[Board] Teach-in 2009

[Mark Lucas]

An observation, we are shooting ourselves in the foot on this one.

Most of the people (if not all) of this proposed activity are very  
active OSGeo supporters, this provides a much needed service on the  
top OSGeo projects.  The organizers, in good faith, are trying to  
contribute to the financial resources, marketing and quality of the  
OSGeo organization.  In this stage of our development our problem is  
not having our brand undermined - we need more activities like this,  
we need more resources, we need (dare I say it) more corporate  
sponsorship to raise the quality of the projects and their available  
level of support.  We are taking a very good thing and worrying that  
it might somehow be bad.

OSGeo needs to empower and enable these activities and local  
activity.  OSGeo should manage by exception instead of worrying about  
what 'might' go wrong.  If, at some point in time, someone tries to  
subvert our intent or take advantage of our brand - that would be  
cause for this level of discussion.  As Tyler mentioned, we are  
punishing those supporters who have the audacity to ask for permission.

Some of the leading board members have recused themselves because they  
want to participate.  I admire their integrity, but unfortunately this  
is taking a bad turn because we have too many OSGeo people involved in  
the proposed activity (hmmm).

To the Director and the current board members - if in your honest  
opinion you think this would be good for the OSGeo I would ask that  
you don't recuse yourself and drive this through (make a disclosure if  
it makes you feel better).  It would be silly for Dave to defer future  
training activity just to move this in the right direction.

We should have OSGeo labels all over this one....

Mark



On May 30, 2008, at 1:29 PM, Paul Ramsey wrote:

> On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 10:24 AM, Dave McIlhagga
> <dmcilhagga at dmsolutions.ca> wrote:
>> Unfortunately, "OSGeo
>> Teach-in" is pretty hard to argue that it is anything but an OSGeo  
>> activity.
>
> I don't understand the "unfortunately". I think it's a great OSGeo
> activity, like FOSS4G, and will generate great buzz for the
> foundation.
>
>> As for supporting the event -- if it comes down to it, I'd be  
>> willing to
>> abstain from any potential corporate involvement for DM in any  
>> teaching
>> activities at Teach-in if that's what's required to get this  
>> approved.
>
> I don't think that's an issue. We can do an unbranded event without
> any Board approval, in my mind.
>
> "Never look a gift horse in the mouth." Great saying.
>
> P
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