As I've stated before...these expressions of "onboarding" and "joining" are not the right framing of reality of the project.
Those expressions do not necessarily coincide with the expression of "contributing". Anyone can contribute to OpenRefine's code and documentation and even bring about change to the governance through simple discussion and setting up meetings, without the need to "onboard" or "join" any group or team within the project.
There are simple protections and methodologies towards our source code ("don't break the build, if you do, you fix the build" and "1 approval by a core team member needed for merging a PR into master"). Beyond that, I do think having policies that setup teams for folks to coordinate within would be a wise direction forward.
Lastly, concerning the governance of the OpenRefine project itself, it should give the highest directional authority to a Project Director, following them, the set of core team members. Project director is voted upon by core team members. Core team members should be validated by other core team members through meritocracy and simple voting for new members to be a part of the core team. Similarly, votes are needed to eject standing core team members.
It's really a very simple governance, because it concerns:
- the source code and
- project authority rights
Beyond those 2, the issues raised have been around finances, funding, grants, etc.
My take is that should continue to be the responsibility of the Project Director, with core team members - effectively, a Project Leadership Committee (PLC), and in the governance stated as such. When it comes to details, or needing to detail out some polices set forth by the PLC, then they can do so in policy documents (not the governance, which should stay simple, straightforward).
My opinion has been that TOO MUCH is trying to be shoved into a simple governance document, instead of being put into other Policy documents.
(The above are my opinions, as I am no longer a member of the core team, and no longer a member of the PLC - I have retired voluntarily fully from any OpenRefine leadership, and retain only my volunteer role of an occasional contributor)