[Board] Potential Vietnam Chapter

[Venkatesh Raghavan]

Hi All,

Some more info about the meeting in Hanoi.
The meeting was organized with the help
of the Japan-Vietnam Geoinformatics
Consortium (JVGC) which I have been involved with
since 2001. PeaceSoft Corporation which has
been helping in promoting FOSS4G in VN has
kindly offered meeting space, internet access
etc for this meeting too.

More comments below;

On 2010/03/06 10:59, Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
...
> I hope you can discuss how specifically OSGeo can be more used within
> their country's mandate to adopt FOSS.  Did you read about the lofty
> targets they set for their IT infrastructure specifically, and other
> related areas generally.

There has been talk about broader IT adoption in the government for
the last two years. Nothing concrete so far about FOSS4G adoption.
Have read the "lofty" targets and discussed with government officials
before but haven't seen much happening on the ground. Also hear that
proprietary makes giving away "free" licenses. We plan to discuss these
issues at the meeting too.

> My hopes in this area are to be able to see if a) some funded events
> could be arranged to help bring in educator/teachers/consultants to help
> see OSGeo apps used more broadly and b) to feel out the potential and
> benefit of having Vietnamese organisations sponsor OSGeo.  I know that
> sponsorship from there might be a stretch, but these are the two
> perspectives I'm approaching every event with in mind, regardless of locale.

Our experience in VN over the last 10 years is that it is
extremely difficult to finds funds locally for events.
Most of the conference/training/workshop activity has
been throught funds in overseas project being implemented
in VN. OSGeo as an organization could also find ways of
implementing FOSS4G based projects using Overseas Development
Assistance. We have been successful in doing this in VN using JICA
(Japan International Cooperation Agency) and MEXT (Japanese
Ministry of Education and Training under the aegis of JVGC before.
This could spur local chapter activities in target countries.

About local chapters sponsoring OSGeo, a more clear policy needs
about responsibilities and benefits need to be outlined by OSGeo
to attract such sponsorships. I would even go to the extent of
suggesting that "official" local chapters to sponsor OSGeo at
Associate Sponsor level(for non-profits) and avail benefits
that come with it. I would also suggest special sponsorship
rates for non-OECD countries to lower entry level barriers for
countries like VN etc.
...
> Best wishes on the meeting,

Look forward for a fruitful meeting

Venka

> Tyler
>
> Jeff McKenna wrote:
>> Just updating the Board with more formal details of the Vietnam chapter
>> meeting in Hanoi:
>>
>> *********
>> A remainder about our meeting on 11 March 2010.
>>
>> Date/Time: 11 March 2010 (Thu) 14:00-17:00
>>
>> Place: PeaceSoft Solutions Coporation
>>         1st floor, 17T10 building
>>         Thi Dinh road, Cau Giay district
>>         Ha Noi
>>
>> Agenda: 1) Formation of OSGeo-Vietnam Local Chapter
>>          2) Other related matters
>>
>> Members: 1) Dr. Bui Hong Son
>>              Director, CIREN
>>              ICT Department for Natural Resource and Environment
>>              Ho Chi Minh City
>>
>>           2) Dr. Ho Dinh Duan
>>              Director
>>              Hue Institute of Natural Reseources, Environment and
>>              Sustainable Development, Vietnamese Academy of Science
>>              Vietnam
>>
>>           3) Dr. Truong Xuan Luan
>>              Vice-Rector
>>              Hanoi University of Mining and Geology
>>
>>           4) Dr. Tran Van Anh
>>              Lecturer
>>              Hanoi University of Mining and Geology
>>
>>           5) Mr. Nguyen Hoa Binh
>>              CEO
>>              PeaceSoft Corporation
>>              Hanoi
>>
>>           6) Dr. Ha Quy Quynh
>>              Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources
>>              Hanoi
>>
>>           7) Mr. Jeff McKenna
>>              OSGeo, Board Member
>>              CEO, Gateway Geomatics
>>
>>           8) Dr. Ned Horning
>>              OSGeo Charter Member
>>              American Museum of Natural History
>>
>>           9) Prof. Venkatesh Raghavan
>>              OSGeo, Charter Member
>>              Osaka City University
>>              Osaka
>>
>> Discussions may continue on 12 March (Fri) if necessary.
>> The time will be decided at the meeting on 11 March.
>>
>> *********
>>
>> Looks like a good group, very exciting.
>>
>> -jeff