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I agree wholly agree with what has been said by Tim and Jo.<br>
As an organization OSGeo must learn and evolve to be<br>
<br>
a) sustainable without making the FOSS4G event as its<br>
main source of revenue. <br>
<br>
b) learn to live and work with people and communities that<br>
have their own native language.<br>
<br>
c) realize that FOSS4G is a community event and not a<br>
for-profit venture.<br>
<br>
The gracious hosts of FOSS4G2012 are quite capable of handling<br>
the events. Yes, the conference maybe different from the ones<br>
that we had but doing things in a little differently is the whole
point.<br>
<br>
It is also premature to talk about extra budget allocations without
even <br>
having started a conversation with the LoC. BTW, I also notice<br>
that there is no mention of "veto" powers in the OSGeo by-laws.<br>
<br>
Venka<br>
<br>
On 2011/09/15 5:49, Jo Cook wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAF9hD95T0dkiEfSzh2z8p5zW2ShsJsf1LwPL+Ot-w5KO1CJUjw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi All,
I agree with Tim and Tyler. Furthermore, I don't think it's fair to
conflate this decision with the decision not to support the code sprint.
Those of us that were unsure were not complaining about the money per se,
but had a lack of knowledge of the financial implications, differing ideas
about risk, and about whether the organisation should profit from helping
out. This is a totally different issue, and to me (new, naive, uninformed)
objecting on the grounds that have been stated here looks like a total lack
of confidence in the conference organising committee.
Are we really a global organisation, or do we just say that? So far, we've
tiptoed around the English-speaking and European edges, whereas now we have
a chance to be truly international. Are we really going to chicken out
because of language barriers or because it's a long way to travel?
Finally, please don't have a lack of confidence in the board when this
incarnation has only been around for a few weeks!
Thanks,
Jo
On 14 September 2011 21:36, Tim Sutton <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:tim@linfiniti.com"><tim@linfiniti.com></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi
(with apologies to anti-top-posters)
As a bystander to the list and non board member I hope its ok to add
my 2c to the discussion. I think Arnulf raises some interesting points
but I do wonder if pure (or even predominantly) financial
considerations should be the decider for where FOSS4G conferences get
held.
"To support the development of open source Geospatial Software, and
promote its widespread use."[1]
I am not sure if this is the current and final version of OSGEO's
mission statement, but it is certainly the way I and many others
perceive its role. I appreciate that money is probably the grease that
keeps the cogs of the machine turning, but holding FOSS4G in disparate
locations around the world certainly takes the organisation a long way
to achieving its mission. My personal experience from the Cape Town
FOSS4G is that it played a huge role in exposing (and prompting use
of) FOSSGIS software to an audience that would otherwise still be
oblivious to it. I suspect a conference in China would have a similar
effect there and build strong interest and participation from a region
which as you have pointed out probably could use some stimulus.
Of course it doesn't help if holding the conference there sends OSGEO
to the scrap yard, but if it can be done without breaking the bank, go
for it!
All the best
Regards
Tim
[1]
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Mission#What_the_Mission_Statement_looks_like_Today">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Mission#What_the_Mission_Statement_looks_like_Today</a>
On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 10:06 PM, Tyler Mitchell <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:tmitchell@osgeo.org"><tmitchell@osgeo.org></a>
wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">On 2011-09-14, at 6:42 AM, Seven (aka Arnulf) wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Ideally this money comes
right back with the conference - but we will have to back it up as a
foundation with a vote - now!
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
Arnulf,
The financial discussions usually happen when the board approves
the final FOSS4G budget later on, right? Selecting the venue does not
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">mean
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">approving the final budget, so there will be time for building in
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">changes.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">The vote only has to be a confirmation of the conference committee's bid
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">selection.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
Regardless of our current financial situation (or the proposed
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">expenditures),
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I'm concerned to see financial commitments, new job positions, FOSS4G
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">planning...
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">all being hastily mixed into this vote.
Even though they are often fine ideas at the end of the day, this
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">impulsive and
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">spontaneous approach to financial planning and decision making doesn't
help us plan for the future or to build a stable strategy. Ultimately, I
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">think this
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">decision making approach is crippling to the organisation in the long
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">run.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
I'm glad you will have a chance for (almost all of you) to iron out some
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">of these
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">kinks later in the week.
Tyler_______________________________________________
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
--
Tim Sutton - QGIS Project Steering Committee Member (Release Manager)
==============================================
Visit <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://linfiniti.com">http://linfiniti.com</a> to find out about:
* QGIS programming services
* Mapserver and PostGIS based hosting plans
* FOSS Consulting Services
Skype: timlinux Irc: timlinux on #qgis at freenode.net
==============================================
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
</pre>
<br>
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<br>
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</pre>
</blockquote>
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