[Board] FOSS4G 2014 RFP Vote

Tue Jul 23 10:40:21 PDT 2013

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Mark,
thanks for the thoughtful response and clarification. I very much
respect your point of view and for the same reasons would vote for
Portland, you really summarized it well. But I am not on the board and
you are. This is one more vote for DC and that is exactly how it
should be.

In my opinion the board is there to decide things. In this case take a
concise decision where to have the next conference. It is not about
re-reading and re-evaluating both proposals but about taking a
decision that the committee could not take because both proposals are
equally good. As simple as that. Lets not make it more complicated
than necessary. Make a motion, vote, done.

If at least one member of the board wants to vote in private we should
respect that and only publish the result. The board has nine members
for a simple good reason: To not have ties.

Have fun,
Arnulf

On 23.07.2013 13:14, Mark Lucas wrote:
> Perhaps a little frustration did show through, sorry about that.
> 
> My main concern has always been the financial health of the 
> organization.  That is the primary reason I came back on the board
> - hoping that we could focus more on sponsorship and generating
> more revenue enabling us to do more.  We have great volunteer
> resources and effort, certainly the selection committee has done an
> excellent job.  My "figuring it out as we go" comment was more
> directed at where to go after a tie, charter member vote, board
> vote, board vote excluding board members that had volunteered
> services one way or the other.  Clearly we have to select one to be
> the international conference.  Both have worked hard on their
> proposals and either one will be a good venue.
> 
> If I am asked or allowed to vote, I would vote for DC - but that
> is simply because I believe we could get more revenue and exposure
> there. Portland would be a nicer place to visit and I'm sure we
> would be attracting more natural resources people and is a more
> laid back environment.  We all have opinions, biases, and agendas
> based on what we think can move us forward. On a professional
> level, I can target sponsorship dollars at DC, I'm not able to make
> that case in Portland given the nature of my business.  So that
> also influences my choice.
> 
> I read below that the president has made the decision he can't
> accept my vote ( I know that is not personal, and that it is well
> intentioned ).
> 
> I'll support whatever is decided.
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> On Jul 23, 2013, at 6:33 AM, Jeff McKenna
> <jmckenna at gatewaygeomatics.com 
> <mailto:jmckenna at gatewaygeomatics.com>> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Mark,
>> 
>> I've been hoping you would respond to let us know your position, 
>> regarding you being on the DC local committee, for this vote.
>> Are you saying that that is not a conflict of interest?
>> 
>> Unfortunately, I don't believe someone who is named in the
>> proposal on the local committee for a bid should be allowed to
>> decide which bid is better; I, don't see how that would be
>> possible.
>> 
>> As for making up the rules as we go: the Conference Committee has
>> worked very hard at this, reviewing each proposal, and, the two
>> bids are so good that the committee could not agree on which is
>> better.  We will now vote as a Board to decide.
>> 
>> I am sorry if you are frustrated at this process.  We, are all 
>> volunteers, working very hard and trying to pass on our passion
>> to the next FOSS4G.  Maybe, after this, you can join the
>> Conference Committee and dive into helping develop the next 2015
>> process; this would be great to have your help at this, as it is
>> not an easy task at all (I do know from experience).
>> 
>> In the mean time, I cannot accept your vote for this 2014
>> process, only because you are listed in the RFP document for DC
>> for its local committee.
>> 
>> If this is still an issue, I suggest the Board meet for a Skype
>> meeting ASAP to solve this issue.  Out of all this passion and
>> feelings, must come something good, and I am happy to make time
>> to work with you on this.
>> 
>> -jeff
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -jeff
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 2013-07-22 11:01 PM, Mark Lucas wrote:
>>> Sounds like we are making up the rules as we go along.  I think
>>> we either have a board vote or not.  If someone wants to
>>> abstain because they believe they have a conflict of interest
>>> that should be their personal decision.
>>> 
>>> I'd like to find a way to select one as the international
>>> conference and let the other organize as a regional.
>>> 
>>> I'd really like to find a way to build up OSGeo revenues
>>> through some of the regional conferences as well.  Perhaps as
>>> simple as when they need OSGeo financial backing we work a
>>> division of profits.
>>> 
>>> First step is simply selecting the international venue.
>>> 
>>> Mark
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Jul 22, 2013, at 8:36 AM, Daniel Morissette 
>>> <dmorissette at mapgears.com <mailto:dmorissette at mapgears.com> 
>>> <mailto:dmorissette at mapgears.com>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On 13-07-22 8:33 AM, Bart van den Eijnden wrote:
>>>>> Right, this makes sense Arnulf.
>>>>> 
>>>>> My concern was merely that if there is one proposal with
>>>>> "broad support" (a.k.a. conflict of interest), and all
>>>>> those people step out of voting (both on the conf committee
>>>>> as on the board), the vote will be very skewed. This is
>>>>> exactly what Daniel has pointed out.
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> BTW, I believe Mark Lucas is on the DC LOC so we'd lose him
>>>> as well for the vote unless I'm mistaken.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>> _______________________________________________ Board mailing
>> list Board at lists.osgeo.org <mailto:Board at lists.osgeo.org> 
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board
> 
> 
> 
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- -- 
Exploring Space, Time and Mind
http://arnulf.us
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