[Board] Re: Request for formal incorporation of OSGeo-Africa

[Jeff McKenna]

I am adding Gérald Fenoy to this discussion, as he is assisting the 
formation of a Senegal chapter.  Gérald: please join this discussion.

-jeff



Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
> Following on this thread, the other directors in a board meeting today
> agreed with you and Frank that more clarification is needed.  In
> particular, having more than one country represented for a continental
> chapter is important.  Have you considered a South Africa chapter in the
> meantime?
> 
> Tyler
> 
> Tim Sutton wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>>
>>
>> On 03/03/2010 22:55, Frank Warmerdam wrote:
>>> Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
>>>> Dear board, Tim is making a request to become 'official' as a local
>>>> Africa chapter. Their wiki page is:
>>>>
>>>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Africa
>>>>
>>>> And this will help them during their forming of a local chapter
>>>> supported event. Can we vote on this at tomorrow's meeting?
>>> Tim, Gavin and others,
>>>
>>> My primary concern with the OSGeo Africa chapter is it's area
>>> of responsibility. It seems to me that having it be a branch of
>>> GISSA implies that it is really a South African OSGeo chapter.
>> I need to discuss this with Gavin a little offline and then get back to
>> you, but this is my concern too - I am after *African* representation
>> rather than South African representation - until such time as subregions
>> emerge more strongly it is important that we appear inclusive to the
>> entire region. The AFOSSGIS annual events will provide a forum / AGM
>> whereby a chair can be elected annually - I'm not after a president for
>> life post here, just wanting to get some momentum going.
>>
>> It leaves the issue of NGO incorporation but I think it makes sense to
>> first have charter as an official chapter and then start looking at that.
>>
>> That said, let me chat to Gav tomorrow (and others interested please
>> chime in!) and see if there is a compelling case for us to remain under
>> the GISSA wing. I will get back to you after that.
>>
>>> Can you update the chapter page to discuss the territorial ambit
>>> of the chapter, and how you can ensure broad participation from
>>> across the region?
>> Yes will do. The osgeo-africa mailing list has already got a fairly
>> broad subsriber base from across the continent.
>>
>>> Best regards,
>> Regards
>>
>> Tim
>