[Board] Questions about "Local Chapter Sponsor"

[Dave McIlhagga]

Venka,

Slight correction below:

Venkatesh Raghavan wrote:
> 
> Question1: What is "Sponsorship Selection" ? Could you tell me?
> 
> My Answer: "Sponsorship Selection" refers to OSGeo choosing
> who will be offcial sponsors for OSGeo's FOSS4G International
> Conferences (hope i have got that answer right)

OSGeo Sustaining Sponsors have first right to select sponsorship level 
at the annual FOSS4G conference. OSGeo doesn't actually choose - it is 
up to the Sponsor if they wish to also sponsor the conference. The 
benefit is they get to choose their sponsorship level before any other 
prospective sponsors.

BTW - on this note, I got a call from Paul Ramsey about sponsorship -- 
Tyler are you involved in conference planning? It would be important to 
ensure Paul is aware of this for his conference.


> Other questions
> 
> Question2: "Local Chapter Sponsor" desires be invited all event of
> OSGeo both International and Local. What level of sponsorship
> will ensure that "Local Chapter Sponsor" will be invited as
> per their desire.
> My Answer: I am awaiting feed back from the board and Tyler.

I think almost all OSGeo events are open to all -- so there should be no 
reason that "Local Chapter Sponsor" would not be invited to these 
events. The only exception to this is the "Sponsor Information Exchange 
Event" and "Sponsor Networking Event" that we have setup as exclusive 
opportunities for our OSGeo sponsors to meet with the Board of Directors 
/ ED after the annual conference.

My feeling is that we need to be careful not to dilute the benefits we 
have setup for OSGeo sponsors. At the end of the day -- it is essential 
that in order for OSGeo to be sustained in the form it is today that we 
continue to sign-up OSGeo sponsors.


> Question 3: Can "Local Chapter Sponsor" be listed as "Official Local 
> Chapter Sponsor" (with logo) on the OSGeo website.
> My Answer: I am awaiting feed back from the board and Tyler.

See above.


> I think that it is better to add a new category
> "Local Chapter Sponsors" in 
> http://www.osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/sponsorship.html
> based on the feedback to this mail and summary below
> and help clarify things to people who would like
> to sponsor local OSGeo chapter activities.

This is a good idea. Perhaps we should have a statement indicating for 
those interested in supporting local OSGeo Chapters to contact these 
chapters directly.

Dave



> Kind regards
> 
> Venka
> 
> ------------------Summary----------------------------------------------------------------- 
> 
> 
> 1) What are the kind of sponsorships solicited by OSGeo?
> 
> See http://osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/sponsorship.html
> 
> 
> 2) What is the present status of OSGeo sponsorship?
> 
> See http://osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/sponsors.html
> 
> 3) When the sponsor logos will appear on the OSGeo website,
> wiki etc.?
> 
> See http://osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/sponsors.html
> 
> 4) Is the local sponsorship scheme same as OSGeo.org
> sponsorship ?
> 
> OSGeo Executive Director will serve as a contact point to those who
> are doing international solicitation for sponsors. After the kind of
> sponsorship, sponsor level etc. are agreed upon, appropriate invoice
> can be issued by OSGeo. In case the invoice is needed in local country,
> OSGeo can request the Local Chapter Representative to issue invoice
> on OSGeo behalf. In case of local chapter sponsors the preferred
> approach would be that someone form the local chapter connects with
> the main organisation while  also providing support/services to make
> the adminstrative process easier.
> 
> An OSGeo local chapter could solicit local sponsors for the local
> chapter if the OSGeo local chapter desires to. However, if the
> sponsorship stays with the local chapter then the sponsor would be
> considered a local sponsor, to be appropriately acknowledged on the
> local chapter web site and other promotional materials. If the
> sponsorship stays with an OSGeo local chapter, it would not be
> considered at the same level as OSGeo "Foundation Sponsorship" or
> OSGeo"Project Sponsorship" mentioned earlier in this document.
> 
> If a potential sponsor is primarily interested in supporting efforts
> of an OSGeo local chapter,  then it is suggested that the OSGeo local
> chapter consider establishing some guidelines for local sponsorship
> and solicit the funds for local use. If this approach is considered
> inadvisable, then the OSGeo local chapter encouraged to  solicit support
> as a general "Foundation Sponsorship"and perhaps the foundation could
> make some special effort to fund OSGeo local chapter activities if that
> is the desire of the sponsoring organization.
> 
> 5)  Will OSGeo sponsors be invited to next FOSS4G Conference ?
> 
> Every sponsor above the "Associate Sponsor" level will receive an invite
> to join the board and other speakers at a sponsors-only event following
> the conference. (See https://www.osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/). The 
> OSGeo sponsorship indicates that "Sustaining Sponsor" and "Principle
> Sponsors" will special rights to sponsorship selection for the
> conference.
> 
> OSGeo sponsorship and only "Conference Sponsors" is treated separatly.
> "Conference Sponsors" will be acknowledged as on the various conference
> materials. If OSGeo "Foundation Sponsor" or "Project Sponsor" also wish
> to be "Conference Sponsor"then an additional payment will be required as
> decided by the conference committee.
> 
> 6) Can the sponsor specify the purpose for which the sponsorship fee can 
> be used?
> 
> Generally no, not through the "Foundation Sponsor" program, though some 
> advice might be well received as long as the advice is considered 
> congruent to the mission and objectives of OSGeo. OSGeo does not provide 
> any guarantee that particular technical suggestions of sponsors will be 
> accepted. If the sponsoring organization desires to receive the formal 
> benefits of sponsorship then they are not able to decide how the money 
> is used.
> 
> OSGeo also has a "Project Sponsor" program in which case sponsorship can 
> be applied to a specific project, but only if a project is soliciting
> "Project Sponsor". The only OSGeo project that is presently soliciting
> "Project Sponsor" is ithe GDAL/OGR project.
> 
> If an organization wished to be an OSGeo "Foundation Sponsor" or
> "Project Sponsor" they could become sponsors for them separetely, 
> following the normal procedures. OSGeo may decide whether to hold money 
> on behalf of local chapters or whether the funds should be directly 
> disbursed to the local chapter. If OSGeo deems it necessary to hold 
> funds on behalf of local chapters this implies some degree of due 
> diligence to ensure the money is spent responsibly.
> 
> 7) How do we sponsoring OSGeo in a "non-standard" or special way not 
> described in this document above?
> 
> If an organization would like to provide money in a "non-standard" way 
> that is not described in this document, appropriate ways can be worked 
> out in consultation with the Executive Director of OSGeo.
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