54_activity_30.md

## Support open source communities

Activity ID: [GGI-A-30](https://gitlab.ow2.org/ggi/ggi/-/blob/main/handbook/content/54_activity_30.md).

### Description

This activity is about engaging with institutional representatives of the open source world.

It is achieved through:

- Joining OSS foundations (including the financial cost of membership).
- Supporting, advocating foundations activities.

This activity involves allocating the development and IT teams some time and budget to participate in open source communities.

### Opportunity Assessment

Open source communities are at the forefront of the evolution of the open source ecosystem. Engaging with open source communities has several advantages:

- it helps keep informed and up to date,
- it enhances the profile of the organisation,
- membership comes with benefits,
- it provides additional structure and motivation to the open source IT team.

Costs include:

- membership fees,
- personnel time and some travel budget allocated to participate in community activities,
- monitoring of IP commitment.

### Progress Assessment

The following **verification points** demonstrate progress in this Activity:

- [ ] The organisation is a signed member of an open source foundation.
- [ ] The organisation participates in the governance.
- [ ] Software developed by the organisation is submitted to / has been added to the code base of a foundation.
- [ ] Membership is acknowledged on the websites of both the organisation and the community.
- [ ] Performed cost/benefit assessment of the membership.
- [ ] A contact point for the community has been appointed.

### Recommendations

- Join a community compatible with your size and resources, i.e. a community that can hear your voice and where you can be a recognized contributor.

### Resources

- Check out this [useful page](https://www.linuxfoundation.org/tools/participating-in-open-source-communities/) from the Linux Foundation on the why and how to join an open source community.

### Proposed next activities

- [GGI-A-31 - Publicly assert use of open source](https://ospo-alliance.org/ggi/activities/publicly_assert_use_of_open_source) Now that you officially support some OSS communities, make it known! It is good for your reputation, and it is good for the projects in terms of health and dissemination.