<p>Karel and other Euro-folks,</p>
<p>The MapWindow team is having our 3rd International conference in The Netherlands in June 2012. We would like to expand this as a regional FOSS4G. If anyone is interested in discussing, please contact me and Paul Meems (copied here).</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>- Dan<br>
--------<br>
Daniel P. Ames Ph.D.<br>
Idaho State University Dept. of Geosciences<br>
<a href="mailto:dan.ames@isu.edu">dan.ames@isu.edu</a><br>
--------<br>
Sent from my Droid</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sep 23, 2011 2:37 PM, "Karel Charvat" <<a href="mailto:charvat@ccss.cz">charvat@ccss.cz</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution">> Dave and Bart,<br>> I personally think, that rotation principle is good and I think, that is<br>
> good to give chance not only for Europe and North America, but also for<br>> other parts of word. I am writing this as representative of organisation,<br>> who competed for this year. We join to the competition, when in first round<br>
> was not offer, before we didn't thinking about this. Only when there were<br>> not other offer, we tried to participate. As I mentioned, I am sure, that<br>> China will be organised good event.<br>> I would like also clarify, why we would like organised this Central and<br>
> Eastern European event. For many people from post socialist countries<br>> (mainly for people working on Universities), where is many OS developers is<br>> difficult or impossible to travel on FOSS conferences around the World. And<br>
> I think, that direct contact are useful and to organise regional events is<br>> chance for them to meet part of community. I think, that this is also<br>> important to support grooving of community in this way. I am sure, that will<br>
> be mistake to organise events, which could compeate for World FOSS4G, but<br>> regional events will help to establish cooperation, but also promote OS<br>> solution. I see also his as important aspect to establish ling among<br>
> developers and users.<br>> I have also one recommendation, for big FOSS4G conference provide selection<br>> two years in advance, it will give better possibilities and time for<br>> preparation of such large events, but also will give possibilities for<br>
> better coordination with regional event.<br>> Karel<br>> <br>> <br>> -----Original Message-----<br>> From: <a href="mailto:conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org">conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
> [mailto:<a href="mailto:conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org">conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</a>] On Behalf Of Dave McIlhagga<br>> Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 9:44 PM<br>> To: Bart van den Eijnden<br>
> Cc: conference; OSGeo-Board List<br>> Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Conf] North American FOSS4G conference<br>> <br>> It depends on what OSGeo is trying to achieve through running conferences.<br>> Is it:<br>> <br>
> 1. Provide an opportunity for a maximum number of developers to connect face<br>> to face<br>> 2. Encourage adoption of OSGeo technologies<br>> 3. Raise funds for OSGeo<br>> 4. etc...<br>> <br>> Encouraging adoption fo OSGeo was the primary driver for the current 3<br>
> region rotation, but I'm not sure if that's still the highest priority of<br>> the organization. Uncertainty in this matter led in some part to the<br>> difficulties in the selection process this year.<br>
> <br>> I'd like to suggest that the Board conduct a full review of the conference<br>> selection process -- as it currently feels highly disconnected from the<br>> priorities of the board. The recent decision of the board to eliminate the<br>
> Exec Director position was in part rooted in finances -- that's<br>> understandable, however at the same time, selecting China was likely not a<br>> wise choice if finances were the primary driver. Is it possible that this<br>
> selection led directly to the termination of the ED position? Was that wise?<br>> <br>> <br>> I believe the FOSS4G selection process is one of the most important<br>> decisions made annually by OSGeo as an organization. What concerns me is<br>
> that this decision is currently effectively made by this committee without<br>> it being strongly connected to the priorities of the organization as a<br>> whole.<br>> <br>> If nothing else, given the financial link between this selection, and the<br>
> viability of OSGeo, I believe fixing this process needs to be one of the top<br>> priorities by the board.<br>> <br>> My 2 cents.<br>> <br>> Dave<br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> On 2011-09-23, at 3:05 PM, Bart van den Eijnden wrote:<br>
> <br>>> I totally agree with what Volker says here.<br>>> <br>>> My personal preference would be a two year rotation between Europe and<br>> North America, with only local conferences in Other.<br>
>> <br>>> Bart<br>>> <br>>> Sent from my iPhone<br>>> <br>>> On Sep 23, 2011, at 7:52 PM, Volker Mische <<a href="mailto:volker.mische@gmail.com">volker.mische@gmail.com</a>><br>> wrote:<br>
>> <br>>>> Hi all,<br>>>> <br>>>> I already wrote it in my blog post about the FOSS4G, but it should also<br>>>> hit the mailing lists as well.<br>>>> <br>>>> I don't think that a yearly North American FOSS4G is a good idea. I fear<br>
>>> that people will be going there and the global one will die (especially<br>>>> next year, when it is "in some other country").<br>>>> <br>>>> A lot of devs in the FOSS4G world are from North America (I'd even say<br>
>>> the majority, but I'm not sure about it). Those will definitely go to a<br>>>> North American event.<br>>>> <br>>>> I could imagine that many people from Europe can justify one conference<br>
>>> to go somewhere in the world, when there's enough value. Which is for<br>>>> me, in case for the FOSS4G, meeting almost all core developers of the<br>>>> various FOSS4G projects.<br>>>> <br>
>>> If I have the choice to meet all the North American developers and a lot<br>>>> of other ones as well, and the choice between meeting some American and<br>>>> European developers perhaps at some other place in the world (where it<br>
>>> might even be harder to get there (think about past events like<br>>>> Australia)). Where would you go?<br>>>> <br>>>> And also important: where would the sponsors invest? It was already a<br>
>>> hard time for the Sydney conference to cover the costs, how hard would<br>>>> it be if there's another big conference?<br>>>> <br>>>> For me those are reasons why the a global event might die, and that<br>
>>> would be a shame. As we heard at (I think) the AGM, past conferences<br>>>> planted seeds in those locations.<br>>>> <br>>>> The rotating between Europe, North America and somewhere else makes a<br>
>>> lot of sense to me, but if there will be a North American conference<br>>>> every year, we can just drop the "somewhere else" and go for a Europe,<br>>>> North America, North America rotation.<br>
>>> <br>>>> For me the solution would be to make more localised conferences in North<br>>>> America, like a West Coast, East Coast, Central, Canadian one. This<br>>>> won't draw to much developers away from the global one. It would kind of<br>
>>> the same as in Europe, where we also have local Chapter conferences.<br>>>> <br>>>> Cheers,<br>>>> Volker<br>>>> _______________________________________________<br>>>> Conference_dev mailing list<br>
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