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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Having just personally hooked us up with China and personally worked on bringing up thr Japan chapter, I am not sure where this bias shows up.<BR>
<BR>
Gary<BR>
<BR>
--- Original Message ---<BR>
From: "Arnulf Christl" <arnulf.christl@ccgis.de><BR>
Sent: Mon 8/21/06 1:24 pm<BR>
To: "board@board.osgeo.org" <board@board.osgeo.org><BR>
Cc: "fundraising@fundraising.osgeo.org" <fundraising@fundraising.osgeo.org>, "discuss-de@visibilitycommittee.osgeo.org" <discuss-de@visibilitycommittee.osgeo.org><BR>
Subject: Re: [Fundraising] Re: [OSGeo-Board] Re: [Fundraising] RE: [OSGeo-Board] German OSGeo Chapter formation, bank account<BR>
<BR>
Gary Lang wrote:<BR>
> I also wonder what the impetus is. It seems like another governance<BR>
> issue, wherein local chapters could register their localized<BR>
> dissatisfaction with global decisions by funneling funds while enjoying<BR>
> the benefits that we provide.<BR>
><BR>
> I can't think of a practical reason for doing this.<BR>
<BR>
The practical reason is that Autodesk does not have to ship one set of<BR>
posters around the world in all languages but that all languages can<BR>
take care of it themselves. We need local money to pay for local<BR>
expenses. Else a lot simply ends up in superfluous transactions fees.<BR>
<BR>
> enjoying the benefits that we provide.<BR>
<BR>
Who is "we"? Are you talking of the core OSGeo PSC? That would be the<BR>
board. The board currently has a heavy Northern-American,<BR>
English-language bias. Ponder for a second why the US is the only<BR>
country without an own country code top level domain? I do not think<BR>
that this will apply to OSGeo. Hmmm. I'd rather say it more pro<BR>
actively. I want to prevent OSGeo from becoming just that. Probably I am<BR>
being too political and problematic again. Sorry. Guys. Uh - thats<BR>
another one, we have a male bias too...<BR>
<BR>
> global decisions by funneling funds<BR>
<BR>
This gives the impression that global decisions are directed by funds<BR>
which is not what we have set down in our charter. It would immediately<BR>
exclude any less monetary potential funders to influence global<BR>
decisions. I do not see a problem in a local chapter using local OSGeo<BR>
sponsoring for local OSGeo activities. This is just basic globalization,<BR>
think global, act local. The "global thinking" part will start to cost<BR>
money when we get an ED. The "act local" part is already happening<BR>
everywhere with people spending time and resources on OSGeo activity.<BR>
<BR>
Regards,<BR>
<BR>
> Gary<BR>
><BR>
> --- Original Message ---<BR>
> From: "Dave McIlhagga (External)" <dmcilhagga@dmsolutions.ca><BR>
> Sent: Mon 8/21/06 9:34 am<BR>
> To: "fundraising@fundraising.osgeo.org" <fundraising@fundraising.osgeo.org><BR>
> Cc: "Arnulf Christl" <arnulf.christl@ccgis.de>, "board@board.osgeo.org"<BR>
> <board@board.osgeo.org>, "discuss-de@visibilitycommittee.osgeo.org"<BR>
> <discuss-de@visibilitycommittee.osgeo.org>, "brassat@geo-consortium.de"<BR>
> <brassat@geo-consortium.de><BR>
> Subject: [OSGeo-Board] Re: [Fundraising] RE: [OSGeo-Board]<BR>
> German OSGeo Chapter formation, bank account<BR>
><BR>
> Yup - just thinking that if this ends up being a model for other<BR>
> organizations around the world and somehow needed to be coordinated<BR>
> under a common OSGeo entity - yikes that sounds really complex,<BR>
> financially and legally.<BR>
><BR>
> Probably the net result is the need for an arm's length entity with<BR>
> OSGeo affiliation -- but I'll let Gary do his homework with the<BR>
> legal/financial guys on that one.<BR>
><BR>
> Dave<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
> Gary Lang wrote:<BR>
> > I have no idea what the ramifications of doing this are on the corporate<BR>
> > body that is OSGeo, but I suspect it can create headaches for us. I'll<BR>
> > find out.<BR>
> ><BR>
> > Gary<BR>
> ><BR>
> ><BR>
> > -----Original M</FONT>
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