[Board] USGIF Conference and diatribe on where we are heading

Wed Oct 26 09:16:38 PDT 2011

Hi All,

I hadn't planned a trip to the States any time soon, but in principle, yes,
depending on timing and costs. I think it would be really useful to have a
round-table discussion on some of these issues, and I would very much like
to put names to faces for those people I haven't already met!

Cheers

Jo

On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 4:52 PM, Michael P. Gerlek <mpg at flaxen.com> wrote:

> Peter, Arnulf, Mark (I think?), and I have agreed in principle for
> travelling for this.
>
> Frank, Daniel, Jeff, Jo, Tim?
>
> -mpg
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:
> board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Seven (aka Arnulf)
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 8:15 PM
> > To: board at lists.osgeo.org
> > Subject: Re: [Board] USGIF Conference and diatribe on where we are
> heading
> >
> > On 10/26/2011 01:44 AM, Michael P. Gerlek wrote:
> > > All:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I'm glad Mark sent this, as I've been pretty discouraged since our IRC
> > > meeting a couple weeks ago.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I thought the f2f board meeting after foss4g was very effective and got
> > > us off to a good start, and leaving Denver I had high hopes we could
> > > address OSGeo's strategic issues.  However, the subsequent meeting -
> > > held via IRC - has led me to start to understand why OSGeo has stalled
> > > out on the strategic side over the past couple years:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > IRC and email are simply the wrong way for the board to have any sort
> of
> > > meaningful discussion
> > >
> > > about "big picture" things of the scope Mark is bringing up.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Some weeks ago we "stepped back from a core staff" for two reasons:
>  our
> > > current financial posture is unhealthy and our current staff was not
> > > seen as the best choice as to how to improve that situation.  The more
> I
> > > look at OSGeo right now, the more I am confident we did the right
> > > thing.  And I too want to see OSGeo rebuild itself with a clearer set
> of
> > > goals and objectives.  But I've yet to see any consensus on what those
> > > goals might be, or how we might develop a business plan to get there.
> > >
> > > As the Board, it is our responsibility to set those goals and develop
> > > that plan, and we already agreed that, where justified, OSGeo should
> pay
> > > for additional in-person meetings.  Therefore, I propose we meet in
> > > person as soon as is practical to continue the work started in Denver,
> > > to decide in what direction we want to grow and make concrete plans for
> > > how to get there.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > As secretary, I would be happy to organize a meeting space here in
> > > Seattle or anywhere else that might be convenient.  All we need is a
> > > hotel conference room near a major airport hub for a couple days.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -mpg
> >
> > Michael,
> > I support this and am prepared to invest the time to make this possible.
> > We should also make reimbursement of travel and accomodation a part of
> > the OSGeo budget allowing all board members to participate regardless
> > from where they come.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Arnulf
> >
> > > *From:*board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
> > > [mailto:board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] *On Behalf Of *Mark Lucas
> > > *Sent:* Tuesday, October 25, 2011 7:54 AM
> > > *To:* OSGeo-Board List
> > > *Subject:* [Board] USGIF Conference and diatribe on where we are
> heading
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Just got back from the 2011 Geoint Conference in San Antonio Texas.
> > >
> > > http://geoint2011.com/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The USGIF is the conference for geospatial intelligence in the US.
>  This
> > > year there were over 5000 attendees (138 from overseas- mostly foreign
> > > military).
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > There over 250  booths and paying sponsors (> 100,000 sq ft of exhibit
> > > space) .  They have built this organization up to support a full time
> > > staff, multiple events throughout the year, media publications etc.
> > >
> > > http://www.gotgeoint.com/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > For the first time, we were able to get on the agenda with an OSS
> panel.
> > >
> > >
> http://geointv.com/archive/geoint-2011-breakout-demonstration-of-military-relevant-open-source-geospatial-software/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Open source software is suddenly interesting because of dramatic budget
> > > cuts that are planned for most of the agencies.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Most of the presentations are online at: http://geointv.com/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > NSA and NGA both made announcements related to their focus on open
> > > source software.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > As the US government shows increasing interest in open source software
> > > solutions the existing contractors will try to align themselves with
> > > those capabilities.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, this comes at a time when the OSGeo has stepped back
> from
> > > a core staff and is uncertain about holding annual NA conferences.
> > >  Indeed, there almost seems to be a reluctance to focus on raising
> > > revenue for the organization - instead focusing on how to allocate what
> > > we have to code sprints, travel, etc.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > We want to support the building of open source geospatial software.  I
> > > would contend that we can do more if we (the board) focus on running
> the
> > > organization more like a business.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > We already do a great job on supporting development.  If we add more
> > > attention to business models I believe that we have a window of
> > > opportunity to attract sponsorship from some of the many players that
> > > already support USGIF.  If the US government continues to move towards
> > > OSS, many contractors will want to brand themselves with an OSS
> > > approach, resources, development and operational support.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > If we do not focus on this we will simply lose the opportunity to
> USGIF,
> > > MIL-OSS, OSFA, OSSI or other organizations that will aggressively step
> > > forward.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > In either case OSGeo projects will become a valuable resource.  As I
> > > mentioned before, I was able to convince RadiantBlue to make a $30k
> > > investment as a platinum foss4g sponsor based on the trends we see
> > > developing.  I'd like to continue and expand that support, but can only
> > > do that if there is a business case to be made.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I feel that we have fallen backwards.  We failed to raise sponsorship
> > > and revenue in order to sustain and grow the organization.  That led to
> > > decision to cut expenses with the removal of the ED.  I get the feeling
> > > that some on the board are comfortable with the status quo.  It is
> > > probably clear that I'm in a different camp - we need to raise revenue,
> > > get back to where we can support core staff, and grow the organization
> > > on a couple of fronts.  A litmus test for me will be a decision on the
> > > annual NA conference.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I feel that this is a discussion we should quickly settle one way or
> the
> > > other and I'd appreciate any feedback in advance of the next board
> > > meeting.  Either way I'll continue to be a strong supporter and user of
> > > OSGeo projects - its just that we all need to decide where we are going
> > > to focus and put our energies.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Mark
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Board mailing list
> > > Board at lists.osgeo.org
> > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board
> >
> >
> > --
> > Exploring Space, Time and Mind
> > http://arnulf.us
> > _______________________________________________
> > Board mailing list
> > Board at lists.osgeo.org
> > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board
>
> _______________________________________________
> Board mailing list
> Board at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board
>

-- 
***Jo Cook*
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-- 
***Jo Cook*
Astun Technology Ltd, The Coach House, 17 West Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT18
7RL, UK
t:+44 750 095 8167
iShare - Data integration and publishing platform<http://www.isharemaps.com/>
See the new Helpdesk and Customer
portal<http://support.astuntechnology.com/home>
*****************************************
Over 35% of the 4 star council websites use iShare - SOCITM Better Connected
2010

See our customer commendations and
awards<http://astuntechnology.com/customers/awards-and-commendations/>

 Company registration no. 5410695. Registered in England and Wales.
Registered office: 120 Manor Green Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8LN VAT no.
864201149.
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