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    Here is a proposed draft email, probably to be sent by Arnulf on
    behalf on the board. Feel free to reword as you see fit:<br>
    <br>
    Title: FOSS4G 2012 in Beijing - categorised as a Regional FOSS4G<br>
    <br>
    Body:<br>
    <br>
    In the interests of transparency, the OSGeo board are noting that
    FOSS4G 2012 in Beijing is being considered by the OSGeo Board as a
    "Regional FOSS4G Event", rather than as the "International FOSS4G
    event". This means that the OSGeo Annual General Meeting, and Sol
    Katz award will not be included as part of the program, and possibly
    means that there will be less international presence than at the
    FOSS4G International event.<br>
    <br>
    That said, we do anticipate that FOSS4G Beijing will be a successful
    regional event, drawing heavily upon the local region for
    attendance.<br>
    <br>
    The growth and maturity of OSGeo software and following interest
    from business, educational and government has been fanning a rising
    demand for the FOSS4G conference. This demand has led initially to
    the development of an international conference - first titled FOSS4G
    in 2006 in Switzerland. By 2009 it was becoming apparent that FOSS4G
    attracted a very high local attendance who made up over half the
    audience. These local attendees usually were obviously interested in
    FOSS4G, but were not attending the international event. By 2011/2012
    many successful regional FOSS4G events have been running, which have
    been capitalising on the previously untapped local interest.<br>
    <br>
    As such, we anticipate that FOSS4G Beijing will similarly be
    successful in capturing the regional interest in FOSS4G and will
    stage a compelling regional FOSS4G event. We do encourage all who
    are interested to attend.<br>
    <br>
    <br>
    <br>
    <br>
    <br>
    On 26/05/2012 5:44 AM, Michael P. Gerlek wrote:
    <blockquote cite="mid:008301cd3aae$cb88e7c0$629ab740$@flaxen.com"
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        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:#1F497D">OK,
            I&#8217;ll make an official motion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:#1F497D"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:#1F497D">PROPOSED:
            &nbsp;&nbsp;There will be no annual, international FOSS4G event this
            year. There will be a regional OSGeo conference in Beijing
            in September 2012, but it will not include an Annual General
            Meeting nor will the Sol Katz award be announced there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:#1F497D"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:#1F497D">My
            motion does not lay blame, point fingers, or attempt a
            rationale; it simply states the facts as they are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:#1F497D"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:#1F497D">-mpg<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:#1F497D"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
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              <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">
                  <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org">conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</a>
                  [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org">mailto:conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</a>] <b>On
                    Behalf Of </b><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:seven@arnulf.us">seven@arnulf.us</a><br>
                  <b>Sent:</b> Friday, May 25, 2012 12:28 PM<br>
                  <b>To:</b> 'conference'; OSGeo Board<br>
                  <b>Cc:</b> 'FOSS4G 2012'<br>
                  <b>Subject:</b> Re: [Board] RE: [OSGeo-Conf] FOSS4G
                  Beijing - a regional event<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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          <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal">Hi, <br>
            there is no motion on the floor. My intention is simply to
            follow up on a standing request by many people who keep
            asking about the event in Beijing. In the absence of a
            functioning conference committee I believe it is the board's
            job to answer.<br>
            <br>
            I have no intention of discouraging anybody going there but
            it is not going to be comparable to previous global events.
            Whoever has the capacities to make it so please step up.
            Now. We need an AGM, international keynoters, some board
            representation, Sol Katz Award event and other stuff I
            currently cannot see and am not expecting anymore. <br>
            <br>
            Where is the problem in being honest about this? I can
            already see the frustration of people and corresponding
            media reports after the fact saying that we have 'failed'.
