The Drupal Association is about to hold its first open elections of "at-large" (community-elected) board members--and your help is needed. Since these are community positions, we felt that it was important to get community buy-in to the process used. We need YOUR input on these suggestions to help come up with a fair and equitable voting process.
We're looking both for candidates and for input into the election process. Read on to find out how you can get involved.
Background
This discussion is meant to create a process for electing the two at-large members of the US-based 501c3 Drupal Association Board.
All of us at the Drupal Association wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. The past year has been an amazing period of growth for the Association and we could not have done it without your continued support and the amazing passion you all have for the Drupal Project. Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year, take a well deserved break and let's gear up for an amazing 2012. Have ideas for the Drupal Association in 2012? Join our planning process, happening now.
2011 was a big year for the Drupal Association. In our first year of staffed operations the Drupal Association was effective in a number of initiatives but didn't meet our expectations in others. It was a year of growth for us, as we learned how to navigate within and support the community and be an organization that is truly reflective of the community we support. Now with a year of learning behind us and a new governance structure we're looking forward to 2012.
This week the Drupal Association staff said goodbye to Isabell Schulz as she began her transition to other endeavours. Isabell has been a valued member of the Drupal Community and of the Drupal Association for many years and has been an absolute tremendous asset to our community. It will be dificult for us to find another person with the same strength, talent, expertise, personality, and pure awesomeness that Isabell brought to the Association.
We improved our individual and organization membership directories. Information is now from your Drupal.org profile. If you are a member, please take a moment to search for your username to check what is listed. If you need to update, there are instructions at the top-right of the page. And thanks again for your support!
Calling all Data Addicts! If you're like me you crave data, pure raw data that can be turned into information. At this Thursday's Town Hall meeting we're going to be taking a look at DrupalCon's attendance and trends that are emerging. Lizz Trudeau will start the meeting off with an overview of DrupalCon attendance starting with data from OSCMS in 2007 and up to DrupalCon London 2011. She'll present analysis about attendance and sponsorship, and answer any questions you have.
Key questions that she researched for the Drupal Community include:
Today we announced a fundraising program designed to build out new improvements on drupal.org. I'd like to take a few steps back and tell you why that I think a membership program is important to the Association and to the Drupal community. You can choose to become a member of number of organizations and an even larger number of organizations will accept your donation. So why should you become a member of the Drupal Association, forking over your hard earned cash?
Ten projects in nine countries have been awarded over $10,000 in grants from the Drupal Association to grow the Drupal community through camps, training and outreach.
The Drupal Association is excited to support emerging communities through the Community Cultivation Grants. Fostering the growth of the community takes on many forms, by giving a jump-start to those groups that need a little help, we as a community can grow together. The Association will continue to support those camps that are able to stand on their own by offering non-financial support and an official organization through which they can accept payments and sponsorships.
The Drupal Community Cultivation Grants launched in June 2011 with the goal of transforming, supporting and educating Drupal communities around the world. The second grant cycle ran from August 1st to September 30th 2011 with 14 projects applying for a total of $20,690.
In the Open Source CMS category, we're up against Joomla!, Mojoportal, Plone, SilverStripe and their communities, so it's important to spread the word. Winning only helps the the project and the community by bringing more attention to Drupal.
Previously Drupal has been very successful in the Open Source Awards:
2010: 2nd Place, Open Source CMS Hall of Fame
2009: 1st Place, Best PHP Open Source CMS & Induction into the Hall of Fame
The Drupal Association is proud to announce that we have chosen Portland, Oregon to open a permanent office. A few minutes ago I signed on the dotted line for an office in Portland, Oregon located near Portland State University (PSU) at the PSU Business Accelerator. The move to Portland brings us closer to many other OSS projects and the OSU Open Source Labs.
The Drupal Association is proud to announce that we have chosen Portland, Oregon to open a permanent office. A few minutes ago I signed on the dotted line for an office in Portland, Oregon located near Portland State University (PSU) at the 
