Software Carpentry (SWC) and Data Carpentry (DC) are currently independent organizations with their own fiscal sponsorship, governance model, and bank accounts. However, as is perhaps no surprise that the organizations' operations have evolved to share memberships, infrastructure for workshop coordination, an instructor training program, and even some staff members. You can learn about the history of the two organisations and reasons for the merger in this blog post.
The Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry Steering Committees (SC) met jointly and approved two motions on August 30, 2017, which together form a strong commitment to an eventual transition to a single umbrella organization (provisionally titled “The Carpentries”) to oversee shared responsibilities, with Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry continuing as Lesson Organizations overseeing their respective workshop and lesson curriculum.
We would like to get input from the community about roles, structure and responsibilities
planned for the new organisation. In order to facilitate this discussion, leaders from
both groups have written a series of Requests for Comments (RFCs). RFCs are a mechanism
(traditionally used for development of internet standards)
through which leaders can gain a better understanding of community opinions on policies
and activities that have yet to be implemented. Each RFC contains proposed ideas for the
combined organization, with a few questions to solicit feedback. After October 6, 2017,
the Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry Steering Committees
will review the community’s ideas and incorporate them into future decisions about the
merger.
There will be more ways to contribute to the merger conversation after these requests for comment! We will need volunteers to help review bylaws, contribute to Lesson Organization discussions, and run for the elected positions on The Carpentries Board. The Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry blogs and this repository will all be places to hear the latest news about what’s happening with the merger and how you can be involved.
All of the following are open until October 6, 2017
- RFC1 Organization and responsibilities of The Carpentries
- RFC2 Board of Directors
- RFC3 Membership Council (transition from current Software Carpentry Advisory Council)
- RFC4 Staff
- RCF5 Financial organisation
- RFC6 Subcommittees and task forces
- RFC7 Lesson Organizations
If you have other, general questions about the merger, please add them to this issue.
If you prefer not to respond on GitHub, or would like to remain anonymous, you may respond to the RFCs using this Google Form.
- October 6, 2017: call for feedback from RFCs ends, comments incorporated into official planning
- October 16, 2017 (tentative): call for nominations and announcement of elections for The Carpentries Board of Directors
- November 16, 2017: community call to introduce election candidates
- December 4-8, 2017 (tentative): elections for The Carpentries Board of Directors (four of nine total members; other five are appointed)
- January 1, 2018: The Carpentries Board of Directors officially takes over leadership
- February 2, 2017: Beginning the conversation: Potential merger with Data Carpentry
- May 14, 2017: May Community Call: Restructuring the Carpentries
- May 18, 2017: Notes from May Community Call
- June 17, 2017: Timeline for the the Data Carpentry & Software Carpentry Reorganization
- August 7, 2017: Motions approved for Data Carpentry & Software Carpentry Merger
- September 2, 2017: Joint future for Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry
- Karen Cranston (DC SC representative)
- Rayna Harris (SWC SC representative)
- Kate Hertweck (SWC SC representative)
- Hilmar Lapp (DC SC representative)