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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I see.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I’d like to know how many foundations of this type have garnered this
much international participation in such a short period of time. Such a short
span of time – <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> –
all represented quickly. Members flying to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> to welcome chapters aboard,
representation at conferences like MapAsia, FOSS4G, etc. It’s been
less than a year. This has to be an extraordinary accomplishment.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Gary<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Tyler
Mitchell (External) <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, September 04, 2006
8:25 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> discuss@mail.osgeo.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> OSGeo-Board<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [OSGeo-Board] Re:
[OSGeo-Discuss] Is OSGeo North <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>-centric?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>On 4-Sep-06, at 6:38 PM, Gary Lang wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt' type=cite>
<p><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“How
to enable more people to participate in OSGeo efforts (make it less</span></font>
<font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>North-America
centric which is getting to be an issue in European GFOSS communities)”</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</blockquote>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Is this purely an issue about optics - or how the organisation
'appears' to be? Or is it based on some deliberate decisions that make it
more difficult to participate? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I think it's a good idea to discuss more generally how we can engage
people Internationally, but I don't see it as a <st1:place w:st="on">North
America</st1:place> versus the rest of the world problem. With such a
broad geographically based board, I'd say it has in fact slowed down the
progress of the foundation - but it has been a really good choice to have that
representation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Like you say, when any group wants to do more or feel closer to the
action, it sets the stage for regional chapters. Surely people wouldn't
say, for example, the German Chapter of OSGeo is too North American
focused? Yet we are all OSGeo. Local focus is the reason for the
chapters, so engagement at that level will be the most effective and
empowering.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If there are more Americans and Canadians involved in events, etc. it's
only because of regional interest and availability (e.g. being closer to
certain conferences, etc) - not because of some decision to leave others out in
the rain. I hope that isn't the perceived problem.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt' type=cite>
<p><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>So
to the second half, please chime in and help us understand</span></font> <font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>what
problems we are seeing with respect to a perceived</span></font> <font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“geo-centricism”
with OSGeo with</span></font> <font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>respect to tour colleagues in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>.</span></font>
<font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>When I
look at the composition of the OSGeo board, the projects that are out there,
and how easy it is for</span></font> <font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>regions of the world to get involved
when they decide to do so, I confess I am stumped on this one.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</blockquote>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I would also like to know what is holding people back from
participating in other countries, if there are more than a few. From
others I talk to around the world, there is general enthusiasm for OSGeo and
its efforts - a tiny minority have expressed concern about geographic scope and
focus. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In my opinion, tone problem I see is that without more interactive
contacts with people on the ground in other countries, it can limit the amount
of momentum OSGeo can gather (e.g. representing at conferences, making
presentations, etc.). It has been my hope that our international board provides
a good way of making those connections possible, as well as the regional
chapters. Perhaps this is the limitation? Or perhaps there is a
better way?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Would love to hear more thoughts on this,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Tyler</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></p>
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