wwp@yahoogroups.com:
More About the World Wide Panorama Foundation (2 of 3)
G. Donald Bain 2008-Oct-07 01:46:00
Our primary motivation in setting up the Foundation was my impending
retirement from the University of California, which has up to now been
our sponsor and website host. We knew that if the university were to
withdraw its support (the server) we needed to be ready to take
control of our destiny and carry on. For that we felt the need for a
formal organization.
The next motive was triggered by the recent violation of our
individual copyrights by the ZKM. It is unlikely that the new
Foundation will play a role in the current negotiation or any
subsequent legal action. But if there is a similar incident in the
future the Foundation will be the logical entity to address it.
Up until now the WWP has had no budget and no expenses, an
accomplishment of which we are rather proud. But it is largely because
we have had free web hosting and modest aims, plus some very talented
volunteers (Markus Altendorff in particular). But if we are to carry
on under these new circumstances, or choose to expand the scope of the
project, we may need some money.
A non-profit organization is the proper way to solicit donations, not
just from the public (in this case the participants and web site
visitors) but from grant funding foundations. It won't be painless and
success is not guaranteed, but I see a lot of potential benefits.
Finally, our work is not done - the world still doesn't really
recognize the value and sheer brilliance of the digital panorama
format! I hope to see our quarterly events continue as long as people
are interested in participating. Plus there are other activities we
might consider to further the same aims.
We decided against making this legally a "membership
corporation" (where the board is elected directly by the members) as
being cumbersome for a group with shifting membership and world wide
distribution. It will be governed by a self-perpetuating board of from
five to seven directors. Landis and I are the only directors so far,
largely for convenience in signing and submitting the initial
paperwork. I hope that as the original founders of the World Wide
Panorama we have earned your trust.
We hope to be able to announce soon the appointment of additional
directors from within the group of participants, attempting to
assemble a group who share our vision for the future of the project,
and represent (so far as is possible) the diversity and geographic
distribution of that group.
We thank you for your support!
Don Bain and Landis Bennett - co-re-founders of the WWP