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

Wed Oct 26 10:47:56 PDT 2011

I'm not totally convinced we need a f2f, but I'm not opposed to it.

I can offer up conference rooms at Chantilly Virginia, Melbourne Florida, Colorado Springs Co.

In any case, I think it would be helpful if everyone could email their thoughts to the list.

Mark

On Oct 26, 2011, at 12:30 PM, Michael P. Gerlek wrote:

> My assumption is that travel costs would be covered by OSGeo.  The actual “cost” to the attendees would be the time commitment, since apparently some of us actually have Real Jobs(tm) and icky stuff like that…
>  
> (I’d be happy to have the meeting in the UK, but – alas! – that’s probably not the smartest financial path to take.  Although I’d suggest we rotate the venues between board members’ home ports, so at least one of us need not travel and can do any local arrangements.)
>  
> -mpg
>  
>  
> From: board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Jo Cook
> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 9:17 AM
> To: osgeo-board List
> Subject: [Board] USGIF Conference and diatribe on where we are heading
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 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
> 
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> 
>  
> --
> 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
> See the new Helpdesk and Customer portal
> ***************************************** 
> Over 35% of the 4 star council websites use iShare - SOCITM Better Connected 2010
> 
> See our customer commendations and awards
> 
> 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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