[Board] Re: Motion: Support visit to meet with the emerging Vietnam Chapter with funding

[Jeff McKenna]

Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
> Frank Warmerdam wrote:
>> Jeff McKenna wrote:
>>> I disagree here.  The travel policy should apply to any OSGeo member
>>> or employee.  I don't think any single individual should be allowed to
>>> make his/her own decisions on travel (if I was in the E.D. role I
>>> would expect that I would have to approve my own travel with the Board
>>> before booking).
>> Jeff,
>>
>> Well, this will bear some further discussion then.  I'll be hard to
>> convince, but I can be overridden if necessary without me feeling
>> bad.
>>
>>> I'd like to see a travel policy come out of this whole discussion,
>>> approved by the Board, that would apply to any member of OSGeo, paid
>>> or otherwise.
>> Agreed, with the exception (in my mind) of the ED.
>>
>> Actually, I can imagine a few other exceptions too.  For instance
>> committees and projects spending out of their own budgets should also
>> not be subject to an overall project.  In the past GDAL has paid for it's
>> maintainer to attend FOSS4G and we (the project) would not have appreciated
>> any interference.
> 
> It's probably worth noting that the board, as my employer, set things up
> certain ways over 3 years ago when they offered me the job.  Others can
> speak to the reasoning better than me, but I just wanted to mention it
> so you realise that you're talking about changing some things that have
> been running for a while.  Likewise with adding budgets for director
> travel... totally new obviously.
> 
> With that in mind, if something isn't working right, that is prompting
> interest in both these changes, please let me know!
> 
> Tyler
> 

That's a good point Tyler.  When I talk about creating a travel policy 
for all OSGeo members, I was not thinking that there is a problem.  But 
that doesn't mean it's a bad thing that we all follow the same policy.

As for your employer, the board 3 years ago, setting up your job, that 
is true - but what role does each new Board have with the E.D. job 
description etc.  I feel it is my right as a Board member to talk about 
policies and roles for all of our members, paid or otherwise.

(yes we're in new territory)

-jeff