Alex, let me clarify my point in response to yours. You say that project X applied for sponsoring, and the board considers this now. That is completely OK. It just so happens that it might well be that (worst case) 100 % of the ESUG board members are also project X community members (some of them even in positions that could fairly be called leadership positions). In that case, the decision of the board would - whatever the outcome - be biased due to a conflict of interest, and a decision in favour of project X would have a strong smell of nepotism. Hence my original question. Which still has not been answered. Before I can give an answer to Damien's (the ESUG board's) question, I need to know that to come to a conclusion. Your initial response to my question does not count as an answer: I did not want to engage in any philosophical discussions about ideal worlds, I did not want to start any flame wars or make ESUG board members leave this list. Not. My. Plan. Preferably, I'd like to know which communities are actually represented by the body that leads / governs / whatevers this community-spanning organisation. Best, Michael