Today I received a foundation email with this little nugget in it:
Pursuant to the Eclipse Foundation Bylaws, the Eclipse Foundation recently amended the Eclipse Foundation Bylaws and Membership Agreement. As required by the Eclipse Foundation Membership Agreement, we require your formal acceptance of these changes which became effective July 23, 2008 and are more fully described at: http://www.eclipse.org/membership/vote2008/.Now I have no problem with the changes to the by laws. In fact, they are great for my small company. What I don't understand is why I need to agree in writing to these non-optional requirements?
Formal acceptance is required by virtue of the Membership Agreement. It should be noted that these changes are not optional and apply to all Eclipse Members upon Membership renewal from July 23, 2008 onwards. (emphasis added)
If the decision has all ready been made, why do I need to agree in writing? Maybe it is just me, but it feels heavy handed (and pointless) to insist that I validate a decision after it has all ready been made.
After all, if I don't like the decision I can just choose not to renew.
