A couple of days ago, an unexpected message arrived in my inbox, inviting me to become a member of the Apache Software Foundation.

After the initial surprise wore off I began to process what it meant.  Obviously, it’s an honor.  But there’s more to it than that.

About five years ago we began having discussions with a colleague, Emmanuel Lécharny, about moving the OpenLDAP Fortress project into the ASF, as a sub-project of the Apache Directory, and that topic is covered here.

Since that time, the typical path of escalating involvement within a particular project was followed.  Contributor->Committer->PMC, …

What I learned during this period of time can’t be catalogued into a single blog post.  Careers are made (and sometimes broken) on transitional paths such as these.  There were challenges, pressures, (personal) shortcomings to be addressed, highs, lows and everything between.

It would take another post to cover all of the people involved, including family, fellow project members (both at ASF and OpenLDAP), business partners, work colleagues and the many other shoulders upon which I stood.  Thankful doesn’t begin to cover the feelings, I’m still processing, trying to make sense of it all.

Now, after having satisfied those original technology goals, it’s time to broaden the perspective to a wider field.  The elements contained within this new field of vision have yet to come into a sharp focus.

What I do know, it will be more of a societal thing than technological.

For example, having a daughter just now starting her career in technology, what will it be like when she enters into the workplace?  Will organizations such as the Apache Software Foundation be inclusive to her (as it was to me) or will there be barriers put in place barring or slowing down entry?

What must change and what do we leave alone?  How do we ensure the essential characteristic of the ASF remains in place while making targeted changes (planting/pruning/weeding) to clear out space for new growth, allowing new opportunities for new segments of society?

These are the types of questions I’m asking myself.  An incredible opportunity to follow a new course alongside an unmistakable concern of not rising to the occasion.