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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Peter,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>It is good to see that the Town Hall meeting at EGU 2014 for “OSGeo: Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in the Geosciences” is taking place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2014/session/16864">http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2014/session/16864</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I am sure there will be lot of academics and researchers from the Earth Science community all over the world will be attending this session and it will be really helpful if you can include short presentation (5 min) of our "Geo for All" initiative <a href="http://www.geoforall.org/">http://www.geoforall.org/</a> so that the participants know about this education initiative and can join.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jeremy Morley (cc in) is attending and is happy to present this. Many thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Suchith<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> board-bounces@lists.osgeo.org [mailto:board-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Cameron Shorter<br><b>Sent:</b> 05 March 2014 19:50<br><b>To:</b> Peter Löwe<br><b>Cc:</b> marketing@lists.osgeo.org; OSGeo-Board<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Board] EGU General Assembly 2014: FOSS / OSGeo Townhall Meeting - Overview<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Peter,<br>I'm surprised that board members haven't commented on your proposal. Your proposal is not a standard request and we don't have specific guidelines to go buy.<br>I think the closest is the Code Sprint Guidelines:<br><a href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Code_Sprint_Guidelines">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Code_Sprint_Guidelines</a><br><br>I expect you will have better luck if you can do a bit more ground work and provide:<br>1. A list of volunteers willing to help.<br>2. Source another sponsor, I expect that OSGeo would be able to provide matching funding.<br>3. Only request minimal funds from OSGeo. (Ie, it will be difficult for OSGeo to justify paying for a bar, and likely will question whether it should pay for food).<br>4. Once you have that in place, put a motion forward, that OSGeo should pay $XX for YY, which the board can then vote on.<br><br>On 04/03/14 03:51, "Peter Löwe" wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Hi Cameron,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>can you please give me a hint on how long the decision processes of the OSGeo usually take ? This is of course a classic case of RTFM - but I'm not sure where this info can be looked up. The planning for EGU is progressing and it would be sensible to request a a timeslot for the OSGeo townhall sooner than later.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Also, to request money from the marketing committee for the production of a stack of OSgeo Live DVDs for EGU - does a semi-formal E-mail request suffice ?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Peter<br> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><a href="mailto:peter.loewe@gmx.de"><peter.loewe@gmx.de></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-left:solid #C3D9E5 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 8.0pt;margin-left:7.5pt;margin-top:7.5pt;margin-right:3.75pt;margin-bottom:3.75pt;word-wrap: break-word;-webkit-nbsp-mode: space;-webkit-line-break: after-white-space' name=quote><div style='margin-bottom:7.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Gesendet:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> Sonntag, 23. Februar 2014 um 04:48 Uhr<br><b>Von:</b> "Cameron Shorter" <a href="mailto:cameron.shorter@gmail.com"><cameron.shorter@gmail.com></a><br><b>An:</b> "Peter Löwe" <a href="mailto:peter.loewe@gmx.de"><peter.loewe@gmx.de></a>, <a href="mailto:board@lists.osgeo.org">board@lists.osgeo.org</a>, <a href="mailto:marketing@lists.osgeo.org">marketing@lists.osgeo.org</a><br><b>Betreff:</b> Re: Aw: Re: EGU General Assembly 2014: FOSS / OSGeo Townhall Meeting - Overview<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div name=quoted-content><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Forwarding to OSGeo board list, as apparently Peter was blocked from sending to the list.<br><br>On 23/02/14 05:17, "Peter Löwe" wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Dear OSGeo board, dear OSGeo marketing committee,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>I'm forwarding the following info to you all about an opportunity to launch an OSGeo themed event within the EGU General Assembly, as suggested by Cameron Shorter. Feedback about the feasibility of funding for the event would be very welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Peter<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><a href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/User:Peter_Loewe" target="_blank">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/User:Peter_Loewe</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-left:solid #C3D9E5 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 8.0pt;margin-left:7.5pt;margin-top:7.5pt;margin-right:3.75pt;margin-bottom:3.75pt'><div style='margin-bottom:7.