[Board] Motion for NA Chapter - What it is….

[Mark Lucas]

Wiki page for the North America Regional:
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/North_America_Regional

About Local Chapters:  
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Local_Chapters

Chapter Guidelines:
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Local_Chapter_Guidelines

Chapter Formation: (with quick responses)

In order to form a chapter, the following steps should be taken:
"OSGeo Chapter" should self-organize (for instance in the OSGeo wiki, via OSGeo mailing list, etc), seeking to determine if a critical mass of interest exists to justify a chapter. Wiki, mailing list, and an initial active community have been created (over 30 members)
"OSGeo Chapter" should prepare a mission and objectives indicating the scope of the planned chapter (geographic or linquistic extent for instance). Primarily focused on running an annual regional conference, also support other regional activities
“OSGeo Chapter” should propose an official representative to liaise with the OSGeo Board. If accepted by the board, the representative will be an officer of OSGeo. Mark Lucas, OSGeo BOD, will act as the initial liaison
“OSGeo Chapter” should submit an official expression of interest to form a chapter to the OSGeo board, listing initial members, mission, representative and other supporting information.Expression of interest letter on the wiki
The OSGeo board shall then consider passing a motion forming the chapter, and designating the liason officer.Motion submitted to the board, will continue discussion and motion at next board meeting'
In considering the formation of new OSGeo chapters, the board will consider issues including:
Does the mandate (geographically or linguistically) conflict with other existing chapters or chapters-in-formation?No, will collaborate with existing chapters and the board, no implied hierarchy between regional chapter and local chapters'
Does the chapter appear to have sufficient interest to justify official formation? Yes, active discussion and contributors
Does the chapter appear to be open to broad membership, and representative of the target geographic or linguistic community? (eg. if a chapter had the objective to cover all Spanish speakers, it would be inappropriate if the only interest demonstrated was from one country)Yes, anyone interested in an annual NA regional conference or NA OSGeo expansion is welcome'

And we need to formally submit an expression of interest, here it is:
We formally petition the board of directors of the OSGeo foundation to establish a North America Regional chapter - OSGeo-NA. The membership of said chapter has self organized, establishing a wiki and mailing list. The primary focus of the chapter will be to organize and run an annual north america OSGeo conference. The members hope to establish a model for other regional chapters with corresponding regional conferences around the world. The North America chapter will coordinate closely with the OSGeo Board of Directors to support international conferences and events. The annual regional conference will consolidate with the international conference when the OSGeo/foss4g conference is scheduled within North America.
A secondary objective will be to closely coordinate with other events and organizations within the region. The regional chapter will also act as an interface to promote open source geospatial business models as well as adoption of OSGeo software in government, environmental, social, and academic settings.
The chapter intends to collaborate with local chapters as needed, but no organizational hierarchy or oversight of local chapters is implied.
Meetings will be held on an annual basis at a minimum. Current plans are to schedule quarterly online meetings using the OSGeo online resources for wiki, mailing list, and trac project management. Several key members of the OSGeo including past and present board members have joined the effort. The lead and initial point of contact and OSGeo liaison will be Mark Lucas.
The North America Regional chapter will operate as a separate financial entity from the OSGeo foundation. No financial support is required or implied.
We motion that the OSGeo Board formally establish the North America Region chapter.
Summary, 
I think we have followed the guidelines, have an active and growing community forming.  We'd like the OSGeo board to make it official.  Lets please clear up any questions before the next board meeting.
Thanks,
Mark







-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/board/attachments/20111115/c3057e2d/attachment.htm>