[members] Message from the Chairman

[jerry gay]

Dear Members,

As we look forward to the future of the foundation and the efforts it
supports, I would like to thank those who have contributed to the Parrot
virtual machine and related projects. Your hard work and dedication has
allowed Parrot to reach this point in its development.

This is a year of transition as we reconstruct the foundation from a small,
non-profit organization managed and operated by busy volunteers on a best
effort basis into an entity with separate governance resources, allowing
our dedicated contributors to focus on the growth and development of the
Parrot ecosystem.

Previously, Parrot Foundation considered recognition of exemption by the
Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization under section
501(c)(3). This designation allows tax-free contributions to the
foundation, but does not directly improve our governance capabilities. The
filing deadline for this designation has passed, and 501(c)(3) status is no
longer a practical way forward.

Work on the application for membership in the Software Freedom Conservancy
has begun, and is all but ready for submission. SFC provides low cost
financial and administrative fiscal sponsorship services. SFC describes the
application process as approximately nine months long, which means
acceptance as a member project as soon as early 2014. Although there may be
some ongoing administrative tasks required of Parrot members, the burden
would be significantly lessened and acceptance as a member project in the
Software Freedom Conservancy would be a positive outcome for Parrot.

As you may be aware, recent discussions with The Perl Foundation have
yielded the possibility of a transfer of responsibility for managing Parrot
assets to TPF. These discussions are in the early stages, and there has
been a motion to continue these discussions as a destination for Parrot
assets in 2013.

I believe the immediate pursuit of the transfer of Parrot Foundation assets
to TPF coupled with submission to SFC as a member project is the best
option for future stewardship of the Parrot project and its ecosystem. This
requires careful definition of ongoing stewardship responsibilities,
including governance of intellectual property, appropriation and disbursal
of Parrot funds, care and feeding of infrastructure, and community and
project oversight by a group which includes at least one active TPF board
member. I encourage the membership to support this approach to ensuring the
continued protection, cultivation, and support of Parrot.

I firmly believe that the Parrot community will benefit from
transformation. With your support, we can swiftly accomplish our goals to
keep parrot's assets protected, cultivate the community, and support the
development of parrot and its ecosystem long after parrot foundation ceases
to exist in its current form.

Very truly yours,
Jerry Gay
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