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Gesendet:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> Freitag, 21. Februar 2014 um 20:37 Uhr<br><b>Von:</b> "Cameron Shorter" <a href="cameron.shorter@gmail.com" target="_parent"><cameron.shorter@gmail.com></a><br><b>An:</b> "Peter Löwe" <a href="peter.loewe@gmx.de" target="_parent"><peter.loewe@gmx.de></a>, "Margherita Di Leo" <a href="margherita.di-leo@jrc.ec.europa.eu" target="_parent"><margherita.di-leo@jrc.ec.europa.eu></a>, <a href="jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com" target="_parent">jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com</a>, "yann.chemin" <a href="yann.chemin@gmail.com" target="_parent"><yann.chemin@gmail.com></a>, "Markus Neteler" <a href="markus.neteler@fmach.it" target="_parent"><markus.neteler@fmach.it></a>, "Dominik Reusser" <a href="reusser@pik-potsdam.de" target="_parent"><reusser@pik-potsdam.de></a>, <a href="massimiliano.cannata@supsi.ch" target="_parent">massimiliano.cannata@supsi.ch</a>, "Helmut Kudrnovsky" <a href="alectoria@gmx.at" target="_parent"><alectoria@gmx.at></a>, "Alessandro Frigeri" <a href="alessandro.frigeri@iaps.inaf.it" target="_parent"><alessandro.frigeri@iaps.inaf.it></a>, "Jens Klump" <a href="jens.klump@gfz-potsdam.de" target="_parent"><jens.klump@gfz-potsdam.de></a>, "Jens Klump" <a href="jklump@uni-bremen.de" target="_parent"><jklump@uni-bremen.de></a>, <a href="markus.metz.giswork@googlemail.com" target="_parent">markus.metz.giswork@googlemail.com</a><br><b>Betreff:</b> Re: EGU General Assembly 2014: FOSS / OSGeo Townhall Meeting - Overview<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Hi Peter,<br>If ok with you, do you mind including <a href="mailto:board@lists.osgeo.org">board@lists.osgeo.org</a> and <a href="mailto:marketing@lists.osgeo.org">marketing@lists.osgeo.org</a> to the email CC list on this thread?<br>(If you wish sponsorship $$, then these communities need to see the proposal and vote on it).<br><br>This event looks like a valuable promotional opportunity for OSGeo. The question is whether it is more or less valuable than the many other opportunities. I refer you to consider the board priorities:<br><a href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors#Board_Priorities" target="_blank">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors#Board_Priorities</a><br>In particular: "Support initiatives which support themselves", and "Packaging and Marketing".<br>Sourcing a co-sponsor would be compelling, and noting that you will have numerous volunteers already attending the conference helps your case.<br><br>I note also that the marketing committee is mostly ineffective due to a lack of volunteers to support requests such as these. In particular, we are missing a process for approvals and distribution of funds. (This is a thinly veiled suggestion that you might wish to help out).<br><br>On 22/02/14 02:52, "Peter Löwe" wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Hi all,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>[cc: Cameron Shorter for the OSGEO Marketing Board]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>[cc: Jeff McKenna, OSGEO Prez]<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Thank you very much for all your feedback concerning the current discussion on options for FOSS/OSGeo meetings during the upcoming EGU General Assembly (Vienna, April 27 –May 2 2014).<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Here is an (exhaustive) update on the topic, based on past experience organising one Townhall and various Splinter Meetings in the past. Beware - this is a rather long posting.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>It boils down to two questions:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>- Do we want/need to raise awareness for OSGeo within EGU ?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>- Are we willing to invest about 1500 Euro / 2000 USD for a one hour reach-out event, which will pave the way to make OSGeo a stakeholder within EGU/AGU ?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Background Info:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>What is this European Geoscience Union (EGU) ?</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>EGU, the European Geosciences Union, is Europe’s premier geosciences union, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the geosciences and the planetary and space sciences for the benefit of humanity, worldwide. It was established in September 2002. It is a <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>non-profit international union of scientists</span></strong> with over <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>12,500 members from all over the world</span></strong>. Membership is open to individuals who are professionally engaged in or associated with geosciences and planetary and space sciences and related studies, including students and retired seniors.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>What is this <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Americcan Geophysical Union (AGU) ?</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>[Wikipedia] The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is a nonprofit organization of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geophysicist" target="_blank" title=Geophysicist>geophysicists</a>, consisting of over <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>62,000 members from 144 countries</span></strong>. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics. The geophysical sciences involve four fundamental areas: atmospheric and ocean sciences; solid-Earth sciences; hydrologic sciences; and space sciences.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Researchers in the Geosciences can be members of either EGU or AGU </span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>- a membership in one of the organisations allows to benefit from from both AGU and EGU offerings, including attending annual conferences like the EGU General Assembly. In a nutshell: <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The EGU General Assembly is open to the 62,000 members of AGU as well. </span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>What is a EGU General Assembly ?</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The annual EGU General Assembly is <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>the largest and most prominent European geosciences event</span></strong>. It attracts <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>over 11,000 scientists</span></strong> from all over the world, <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>of which more than a quarter are students.