Re: [Indic-computing-users] Incorporating Indic Computing

[Tapan S. P. <ta...@ya...>]

I have been following the discussion about "incorporating"
Indic-Computing.  I put it in quotes because first of all that is the
wrong word in my mind.  What we want to do is organise and
institutionalise the kinds of work we want to do through Indic. 
Incorporate has certain self-serving connotations which I dont think are
right.  But maybe that is only a semantic distinction.  

The main point I want to make is this: I feel this organisation is
required.  Formal / informal, Corporation / Society - that is a seconday
point.  But as Mr Jitendra said - we need somewhere we can all
congregate and work together and document as one all the different kinds
of work we are doing.  And people like Venky are right - sometimes that
will require money.  If people are willing to contribute to help us,
they should have somewhere to do so and know that it will best used for
the furtherance of the goal, and not for vested interest.

But looking for fund first and then trying to figure out what you are
going to do with it is the completely wrong approach.  Venky (and I)
should have plenty of experience with that approach.  So first let us
get our own ship in order - let us all, on the list, discuss seriously
how, when and if we want to formally organise Indic-Computing as a
formal body.

Here are some questions that need to be answered.  I am just putting my
answers.  If anyone disagrees (or agrees) with me, please post that to
the list also

- Company, Non-Profit Company or Society - I vote for Society
- How will it initially be managed and operated - I vote for an elected
body of 5 directors.  We would assign voting rights by some criterion -
maybe those who have posted >5 times to any Indic list.
- What is our charter? - Vijay and Venky had a good start to this. 
Basically, cutting to the chase - our basic goal is to provide an
objective, unbiased central forum and information source for the
Indic-Developer and User Community.  To support projects and initiatives
that we feel are for the common good of good Indic Language Software. 
Maybe Venky or Vijay would care to re-post the full charter they had
drawn up
- What kinds of projects will we take up?  First and foremost - projects
to support the development and maintenance of Indic Website and
documentation efforts.  Those are our most important efforts thus far. 
Also workshops for the general good fo the community.  Maybe then later
we can think of expanding into actually developing resources and tools,
if they REALLy, REALLY couldnt and wont be done by someone else.
- How will we raise money just to incorporate ourselves - Good
question... ;)

Let me make one thing that is clear in my mind.  Indic's role is NOT to
generate money, or resources, or anything like that.  It is a civil
organisation who's main and primary goal is to work for the Indic
Developer Community.  That should never be forgotten.

So I hope we can take this discussion forward in a rational, forward,
goal-oriented way.  Who else can contribute?

-- Tapan