<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Dear All,<br>
<br>
Regarding the unfortunate theft of computer belonging to Nicolas
and Niroshan<br>
(and also some currency in case of Niroshan), I would like to
express my sympathies<br>
to Nicolas and Niroshan. <br>
<br>
Niroshan is a student at my lab and the computer that he lost
belongs to the university.<br>
I will deal with this matter with my university authorities and
take appropriate steps<br>
to replace his computer with university funds.<br>
<br>
For Nicolas, my good friend, the loss is even more heavy as the
computer was his personal<br>
one and contained months of his private work.<br>
<br>
I deeply appreciate the kind gesture by Luca and others in
requesting for Nicolas and Niroshan<br>
to be compensated in some way for their loss. However, I think
that OSGeo Board is in<br>
no way responsible of such loss and feel that it would better not
to set any precedence in<br>
extending compensation for such unfortunate incidents, which I
hope will never<br>
occur in future.<br>
The best OSGeo Foundation could do in their future events would be
announce that while <br>
the organizers take utmost case regarding the safety and security
during the event, the organizers <br>
are in no way responsible for loss/theft of personal property.
Perhaps, organizers of future events <br>
could think of providing cloak room facility for participants to
officially handover personal belongings<br>
for safe keep and receive a receipt for the same. Perhaps such
facility could be nominally<br>
charged.<br>
<br>
Regarding the present incident, the information booklet of
FOSS4G-Europe clearly states<br>
on page 6 [1] "Insurance & Liability<br>
Participants are adviced to provide their own <br>
personal insurance. Neither the organisers nor In2Events will
assume any responsability <br>
whatsoever for damage and injury to persons or property during the
conference.", so it<br>
will not be appropriate to affix responsibility for the loss to
organizers. It would have been<br>
a different case if the items were missing from an official cloak
room with Nicolas and Niroshan<br>
having an official receipt for the items deposited for safe
keeping.<br>
<br>
In light of the above, I am fine of helping on a personal level
and am even willing to make my<br>
contribution to compensate for loss of Nicolas's computer and
Niroshan's cash (I will<br>
find a way with our university authorities to compensate for his
computer). I do not think<br>
that it is appropriate to involve the OSGeo board and request them
to deal with this matter<br>
at an official level and also feeling that board voting on this
matter by the board is not necessary.<br>
<br>
I, once again, would like to express my sympathies to Nicolas and
Niroshan for the loss<br>
of their items and the anguish they had to undergo as a result. I
also thank all our community<br>
members for coming forward with offers of help and also thinking
about ways of compensating<br>
their loss.<br>
<br>
If we as a community can come up with a plan to try and compensate
at a personal level, I will<br>
be most willing to make my contribution.<br>
<br>
Best<br>
<br>
Venka <br>
<br>
<br>
On 7/27/2017 10:05 PM, Jody Garnett wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAOhbgAmCOL+6j1tBpgAvLcpt6sP9+Amx=i-miB+DJO_JZBXnYw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Cameron and Michael your words of caution are very much taken to heart.
Maria has started a motion here
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="https://www.loomio.org/d/csZ2X8ap/stolen-computers-at-foss4g"><https://www.loomio.org/d/csZ2X8ap/stolen-computers-at-foss4g></a> and I am
copying my words to email for wider discussion:
*I am in favour of us helping assist in this case, but I understand their
is a series of groups, including the local organizing committee who would
like to help out. I would be the most comfortable with the local organizing
committee (or even the rented venue assisting.)*
*We have been cautioned about "setting a precedent" last time the board
acted in a generous fashion outside of our mission statement (since we are
responsible for our actions to our membership which elected us). In this
case the people effected individuals are both productive members of our
volunteering in an official capacity with our organization: one as a summer
of code student, and the second as a member of the marketing committee. I
believe our membership will understand why we are making this choice.*
*While it may be sad in the future if trouble befalls an attendees at one
of our events we do not wish to set a precedent or expectation for future
events to follow. We are taking action both out of compassion (this sucks)
and these individuals our volunteers in our organization we do not want our
membership to loose the benefits of their productivity (this sucks for
osgeo). This is in a similar spirit to the liability insurance we hold for
our board members and officers.*
And on the specifics:
*From the email thread it sounds like both computers are covered by
insurance, but not the full costs. There are two ways to understand this
email:*
- *For a $2500 computer, perhaps it was only insured for $2000 (often
this is fine as computers get older).*
- *Or perhaps it is a "deductible" - for example for a $2000 computer
there may be a $500 deductible needing to be paid. So while the insurance
covers everything, you are required to pay $500 to access the insurance.*
*I would be comfortable making a proposal making up to $2000 available to
the treasurer to assist with paying any insurance costs incurred while
replacing the stolen laptops. Subject to "prompt reimbursement" on receipt
(if paid for already) or invoice (if there is an email/bill that can be
sent to the treasurer to show the amount needed).*
This is the kind of discussion is difficult because we all have the "it
could of been me" response, and general annoyance this incident would
reflect poorly on our community (even though it is not our fault). It also
paints board members into a bit of a corner; because we do not wish to
appear mean / heartless / insensitive (cameron's all things to all people).
