Edward Maurer for Board 2024

Edward Maurer, I am working non-XMPP related in the Energy / offshore wind industry as a team lead and SCRUM coach within software automation in Hamburg, Germany.

My XSF profile and its listed applications will tell you the most important activities and affiliation in the past. My most interesting experience within XMPP Standards Foundation is my role as CommTeam member since about 2020 and as an XSF Board member in 2023 and 2024.

Motivation since ever: Bridging XMPP with <3 - I try to connect and let potential thrive between the islands towards a joined vision.

INFO: Absence from 20 November 2024 - 12 January 2025

I will not be present and likely be able to take Board duties in this time. So please consider this in your vote and the general application! The XSF Secretary is informed.

Why I Run for Board 2024

I believe the XSF and the XMPP Community, which I see as a whole, could evolve a more distinct, agreed and to some extend joined vision on what we want achieve and create. At the same time I see many threads to the communication and technology we would like to build. Limited interest from inside and outside of the community, harsher political policies and reduced availability of resource of different nature as some to name and not a sole problem of the XMPP Community. Furthermore, I think a generation change is going on in the community where as older community members leaving the community for natural reasons of changes in life. The XMPP Standards Foundation has a duty to address this in my perspective.

As said in the last years, I believe within the XMPP community a lot of good work is being committed by our brilliant people. They deserve excellent organization, a prospering community and the right atmosphere to develop their products, software, ideas and process of thought. Building powerful and reliable infrastructure, also means to me building a great resilient and surrounding community. This is also the responsibility of the XMPP Standards Foundation in my opinion.

Also as said in the last years, I believe and furthermore get the impression that the XMPP Standards Foundation could require some improvements in terms of organization, communication and structural setup to exactly serve most and of course the development of the protocol and standard. In the current situation the XMPP Standards Foundation has a very passive and "stay aside" attitude incl. basic organizational issues which leads to a dysfunctional state. To name some, for example the situation around the XEP Editor has never been address with the correct attention nor been solved. A community member out of our luck stepping up after years of few changes is not a proper response to essential issues of our core business. To my understanding we do not attack many newcomers with this and moreover we risk more frustration in the community. So, we should take actions on potential improvement to not stop their work. In general, I think we have an alarming situation within this organization and it should be taken serious.

What I advocate for, but not necessarily enforce

• Strengthen the XMPP Standards Foundation in being a central instance within the XMPP Community
• Strengthen the teams, especially focused with our core work
• Actually use our budget to support the above topics
• Attempt fundraising and revitalize sponsoring activities
• A general and centralized organization around XSF. We should have decent mails, calendar and platform, not spread around multiple services
• Improve the situation around XMPP in a professional context
• In the same regard not accepting the situation in the XMPP Standards Foundation as it (most know me already in this regard)
• Make XMPP Standards Foundation and XMPP more attractive and also gain interest from newcomers
• Continue monthly meetings of Board (I think we improved here since 2021)
• Occasionally have Audio / video calls to have a better and personal exchange and tone within the XMPP Standards Foundation and community
• More communication from Board to members, but also in general

Achievements within 2024

• Help to acquire two new XSF sponsors: Erlang and Tygrs
• Support of the XSF Summit 26 and FOSDEM 2024 organization
• Sign and publish the Open Letter to EU
• Another successful round of Google Summer of Code with two XMPP projects participating.
• Elaboration with the XMPP Community and Outreachy program about the conditions and required circumstances for application and participation
• Monthly meetings of Board
• Out of my communication role:

 * Reach almost 4000 followers to the XMPP Mastodon channel and revive the Twitter presence.
 * Publish the 50th XMPP Newsletter!

What I will try within 2025

• Re-take a strategy workshop as a community retrospective four times a year and formulate community actions (last one in November 2023)
• Take serious action situation to apply on time for events like FOSDEM, 39c3 etc. We spent too much already and could do better in general
• Revive regular sponsorship acquisition again
• Establish an online XSF Summit to increase participation and lower barriers
• Run another Elbe-Sprint
• Continue my work in the Communication Team and drive to spread the word on XMPP
• Continue to run another round of Google Summer of Code (2025)

What not to expect from me

• Any presence from 20 November 2024 - 12 January 2025
• Deep technical XMPP discussions or knowledge - the only XEP I read is XEP-0001!
• Fundamental views on anything. I see myself quite liberal and usually try to evaluate, build alliances and align with as much parties as possible to pull in the same direction all together. Exceptions might appear still. And yes, I know this path can take more time sometimes - I assume this to be pretty democratic.

Reach out to me via my XSF member profile and its applications if you have any questions or points already!

Thank you for voting and supporting me in the previous periods!

Your sincerely, Eddie