Dora Hermes
+-   Camille Maumet
+-   Remi Gau
+-   Guest: Chris Holdgraf
+
+## BIDS Governance working Group
+
+Will amendments be ready for the elections for the next Steering Group Member?
+
+Unfortunately not all.
+Code of conduct may be ready, but governance will not be ready.
+
+## BIDS Elections
+
+-   4 candidates, but lack of diversity
+
+-   Should the election be delayed to encourage more diversity? Election date around early November.
+    -   yes we will delay 2 weeks
+
+-   this is somewhat reflective of the BIDS community (unfortunately)
+
+-   Possible Suggestions:
+    -   Adina Wagner
+    -   Lyuba Zehl
+
+## Meeting with Chris Holdgraf
+
+### Context
+
+BIDS is growing and needs greater governance models and sustainability support.
+Why & How did 2i2c how about and move in the direction of a legal entity?
+Individuals and stakeholder entities needed more FTE time to support growth as opposed to supporting maintenance
+
+2i2c is an "engine" that has full-time employees that can serve both the open-source community,
+as well as the research and education use-cases of jupyter.
+There was a clear value in staffing specific roles that was not allocated otherwise.
+
+### Q&A
+
+> Ariel: to move ahead with discussions we started about BIDS governance structure
+(that is around foundation, non-profit, 501(c)3...), I've asked Chris Holdgraf to come and chat with us at an upcoming meeting.
+Chris directs [2i2c](https://2i2c.org/), and has a unique perspective on these issues.
+He's also a BIDS contributor, having worked extensively on the iEEG BEP and related.
+
+-   **Q:** What was the funding model that worked best for 2i2c?
+
+-   **A:** Their funding comes froma small number of large scale contracts, they use jupyiter hub as a base unit for funding.
+    University bureaucracy was not an ideal route for funding services or individuals
+    "Fiscal sponsors": cost/benefit tradeoffs.
+    On the expensive side, we might be looking at 15% overhead and would provide a high degree of "service" for this.
+    Can expect contracts administered on time by these entities.
+    There will still be a governance and execution problem unless they identify an 'executive office'
+    (executive director) to make the decisions for BIDS, ensure progress and direction.
+
+-   **AR:** membership fees could be a possibly source of funds, funds could also come from grants.
+    There is a set of governing bodies (steering group and maintainers).
+    What would be the labor to bootstrap/kickstart the engine to move any funding model (membership/ service/ grant) forward?
+    What goes into creating a non-profit?
+
+-   **CH:** 2i2c is a nonprofit but has a fiscal sponsor, this did not require them to go through the legal process.
+    The fiscal sponsor is the 501c3 non-profit organization, and they provide the services to 2i2c.
+    They set up a contract based service relationship outlining the expectations for the organizaiton and for the fiscal sponsor.
+    [Code for science and society](https://www.codeforsociety.org/) (2i2c's fiscal sponsor).
+
+-   **Q**: Who drew up the contracts? 2i2c likely used a standard fiscal sponsorship contract.
+    This included stating the organization mission and intention.
+    It comes down to if there are rules that need to exist that are dedicated to the BIDS community?
+    Sometimes bringing financial relationships into the mix can hurt the larger community.
+    This may or may not be true for BIDS, but something to consider.
+
+-   **AR:** Project management is an important role BIDS needs to fill
+
+-   **CH:** agreed, and product management could also be a valuable role or need for BIDS.
+    Community management can also help facilitate the flow of information across people and groups.
+    2i2c has community guides/enablers, they are bridges between open source communities and engineers within 2i2c.
+    Enabling roles like this can be really important to support end users.
+
+    CH would be willing to share job descriptions.
+
+[ROpensci](https://ropensci.org/) is also an interesting organization to look into / talk to.
+
+2i2c is based in the US but it does not limit their ability to employ people in other countries.
+The operations will be location specific, so  where to focus the 'home-base' should carefully considered.