[Board] So what is the purpose of OSGeo?

[Arnulf Christl]

Michael P. Gerlek wrote:
> I too have been refraining from doing anything but listen, since I'm not
> a Board Member, but the number and tone of emails Paul's proposal has
> raised is surprising to me.

My very personal experience tells me that this will give us loads of problems and I am trying to slow down the discussion. The more positive feedback Paul's proposal gets the more I'll have to oppose it. For me this is painful because I really appreciate Paul's Open Source business activities and think that the teach-in proposal is great - but not as so tightly connected to an OSGeo event. More over I think that neither Paul not Jeff need that. I might even support it from my company without having any financial return I am so much in favor of making this happen. I wonder why it has developed into such a problem?

> As I understand it, a couple members-in-good-standing of the Community
> are in good faith

"members-in-good-standing" "good faith" and "moral blessing" are completely not quantifieable and therefore not reproducible and therefore not transparent categories. 

How can we (OSGeo) assure that we (OSGeo) apply the same vetting to anybody (OSGeo members?) who approach OSGeo wanting to do the same thing? 

>    (1) trying to spread the message of the Foundation,
>    (2) willing to assume the financial risk,
>    (3) pay OSGeo some money, and not incidentally
>    (4) try to make a living by promoting open source.

I'd hate to be associated as an opposer to (4) as you will believe. 

As a side note - we should really make sure what our member categories are. The most recent additions I heard are "real member" and "members-in-good-standing". Come off it. We have participants, members and charter members. Suffice it should. 

7

> In return, they are are asking OSGeo to provide its moral blessing by
> allowing the use of the logo, brand, etc.
> 
> There seems to be some concern that this might draw away from annual
> conference: okay, that is a clear tangible issue which can be reasonably
> discussed.
> 
> However, there seem to be other, larger undercurrents of concern being
> voiced by some of the board members -- but which I'm not able to readily
> understand.  Maybe I missed a mail somewhere along the way, but it'd be
> nice to see a succinct statement of opposition that can be argued
> for/against.
> 
> -mpg
> 
>  
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org 
>> [mailto:board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Mark Lucas
>> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 4:46 AM
>> To: OSGeo-Board
>> Subject: [Board] So what is the purpose of OSGeo?
>>
>> Sorry, couldn't ignore this one....
>>
>> I'm really surprised and confused about some of the negative 
>> reaction  
>> to Paul Ramsey's proposal to provide training for OSGeo projects and  
>> solutions.
>>
>> It is clearly a good thing in my mind.  We have several 
>> active members  
>> of the OSGeo projects proposing to spread the word and 
>> provide a much  
>> needed service.  They are offering to take the risk and provide both  
>> financial and advertising benefit to the OSGeo.
>>
>> It is in our best interest to raise the bar for all OSGeo 
>> solutions -  
>> training is a much need part of that.  OSGeo needs to participate in  
>> these types of things to stay in the public eye and raise the  
>> financial resources to carry on its cause.
>>
>> It is quite true that it is extremely difficult for many to justify  
>> travel outside their own countries to the agencies or organizations  
>> they work for.  It is naive to think that we are going to 
>> change that  
>> fact.  There is a customer need for OSGeo training all over 
>> the world  
>> - OSGeo should be encouraging a thousand flowers to bloom.  None of  
>> this happens for free.  Open source should not be confused with  
>> 'free', it costs money and resources to do these things and 
>> we need to  
>> encourage all of the help we can get.
>>
>> We should be putting our energy into positively encouraging our  
>> solutions and their promotions, raising more resources for 
>> OSGeo so we  
>> have the ability to help those in need.
>>
>> Mark,
>> a has been board member ;-)
>> _______________________________________________
>> Board mailing list
>> Board at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Board mailing list
> Board at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board