[Board] ED update

[Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo)]

Hi, here is a rough list and ideas about some of the things I've been  
up to over the past few weeks, several of which we already spoke  
about at the board meeting last week.  I started this list before the  
meeting but kept thinking of more to add to it.

Hope it helps...

Journal
* The current issue of the Journal (volume 3) is almost complete but  
has been a lot of work.  It has taken a lot longer than expected,  
largely due to the special nature of this issue focused on FOSS4G  
Proceedings.  Articles didn't fit into nice little categories like in  
previous volumes, so we had to roughly allocate them to a smaller  
number of editors.
* 4-5 new helpers, editors, reviewers added to team.  A couple team  
members have gone MIA, we are clearly maxing out some volunteers or  
some are losing interest, so the new members are more than welcome.
* We'll have a year-end wrap -up with this volume, then do a review  
and plan for changes in 2008.  Including using the Open Journal  
System to manage the workflow.  Great help from Venka's team in  
loading OJS.

Legal Charitable Status
I'm working with the legal contractor to get our paperwork in order.   
He's done a few sets of initial review and is confident that we are  
well on our way.  He now has provided a set of questions back to me.   
He has also provided me with several documents we've needed to  
develop.  I will go through all this shortly and forward more copies  
of items/questions/issues to the board list.


Japan Trip
* I was invited to speak at two events - one in Osaka and the other  
in Tokyo.
* Met many companies and organisations using or interested in OSGeo,  
and learn generally how they are addressing projects and issues.
* Talk with various groups about potential new or incubating projects  
- i.e. Pg Routing.  Several "what if" scenarios.
* Learn more in-depth what kind of work Venka/Osaka City Univ. and  
Orkney are doing, along with several other companies. Presentations  
from Venka's students, including an OSGeo Marketing perspective talk  
from Daniele.
* Had OSGeo Japan Chapter meetings, groups were very grateful to have  
an OSGeo rep there.
* Lorenzo Becchi, Markus Neteler, Schuyler Erle and Geoff Zeiss were  
also there for some of the meetings so it was a great time to meet,  
discuss and brainstorm.

COMMITTEES ----
Marketing Direction
* Helping support the marketing proposal to develop material,  
thoughts and branding concepts.
Education Status
* Not too active, but helping on system's side when needed and  
helping find and register new curriculum.
Finance Committee
* Reconciling books against account
* Budget, reporting tools and day-to-day tracking of payables/ 
receivables (checks, invoices continue)
* Quarterly donation from Autodesk ($30k) received, INGRES ($10k)  
received bill for GDAL $3k too.
* $54k currently in bank

2007 Report
* Have been thinking a lot about what is needed.  Hope is that much  
material can be lifted from the Journal, if not now, in the future.
* Need to set some requirements for reporting to committees, projects
* To Include:
** 2007 financial review
** Reports from all committees, projects, Local Chapters
** Report from the Board
** Key highlights from 2007
** Membership numbers
* End of March
* Will publish through first or second Journal of 2008


Local Chapters
* Continuing irregular questions about roles/responsibilities of  
chapters.  Most run fine without any apparent confusion.  But some  
newer ones still ask about "rules".  All we have are "guidelines"  
which means some LC are going to be timid, when they actually desire  
more specific direction or want to know their boundaries.  This  
includes confusion with how the LC interacts with OSGeo on: funding,  
branding usage, representation at events, sponsors, fundraising,  
etc.  My sense is that the loose "guidelines" method helped to get  
LC's started with few strings attached and little direction, but that  
to manage them into the future will require clearer responsibilities,  
requirements and/or plans for running them.  This is just food for  
thought, as we continue to see LC's grow and feel out their way.
* I continue to help coach some of the new chapters that are getting  
up and running.
* Helping start provincial BC LC
* Some discussion about funding management with LC's would be  
valuable: how can LC give money to OSGeo (i.e. "let OSGeo handle it  
for them") and how can LC get money to support efforts, events, etc.

Systems/Website
* Ongoing, all the time.  Website upgrade hasn't required much help  
(thanks to Wolf)
* Upgrading various utilities and apps, including Open Journal and  
Conference systems
* Adding mailing lists, Drupal content, etc.

Communications
* Blog post to help keep people current on what communication options  
are available, etc.
* Ongoing general communications via email, etc.