[Board] OSGeo vs 501c3 status - inpur required

[Cameron Shorter]

Re Daniel's question: "Do we want to maintain the project sponsorship 
program and setup a taxable subsidiary for it, or do we drop the project 
sponsorship program completely?"

I'm in favour of dropping the sponsorship program and complications 
associated with a taxable subsidiary.

I think that we need to distinguish between what we want, and what we 
are good at and have the resources to achieve.

Yes, we would all love to have sponsors throw lots of money at OSGeo, 
and OSGeo to then spend that money on worthy OSGeo activities. But there 
is lots of effort involved in attracting sponsors, and OSGeo volunteers 
tend not to be interested in chasing money. Also, OSGeo companies and/or 
individuals seem to have a better track record in attracting funds.

My opinion is that OSGeo should focus on what it does best - having 
volunteers supporting other volunteers, which is all done on a shoe 
string budget without the red tape which is introduced when money is 
involved. We are at our best when our organisational structures are 
light weight, allowing us to be dynamic, responsive and open to 
capturing volunteer enthusiasm.

Hence I'm +0 for dropping the sponsorship program. It would take someone 
putting together a compelling business plan, resourcing strategy, and 
personal commitment in order to convince me otherwise.

Daniel,
It would be good to float this question past the discuss list before a 
final decision is made, such that we can give others the opportunity to 
put forward their thoughts.

On 10/11/2012 9:36 AM, Daniel Morissette wrote:
> MPG is right that we need to discuss this since it's an important 
> decision.
>
> FYI, we just requested an extension which, if it is approved, will 
> leave us a few more days to make a decision. Let's aim to make our 
> final decision no later than Thursday at the board meeting.
>
> In the meantime, please keep the discussion going so that we can come 
> up with something we're comfortable with by Thursday.
>
> Ref to the IRS letter and questions to refresh your memory:
> http://svn.osgeo.org/osgeo/board/irs_docs/OSGeo-IRS-Letter-20120914.pdf
>
> Daniel
>
>
>
>
> On 12-11-09 3:50 PM, Michael P. Gerlek wrote:
>> We really need to discuss this as a group - failing that, though, due 
>> to time, I think everyone should weigh in on this.
>>
>> I'm against forming a taxable subsidiary at this time: I don't think 
>> our current business plans justify the work right now.
>>
>> -mpg
>>
>>
>>
>> On Nov 9, 2012, at 1:44 PM, Daniel Morissette 
>> <dmorissette at mapgears.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Board,
>>>
>>> Maybe my mail from yesterday was too long and you missed the 
>>> question targeted at you. So just in case here it comes again, and 
>>> please let me know what your preference is if you have one, or if 
>>> you don't know then it's okay to say so, but at least acknowledge 
>>> that you read this email.
>>>
>>> Our deadline to respond to the IRS is next week. I'll try to get 
>>> another extension from them, but we need to make a decision on which 
>>> way we go soon in order to craft a response.
>>>
>>> So the question we need to ask ourselves now is:
>>>
>>> "Do we want to maintain the project sponsorship program and setup a 
>>> taxable subsidiary for it, or do we drop the project sponsorship 
>>> program completely?"
>>>
>>> I think the taxable subsidiary is manageable, but to justify it, 
>>> we'd need to put more efforts in the project sponsorship program 
>>> since at this time it is mostly dormant. (OpenLayers and GRASS are 
>>> interested but I've kept them on hold, and GDAL is... well, quiet)
>>>
>>>
>>> Unless I hear back from other board members with a strong position 
>>> one way or the other, I am planning to continue trying to qualify as 
>>> a 501c3 foundation with a taxable subsidiary for the project 
>>> sponsorship program and whatever other taxable activity we may have 
>>> in the future.
>>>
>>>
>>> Daniel
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Board mailing list
>>> Board at lists.osgeo.org
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board
>>
>
>


-- 
Cameron Shorter
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Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254

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