Community

Ubuntu Members

Membership in the Ubuntu community recognises participants for a variety of contributions, from code to artwork, advocacy, translations and organisational skills. If you are active in the Forums, or submitting icons or sounds or artwork, then you are eligible for Membership, which gives you a say in the governance of the project.

There are several different levels at which individuals can become involved in the Ubuntu community. Each of these levels confers certain rights and responsibilities. These levels include:

Ubunteros (Ubuntu Activists)

An Ubuntero (or Ubuntite) is a person in the Ubuntu community who has committed to observe the Ubuntu Code of Conduct. Ubuntites are self nominated and confirmed. All you need to do to become an Ubuntero is sign the Ubuntu Code of Conduct (digitally or on paper). The easiest way to sign the Code of Conduct is through Launchpad, by creating and importing an OpenPGP key. Once you have done that, Launchpad provides an automated process for signing the code of conduct. See the community help wiki page for more details. Alternatively, you can sign a printout of the code of conduct by hand and contact one of the active members of the Ubuntu Community Council for contact details of where to send it.

Membership

A member is someone who's made a substantial contribution to the Ubuntu community -- of any type -- and who has explicitly agreed to the code of conduct. Members play an essential role in Ubuntu governance and confirm, by vote, all nominations to the Ubuntu Community Council. They may also be called upon to vote on resolutions put to the members by the Community Council. As a Member you will get an email address @ubuntu.com and the right to carry Ubuntu business cards too, if you want them! (We'll supply the artwork, you print your own cards.) A list of Ubuntu Members can be found online.

Membership lasts for two years, and is renewable. If you don't renew your status as a member you will join the "inactive members" list. Membership can be reactivated at any time after it has lapsed, on request and with the confirmation of the Community Council.

Qualifying for Membership

A person who wants to become a member should be engaged in a sustained level of contribution to the Ubuntu community. This can include coding, writing or documentation, the creation of art-work, music, testing, bug triage and verification, translation, advocacy, leadership of LoCo teams, etc. Contributions should be significant and visible. Anybody who is active in the Ubuntu community is a good candidate for Ubuntu membership.

Becoming a Member

Anyone who feels they are qualified and wishes to become an Ubuntu Member should visit the Membership page on the Ubuntu wiki and follow the instructions detailed there.