            No need for this.<br>
            <br>
            If someone else sees the need for an official note please
            take over, it is not that important to me.<br>
            <br>
            Best regards, <br>
            Arnulf<br>
            <br>
            --<br>
            Arnulf Christl (aka Seven)<br>
            <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://arnulf.us">http://arnulf.us</a><br>
            <br>
            ----- Reply message -----<br>
            From: "Michael P. Gerlek" &lt;<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:mpg@flaxen.com">mpg@flaxen.com</a>&gt;<br>
            To: "'Tim Schaub'" &lt;<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:tschaub@opengeo.org">tschaub@opengeo.org</a>&gt;<br>
            Cc: "'conference'" &lt;<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:conference_dev@lists.osgeo.org">conference_dev@lists.osgeo.org</a>&gt;,
            "'FOSS4G 2012'" &lt;<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:foss4g2012@lists.osgeo.org">foss4g2012@lists.osgeo.org</a>&gt;,
            &lt;<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:board@lists.osgeo.org">board@lists.osgeo.org</a>&gt;<br>
            Subject: [Board] RE: [OSGeo-Conf] FOSS4G Beijing - a
            regional event<br>
            Date: Fri, May 25, 2012 20:20<br>
            <br>
            <br>
            We need to set people's expectations that this is not the
            usual annual global event at which there will be large
            number of international attendees, the Sol Katz Award, the
            annual general meeting, etc.<br>
            <br>
            -mpg<br>
            <br>
            <br>
            &gt; -----Original Message-----<br>
            &gt; From: Tim Schaub <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:[mailto:tschaub@opengeo.org]">[mailto:tschaub@opengeo.org]</a><br>
            &gt; Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 11:19 AM<br>
            &gt; To: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:mpg@flaxen.com">mpg@flaxen.com</a><br>
            &gt; Cc: conference; FOSS4G 2012; <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:board@lists.osgeo.org">board@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
            &gt; Subject: Re: [Board] RE: [OSGeo-Conf] FOSS4G Beijing -
            a regional event<br>
            &gt; <br>
            &gt; What would be the desired outcome of any motion we
            could make? &nbsp;Do you<br>
            &gt; want to encourage people not to attend? &nbsp;I doubt that.
            &nbsp;Is this just<br>
            &gt; about conveying disappointment?<br>
            &gt; <br>
            &gt; On Fri, May 25, 2012 at 9:13 AM, Michael P. Gerlek &lt;<a
              moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:mpg@flaxen.com">mpg@flaxen.com</a>&gt;
            wrote:<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; This makes FOSS4G in Beijing a regional event
            at best<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; and I believe we must make clear that this is
            not going to be ''the''<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; global meeting of the tribes.<br>
            &gt; &gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt; Agreed, I've been saying as much for a while now.
            I think the board needs to formally make that announcement
            asap -- perhaps a<br>
            &gt; motion is in order?<br>
            &gt; &gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt; -mpg<br>
            &gt; &gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; -----Original Message-----<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; From: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org">conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</a>
            <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:[mailto:conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org]">[mailto:conference_dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org]</a>
            On Behalf Of Seven (aka<br>
            &gt; Arnulf)<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 9:06 AM<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; To: conference; FOSS4G 2012<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; Subject: [OSGeo-Conf] FOSS4G Beijing - a
            regional event<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; Folks,<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; on the website at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://2012.foss4g.org/">http://2012.foss4g.org/</a>
            there is still no option for<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; submitting abstracts although the submission
            has been opened -<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; apparently without notice to any of the
            regular OSGeo channels.<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; Workshops submission ends in two weeks.<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; No international speakers have been announced
            and there are only Chinese<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; sponsors listed (although interest by regulars
            was documented as early<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; as December 2012). This makes FOSS4G in
            Beijing a regional event at best<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; and I believe we must make clear that this is
            not going to be ''the''<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; global meeting of the tribes.<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; We should at the same time continue to support
            FOSS4G in Beijing as a<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; regional event and help them wherever they let
            us.<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; On <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://2012.foss4g.org/">http://2012.foss4g.org/</a>
            the link to the OSGeo Wiki page in the lower<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; right should be removed as it is not being
            used (and currently points to<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; a 404).<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; Best regards,<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; Arnulf<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; --<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; Exploring Space, Time and Mind<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://arnulf.us">http://arnulf.us</a><br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt;
            _______________________________________________<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; Conference_dev mailing list<br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:Conference_dev@lists.osgeo.org">Conference_dev@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
            &gt; &gt;&gt; <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/conference_dev">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/conference_dev</a><br>
            &gt; &gt;<br>
            &gt; &gt; _______________________________________________<br>
            &gt; &gt; Board mailing list<br>
            &gt; &gt; <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:Board@lists.osgeo.org">Board@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
            &gt; &gt; <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board</a><br>
            &gt; <br>
            &gt; <br>
            &gt; <br>
            &gt; --<br>
            &gt; Tim Schaub<br>
            &gt; OpenGeo <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://opengeo.org/">http://opengeo.org/</a><br>
            &gt; Expert service straight from the developers.<br>
            <br>
            _______________________________________________<br>
            Board mailing list<br>
            <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:Board@lists.osgeo.org">Board@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
            <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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      <pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
Foss4g2012 mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Foss4g2012@lists.osgeo.org">Foss4g2012@lists.osgeo.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/foss4g2012">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/foss4g2012</a>
</pre>
    </blockquote>
    <br>
    <br>
    <pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">-- 
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Geospatial Solutions Manager
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