</span></strong> The <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>meeting’s sessions</span></strong>, typically <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>over 500</span></strong>, cover a wide range of topics, including volcanology, planetary exploration, the Earth’s internal structure and atmosphere, climate, as well as energy and resources. General Assemblies have around <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>4,500 oral presentations</span></strong> and <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>over 9,000 posters</span></strong>. Aside from disciplinary sessions, dealing with the topics covered by each scientific division, the meeting also features Union-wide sessions such as great debates, Union symposia (including the EGU Awards Ceremony), medal lectures, short courses and education and outreach symposia.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>What is a Townhall Meeting, what’s a Splinter Meeting</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>?</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>(<a href="http://geolog.egu.eu/2013/11/19/townhall-and-splinter-meetings-at-egu-2014/" target="_blank">http://geolog.egu.eu/2013/11/19/townhall-and-splinter-meetings-at-egu-2014/</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Both types of Sessions are open (only) to EGU participants and be booked free of charge (<strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>no cost for the venue!</span></strong>).<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Townhall Meetings</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> are <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>meetings open for all participants</span></strong> in the conference. During these meetings new initiatives or decisions are announced to a larger audience following an open discussion on the matter. Townhall Meetings will be scheduled from Monday to Friday from 19:00 to 20:00 in the conference centre’s lecture rooms. <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Townhall Meetings last 60 minutes in the evening, fit 50 to 350 people, and are announce in the Information&Schedule Book. They attract large crowds, as they are staged in the evening after the scientific sessions. Usually people linger after the official ending of the Townhall to discuss the topics raised and to network. </span></strong>During this informal part, <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>beverages</span></strong> and <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>finger food</span></strong> are consumed by the attendees (<strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>this has to be funded </span></strong>– more on this below).<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Splinter Meetings</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> are <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>side meetings</span></strong> on non-commercial purposes organized by participants. They can be organized during the course of the conference and they can be public or by invitation only. <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Splinter Meetings last up to 90 minutes and are held during the day. Scientific sessions are held in parallel, which can prevent interested people from attending. They fit 36 to 60 people and are announced in the Programme (Information & Schedule Book) if booked early.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>OSGeo related background:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Since 2012</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>, there have been “<strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>FOSS in Earth Sciences</span></strong>” themed events at the EGU General assembly, hosted by <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>OSGeo/FOSS volunteers</span></strong>. This started with an improvised Splinter Session which drew a surprisingly large crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>References to OSGeo software can be spotted rather often every year during the poster sessions (> 9000 posters!). Last year we had the first session on FOSS in the Earth and Space Science Informatics (ESSI). <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>This year there will be two independent FOSS sessions </span></strong>(ESSI and Hydrology). <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>This is a significant step ahead.</span></strong> <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>By now, researchers can apply to attend the conference, to showcase the FOSS aspects of their work.</span></strong> Before this, everything “FOSS” had to be relabelled/closeted since there was no recognition for this kind of scientific work. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>While we have two FOSS sessions this year, I strongly believe that <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>many people already doing FOSS-based research, or wanting to learn about OSGeo, have not been reached.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>FWIW: ESR! and Microsoft Research usually have nifty booths at EGU.