[Board] 2012 FOSS4G Decision

[Jeff McKenna]

I couldn't agree more with you Tim - helping to bring FOSS4G to 
communities around the world (both established and establishing) is my 
goal, and one of my proudest achievements.

-jeff



On 11-09-14 2:36 PM, Tim Sutton wrote:
> Hi
>
> (with apologies to anti-top-posters)
>
> As a bystander to the list and non board member I hope its ok to add
> my 2c to the discussion. I think Arnulf raises some interesting points
> but I do wonder if pure (or even predominantly) financial
> considerations should be the decider for where FOSS4G conferences get
> held.
>
> "To support the development of open source Geospatial Software, and
> promote its widespread use."[1]
>
> I am not sure if this is the current and final version of OSGEO's
> mission statement, but it is certainly the way I and many others
> perceive its role. I appreciate that money is probably the grease that
> keeps the cogs of the machine turning, but holding FOSS4G in disparate
> locations around the world certainly takes the organisation a long way
> to achieving its mission. My personal experience from the Cape Town
> FOSS4G is that it played a huge role in exposing (and prompting use
> of) FOSSGIS software to an audience that would otherwise still be
> oblivious to it. I suspect a conference in China would have a similar
> effect there and build strong interest and participation from a region
> which as you have pointed out probably could use some stimulus.
>
> Of course it doesn't help if holding the conference there sends OSGEO
> to the scrap yard, but if it can be done without breaking the bank, go
> for it!
>
> All the best
>
> Regards
>
> Tim
>
>
> [1] http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Mission#What_the_Mission_Statement_looks_like_Today