<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Hi Board<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">At FOSS4G I had several conversations with some of you that lead to the idea to start an OSGeo Businesses list:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><ul class="MailOutline"><li class="">Maria Brovelli has identified two potential opportunities for our business members</li><li class="">The sponsor breakfast identified a desire on the part of sponsors to access Open Source Geo business opportunities</li><li class="">We have long discussed how we might present a more united presence in the market for geo products and services (OSGeo Europe is an initiative with similar objectives)</li></ul><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I propose that we create a list for the circulation of potential opportunities and for discussions on collaborations and joint initiatives amongst our sponsor and contributor companies:</div><div class=""><ul class="MailOutline"><li class="">There does not appear to be a list that covers this interest group</li><li class="">I expect this to be a fairly low traffic list but it would provide OSGeo with a means to communicate with commercial members and sponsors and provide some additional value to them</li><li class="">Based on advice from Jody and Jeff, I believe the list should be by invitation only and should/could be (at least initially moderated) - I’d welcome further thoughts on that</li><li class="">Suggested membership criteria - feedback welcome</li><ul class=""><li class="">Companies sponsoring OSGeo in the last year (should their be a minus level of sponsorship? National, regional or global?)</li><li class="">Companies designated as contributors by one of the OSGeo PSC’s (and identified on the web site?)</li><li class="">I hope that Jody can provide a list for the initial invitations to be sent</li></ul><li class="">I am willing to act as the initial moderator/admin of the list and I will aim to recruit a second admin as soon as possible</li></ul><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class="">Thoughts?</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Asante</div><div class="">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">______<br class="">Steven<br class=""><br class=""></span>
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