--
Jody Garnett
On 27 July 2017 at 04:16, Michael Terner <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mgt@appgeo.com"><mgt@appgeo.com></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">+ Conference Dev
Two very small points from the Boston perspective as these kinds of things
are on our mind, and we are seeking lessons learned to improve our event:
1. Insurance can be expensive. We have an insurance policy that does
not cover things like lost/stolen items for attendees, but does cover
eventualities like needing to cancel the event due to catastrophe. The cost
of a policy covering lost/stolen events - at least for an event the size of
Boston - would have been significantly higher than the cost of replacing 2
laptops (and there is additional administrative time in setting it up).
2. This incident also illustrates the need to have appropriate
physical security. We will be mindful to not leave our registration desk
without someone there; and to discourage people from leaving items in
places where there are not people actively watching. We also have access to
a couple of locked rooms where things can be stored and will encourage
their use to the extent possible.
We too regret the hassle, inconvenience and loss that Nick and Niroshan
experienced. As with all negative things, hopefully there is a silver
lining and this community can improve processes to reduce the risks of loss
at conferences...
MT
On Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 4:46 AM, Cameron Shorter <
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:cameron.shorter@gmail.com">cameron.shorter@gmail.com</a>> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I'll let others comment on this particular thread. It is very sad to hear
of people having a computer stolen and noble to hear of people helping
those in need.
But on a general level, I suggest that OSGeo should be careful not to
become all things to all people. We should focus on what we are best at.
There are insurance companies designed to manage loss of items. For future
incidents of this type, lets make use of them rather than designing our own.
Cheers, Cameron (not a current board member, so my vote doesn't count)
On 27/7/17 12:21 am, Jeff McKenna wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Thank you Luca for bringing this to everyone's attention. Indeed this
was a very unfortunate incident. I am a strong +1 to help Niroshan and
Nick in any costs not covered by insurance.
The day before this happened I also left my bag for a few hours behind
the registration desk; this could have happened to anyone.
This kind of thing has been at the back of my mind for a while now; how
lucky we have been for accidents at FOSS4G events. We travel to areas all
around the world, and anything can happen. Luckily Niroshan or Nick were
not hurt or injured.
It might be a good time to review the event insurance for our FOSS4G
events, and how it relates to unfortunate accidents like this. (and how we
would handle the cases if the attendee had no personal insurance, which
would have been my case - for example, maybe the OSGeo Board should set
aside a small block of funding in each yearly budget for this)
But my gut feeling is that was a small warning, as our FOSS4G event
grows in popularity, we must take care, to take care of our attendees.
I am very sorry for such a hassle to Niroshan and Nick, to their studies
and their work. I hope we can agree to make sure that they have to pay
nothing out of their own pockets to replace lost equipment; and also agree
to take this as a small lesson and review our own event policies.
-jeff
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">--
Cameron Shorter
M +61 419 142 254
_______________________________________________
Board mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Board@lists.osgeo.org">Board@lists.osgeo.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board">https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
--
*Michael Terner*
*Executive Vice President*
617-447-2468 <(617)%20447-2468> Direct | 617-447-2400 <(617)%20447-2400>
Main
Applied Geographics, Inc.
24 School Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02108
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.AppGeo.com">www.AppGeo.com</a>
This e-mail message and any attachments may contain confidential or
legally privileged information. If you are not an intended recipient or
otherwise authorized to receive this message, you should not use, copy,
distribute, disclose or take any action based on the information contained
in this e-mail or any attachments. If you have received this message and
material in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and
delete this message. Thank you on behalf of Applied Geographics, Inc.
(AppGeo).
_______________________________________________
Board mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Board@lists.osgeo.org">Board@lists.osgeo.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board">https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
</pre>
<br>
<fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
<br>
<pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
Board mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Board@lists.osgeo.org">Board@lists.osgeo.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board">https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board</a></pre>
</blockquote>
<p><br>
</p>
</body>
</html>