Joining the FSF Board of Directors Posted Tue, 26 Jun 2007

When I was 12 years old, I discovered free software. That discovery changed my life and I've never recovered.

Over what is now more than half of my life, I have looked to the Free Software Foundation for vision, guidance, and an example of a free world and I have rarely been disappointed. The list of directors of the FSF -- Richard Stallman, Eben Moglen, Lawrence Lessig, Henri Poole, Jerry Sussman, Hal Abelson, and Geoffrey Knauth -- doubles as a list of some of my greatest heroes and role models.

As such, I lack the words to describe how it feels that, just yesterday, I was elected to the board of directors of the Free Software Foundation. With Moglen having stepped down I have staggeringly large shoes to fill. I'm more than a little intimidated.

At 26 years old, I suspect that I'll be the youngest person on the board by quite a bit. This means I'll have to try and make up with hard work and passion what I lack in experience and wisdom. It's a challenge I look forward to.

With free software becoming increasingly successful and widespread, we've already begun to see push back. I suspect that in the next years, we'll see much more. We reaching the dangerous part of the, "first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win" progression. I'll do what I can to defend freedom until we've won.

In order to ensure that I have the time necessary, I'm going to be resigning from the board of Software Freedom International and will consider reducing and resigning some of my other commitments as well. If you want to support my work with the foundation, you can become an associate member.

Permalink | , | View/Add Comments: 31

Responses to This Post

Welcome aboard! I'm sure you're going to be brilliant.
Posted by Matt Lee at Tue Jun 26 11:36:37 2007
Congrats Mako!!!
Posted by Mike Basinger at Tue Jun 26 11:53:07 2007
Wow, this is a huge deal.  Many congrats!
Posted by Chris Ball at Tue Jun 26 12:02:31 2007
Really cool, Congrats man!
Posted by Eduardo Padoan at Tue Jun 26 12:18:58 2007
congrats mate, good luck!
Posted by Thom May at Tue Jun 26 12:41:54 2007
Congratulations.. i'm sure you will do an excellent job.  Good to see young leadership within the FSF.
Posted by Corey Goldberg at Tue Jun 26 12:51:17 2007
And this surprises anyone? :) You were the first name that came to mind when I saw that Moglen was resigning. Good luck and godspeed...
Posted by Luis at Tue Jun 26 13:34:39 2007
Congratulations!
Posted by Stoffe at Tue Jun 26 14:18:03 2007
Congratulations! Good Luck!
Posted by Christoph Pfeiffer at Tue Jun 26 14:27:58 2007
looks like the MIT is a good starting point to get added if I look at the list of people ;)
Posted by seramis at Tue Jun 26 14:35:09 2007
With 3 best wishes for the future:

1) Ensure you know whose freedom you're fighting for - the people's, not the software's.

2) Don't compromise on liberty for commerce - that's how we got stuck into this mess in the first place.

3) Know your limitations - liberty does not trump our rights to life, privacy, and truth.
Posted by Crosbie Fitch at Tue Jun 26 14:38:35 2007
Mako, this makes me so happy!

Congratulations, good luck, and a big hug!
Posted by jordi at Tue Jun 26 14:55:28 2007
Congratulations Mako!!!  You do have good sized shoes to fill, but I'm positive you will grow into them quickly and honorably.  I'm very happy for you and for the FSF.
Posted by Beatrice M at Tue Jun 26 19:35:44 2007
Wow, congratulations Mako!!
Posted by Yuriy Kozlov at Tue Jun 26 20:50:27 2007
I'm thrilled to see this! Congratulations; I look forward to seeing you help take the organization forward.
Posted by Kat at Tue Jun 26 22:24:26 2007
Be very afraid all you snuffers of Digital liberty, Mako is now afoot! (as he takes out his pipe and lites it, takes out his violin and starts to play) Dr. Moriority, this means you!
Congrats,
Kev
Posted by Kevin Mark at Tue Jun 26 23:44:12 2007
congratulations!!
Posted by gaba at Wed Jun 27 00:09:00 2007
Congratulations! It's indeed a big move for you and a big win for the Free Software Foundation! I think it's great that they've got some young blood aboard.
Posted by Jonathan Carter at Wed Jun 27 03:16:27 2007
This is absolutely right.  I can think of no one better for the job.
Posted by novalis at Wed Jun 27 12:28:45 2007
w00t!  This is really fantastic for you and the FSF!  Congratulations and good luck!
Posted by will at Thu Jun 28 23:38:37 2007
Excellent news.
Congratulations.
Posted by jon at Fri Jun 29 07:05:57 2007
Awesome, congratulations! For a while now I considered you to be one of the most significant links between Free Culture and Free Software because you've been pointing to the commonalities between them and why Free Culture depends on Free Software.

This is, among other reasons, why I simply love the fact that you're now onboard at FSF. :)

Also I was very glad to meet you on iCommons in Dubrovnik. :)

I wish you all the best in your continued work for Freedom.

Danijel Orsolic
Posted by libervisco at Fri Jun 29 10:07:43 2007
Damn! Wish I read this earlier so I could have embarrassed you somehow at Grendal's. I'm sure you'll be great! Congrats!
Posted by Daniel Clark at Wed Jul 4 23:38:04 2007
Congrats from Canada!

http://flora.ca/
http://digital-copyright.ca
http://GOSLINGcommunity.org
http://cluecan.ca/policy
Posted by Russell McOrmond at Fri Jul 13 12:10:51 2007
Wow!  I just got the news from Peter today.  Big Congratulations. I look forward to getting the chance to work together.  Hope to bump into you at UbuntuLive if you're going.
Posted by Barton at Fri Jul 13 14:16:38 2007
Wow!  I just got the news from Peter today.  Big Congratulations. I look forward to getting the chance to work together.  Hope to bump into you at UbuntuLive if you're going.
Posted by Barton at Fri Jul 13 14:22:20 2007
Hi Mako. Congratulations! You have quite a task in front of you. All the best.
Posted by Peter Rock at Fri Jul 13 21:42:39 2007
A very belated congratulations, Mako!
Posted by Christina at Mon Jul 16 12:04:48 2007
Aloha Mako,

Many congratulations!

Cheers!
--zak
Posted by Zak Greant at Thu Jul 26 03:39:33 2007
Dang. You can't even spell Gerry Sussman and you're on the board of directory of the FSF. WTF? How did you get chosen?
Posted by Peter at Wed Nov 28 20:01:33 2007
Peter: It was a mistake which I've now corrected.

Perhaps they selected me for my commitment to and work on free software and not my spelling ability.

There's really no need to be so rude.
Posted by mako at Thu Nov 29 05:13:08 2007

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