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Options for OSGeo:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>We can opt to apply for a <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Splinter Meeting on FOSS (GIS) in Earth Science</span></strong> like in the past years. This will cause only moderate effort. We can structure the session as we like. There can be presentations, show&tell, discussions etc. This has been done before and it's fun. We will reach an audience of <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>30-50 people</span></strong> (- in comparison to 11,167 attendees in 2013). Since there are FOSS-related sessions, a FOSS-themed Splinter Meeting is logical, while <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>a Splinter Meeting title referring to OSGeo would be difficult to justify - until now OSGeo has not stepped forward within EGU</span></strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>We can apply for a <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Townhall Meeting on OSGeo</span></strong> <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>and its impact on Earth Science</span></strong>. This will allow us to step forward and officially <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>put OSGeo on the map within EGU</span></strong>. The Townhall could include presentations on what OSGeo is, why it’s significant for Earth Science, latest developments like OSGeoLive [option: <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>OSGeo-Live demo + OSGeoLive-DVDs as giveaways</span></strong>], etc., making it a genuine reach out event. However, <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>this requires financial support and volunteers</span></strong>: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Putting the <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Townhall programme</span></strong> together would be a <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>collaborative effort by OSGeo volunteers</span></strong> attending the conference. I am sure <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>we can easily put together an one hour show </span></strong>from existing material + what OSGeo/FOSS people activists will showcase at the conference.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The event <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>needs to be announced </span></strong>before and during the conference. Since the FOSS/OSGeo attendees do their research in many different fields, <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>we should be able to reach out to a large interdisciplinary community</span></strong>. While very large Townhalls draw over 350 people, <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>an expected size of 100 people</span></strong> seems more realistic to start with (this is already twice the size of a Splinter Session). Reality check: In 2012, Alessandro Frigeri and myself were able to attract at least 40 people by putting up posters made in a copy shop two days ahead of the Splinter Session - geoscientists dig FOSS !. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Funding for OSGeo-Live DVDs</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>: The Townhall would need reliable funding for the production of OSGeo-Live-DVDs before the conference.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>d.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Funding for beverages/food</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>: Townhall sessions usally come with free “refreshments” (softdrinks, alcoholic beverages, finger food) for the attendees. The is only one company available for the catering: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:108.0pt;text-indent:-108.0pt;mso-text-indent-alt:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span>i.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Their estimate for <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>limited catering</span></strong> (water, beer, some wine. breadsticks) for <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>100 people</span></strong> is about <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>1500 Euro (ca. 2000 USD).</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:108.0pt;text-indent:-108.0pt;mso-text-indent-alt:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span>ii.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>A “<strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>cash-bar“</span></strong>, where the attendees (~100people) pay for themselves, costs about <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>1040 Euro (1450 USD)</span></strong> for labour wages and general effort.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:108.0pt;text-indent:-108.0pt;mso-text-indent-alt:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span>iii.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Theoretically, having a <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Townhall “on a diet”</span></strong> without any beverages or food would be <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>possible</span></strong>, but is rather <strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>unusual.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Thanks for reading through all of this!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>I hope this overview will help you all to come up with a "well-informed opinion". Your thoughts would be much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Peter<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><pre style='background:white'>-- <o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white'>Cameron Shorter,<o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white'>Software and Data Solutions Manager<o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white'>LISAsoft<o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white'>Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,<o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white'>26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009<o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white'><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre style='background:white'>P +61 2 9009 5000, W <a href="http://www.lisasoft.com" target="_blank">www.lisasoft.com</a>, F +61 2 9009 5099<o:p></o:p></pre></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><pre>-- <o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Cameron Shorter,<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Software and Data Solutions Manager<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>LISAsoft<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>P +61 2 9009 5000, W <a href="http://www.lisasoft.com">www.lisasoft.com</a>, F +61 2 9009 5099<o:p></o:p></pre></div></body></html>