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<TITLE>Re: [Incubator] Incubation Meeting 15 Minuets [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>That’s fine Daniel,<BR>
<BR>
I’m glad that we do have ‘a high bar’. Our desire in the end should be to get quality projects coming out of Incubation.<BR>
<BR>
In addition, there is certainly nothing wrong with questioning potential conflicts of interest. It is in fact a desirable part of the process to have a clear statement from mentors, so that appropriate assessments can be made.<BR>
<BR>
Bruce<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On 22/11/11 2:06 PM, "Daniel Morissette" <<a href="dmorissette@mapgears.com">dmorissette@mapgears.com</a>> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>On 11-11-21 06:11 PM, Bruce Bannerman wrote:<BR>
><BR>
> @Daniel,<BR>
><BR>
> By way of background:<BR>
><BR>
> I am a former developer. However, it has been many (>5) years since I<BR>
> have cut code in anger. I have spent a number of years in sysadmin,<BR>
> solutions and enterprise architecture. In addition, I have managed a<BR>
> very diverse development team for the last few years. I’m currently<BR>
> managing a large and complex platform migration to RHEL with significant<BR>
> (>350) bespoke applications and associated databases. I have a diverse<BR>
> spatial background with qualifications, skills and experience in<BR>
> cartography, surveying, GIS, spatial and image analysis. In all, I have<BR>
> around 30 years experience in the spatial / IT domains.<BR>
><BR>
> Granted, I have not spent time on a specific OSGeo Project. However, I<BR>
> have been part of the OSGeo Community for over five years and the<BR>
> broader open source community for ten+ years. I do have a good feel for<BR>
> how OSGeo would like to run projects from the many lists that I<BR>
> subscribe to and participate in (e.g. Discuss); from my two years<BR>
> helping to organise FOSS4G-2009; and five years helping to establish<BR>
> OSGeo-AustNZ. I have also read and been inspired by Ken Fogel’s<BR>
> excellent book [1]. For the OSGeo bits that I haven’t picked up yet<BR>
> through my career, my time as a manager; and my time in FOSS, I’m sure<BR>
> that Jody will keep me honest and on the right track.<BR>
><BR>
<BR>
Hi Bruce, and all,<BR>
<BR>
I guess it would have been easier if I just +1'd the decision without<BR>
asking any question, but since I raised the bar I feel that I have to<BR>
justify myself now for having expressed higher requirements than the<BR>
rest of the group, so here we go...<BR>
<BR>
(please do not read this as a rant... just an explanation of a point of<BR>
view)<BR>
<BR>
Hopefully you all realize that it is nothing about Bruce personally, but<BR>
more that as a rule of thumb I think that until one has been involved in<BR>
an OSGeo project for a while it is hard to understand the reasons behind<BR>
the way some things are done, and to properly relay those reasons and<BR>
ways to operate. BTW, I never suggested that a mentor had to be a<BR>
developer (others may have suggested that, but not me)... I personally<BR>
believe that any type of contributor (e.g. a docs contributor, QA<BR>
specialist, project manager or power user) could do a great job too if<BR>
they've been involved in a project for a while, hopefully as contributor.<BR>
<BR>
My take is that the reason why we want mentors during incubation is not<BR>
just to have one sit on a mailing list, but to actually have that person<BR>
actively advise the project on the way to adjust their processes to meet<BR>
OSGeo's expectations. (Once again, I am not suggesting that Bruce would<BR>
"just sit on a mailing list"... this is my rule of thumb for any<BR>
mentor... and it's just mine since I don't think it's documented anywhere)<BR>
<BR>
I didn't write -1, but +0... so it was not an objection, but a weak<BR>
support since I don't know Bruce personally and the main arguments that<BR>
I received in favor of him were related to his hard work on the<BR>
conferences, which while they demonstrate very strong commitment to<BR>
OSGeo, didn't demonstrate direct project involvement and didn't fully<BR>
meet my criteria for an *incubation mentor*.<BR>
<BR>
Of course if I had known you (Bruce) personally I would have known about<BR>
your strong IT background and would have had less questions. After your<BR>
response (thank you for taking the time to provide so much details) I am<BR>
confident that your exceptional commitment to OSGeo combined with your<BR>
IT experience will help you go through this exercise, and Jody can<BR>
fill-in for the rest if needed.<BR>
<BR>
Thank you for your offer to mentor and all your volunteer work for OSGeo<BR>
BTW. We need more people like you, and I hope my tough questions are not<BR>
discouraging anyone from getting involved.<BR>
<BR>
Daniel<BR>
--<BR>
Daniel Morissette<BR>
<a href="http://www.mapgears.com/">http://www.mapgears.com/</a><BR>
Provider of Professional MapServer Support since 2000<BR>
<BR>
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