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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I gave brief feedback from FOSS4G2007 to
the GISSA National Council and asked for their comments on FOSS4G2008 organisation:</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>An idea was proposed for <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>blending proprietary and FOSS talks</span></b>:
have themed <em><i><font face="Times New Roman">rooms</font></i></em>
where delegates know certain streams or cross-cutting content like FOSS
will be presented. Previous suggestions include having streams containing
FOSS, though not necessarily keeping them in the same room, or randomly
interspersing talks with FOSS content throughout a topic stream and just
identifying them with some flag. The point was also made that many
delegates will see a talk for the application, not for the tools used, i.e.
to them it's not important whether FOSS or proprietary GIS was used. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>marketing</span></b>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>message</span></b> must be open and
inclusive. While we may run a formal FOSS vs proprietary debate,
confrontation is not the message. Most debate will occur in the
presentations and corridors anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Re topics, it was suggested that we add <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>topics for business and government</span></b>
delegates (pretty much what is being discussed on OSGeo-Discuss at the
moment) such as<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<ul type=circle>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>FOSS GIS migration strategies<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>FOSS GIS business case, FOSS vs proprietary TCO,
etc. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>It was advised that we aim to <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>break even</span></b> with 600 delegates but plan
space for 1000 delegates. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Carrin would send a letter to GISSA members and
vendors advising them of the conference and asking them to <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>plan for the time and budget to attend</span></b>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>A request was made to <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>boost the academic component</span></b> of the conference. i.e.
improve the options available to those who want peer review and
publication of their papers. Antony Cooper will participate in this. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Local</span></font></st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Cape</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> participation
in the LOC should be boosted. So far Inge is the main person on the ground
there. <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Russell Hope</span></b> might
want to get more involved and<b><span style='font-weight:bold'> Derek
Clarke </span></b>will be approached (<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Gavin</span></b>
will approach Derek) <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The whole Council asked to be placed on the LOC
mailing list. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>In the development of an agreement between GISSA
and OSGeo we need to clarify respective risks, contributions and benefits
and draft the agreement accordingly. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Gavin<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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