<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Hi Tim,</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">IMO</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I have no problems with including our
colleagues from NZ. This is consistant with what our industry is doing
with ANZLIC and SSI (to say nothing of our shared history).</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">As to structure, I think that we will
need to be very clear on how it is intended to set up the chapter. I'd
prefer to resist the temptation for a quick fix, just to get things going.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Considering that the organisation will
probably be handling money, the whole structure will need to be beyond
reproach.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">There is also the issue of personal
liability for individual members should things go bad financially. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">This is pointing to incorporation to
me. However, I don't have the necessary experience to provide advice here.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Some Australian organisations who may
be able to provide some initial advice are:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">- Australian Computer Society</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">- Spatial Sciences Institute</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">- Australian Spatial Information Business
Association</font>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Does anyone have any contacts with relevent
people in these organisations.</font>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Bruce </font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
---------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Bruce Bannerman<br>
IT Solutions Architect - GIS<br>
<br>
Department of Primary Industries - Victoria<br>
<br>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>Tim Bowden <tim.bowden@westnet.com.au></b>
</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: australia-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">26/03/2007 09:30 PM</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">australia@lists.osgeo.org</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[Australia] Time to get moving- Chapter
formation</font></table>
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<br><font size=2><tt>Hi all,<br>
<br>
If you have had your ear to the ground, you will know there are a few<br>
geospatial related conferences coming up this year, starting with<br>
SSC2007 in Hobart this May. Aust OSGeo would like make its presence<br>
felt, but we need to do some housekeeping; ie, get our chapter formally<br>
recognised. To refresh your memory, we have some notes here:<br>
http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/Australia<br>
<br>
Some issues to think about: There have been some people interested
in<br>
extending the Aust chapter to cover NZ (AustNZ OSGeo?). I think it<br>
would be a great idea, and I can't see any downside. The issues facing<br>
the GeoFOSS world in NZ are more or less the same as here. Taking
a<br>
joint approach could only help as far as I can see. If people could<br>
take a minute to indicate on list if they support this or not, it would<br>
be appreciated.<br>
<br>
Legal Status: We need to decide if we are to be incorporated or not.<br>
It's a bit more legwork to incorporate, but it does make it easier to<br>
handle money, insurance etc when we get around to holding events. The<br>
question then becomes, which state do we incorporate in, and do we need<br>
to also have an incorporated entity in NZ (once there are enough NZ<br>
members)? This is not an area I have much experience in. Can
anyone<br>
add anything here?<br>
<br>
Membership: Do we want to have just individual membership or corporate<br>
membership? Voting and non voting? Paid membership or free?
Your<br>
thoughts please. If we go down the incorporation route, we need to
get<br>
it right from the start.<br>
<br>
GeoFOSS consultants: One of the benefits an organised chapter can
bring<br>
is providing visibility to consultants. Where can I find a GeoFOSS<br>
friendly consultant is a question I've been asked a few times lately<br>
(the latest being again today). For those who are interested, this
is a<br>
great chance to get some visibility ahead of SSC2007.<br>
<br>
GeoFOSS projects: Lets get some exposure to the things being done
with<br>
GeoFOSS here in our region. There are lots of hidden corners where
some<br>
amazing things are happening (esp CSIRO from what I have seen). Lets<br>
show the world (where we can) so others can have more confidence in our<br>
tools. It's also a chance to get to see things ourselves we wouldn't<br>
otherwise know about; GeoFOSS covers a lot of ground, probably much more<br>
than any one person can keep abreast of. There's plenty happening
I<br>
don't know about and I'm sure it's the same for others.<br>
<br>
Developers: Lets create the opportunity for developers to network
with<br>
local peers. Sure, location doesn't always matter, but getting some<br>
occasional face to face time with other developers can sometimes make<br>
all the difference to a project. Hopefully we can help this happen
one<br>
way or another.<br>
<br>
Are there any other issues anyone wants addressed?<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
Tim Bowden<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Australia mailing list<br>
Australia@lists.osgeo.org<br>
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/australia<br>
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<br>