[Board] FOSS4G Regional Events

Tue Jul 23 16:46:11 PDT 2013

David,

With regard to the North America chapter - my view at the time was that I
was favorable to the idea, but felt there was some work still to do to work
out details - I think mostly with regard to having support from existing
more local chapters and some definition around responsibilities.   I'd love
to see the idea brought around forward again.  I would be willing to be
involved in such an effort.

Best regards,
Frank

On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 4:33 PM, David William Bitner
<bitner at dbspatial.com>wrote:

> Frank and Cameron,
>
> I think you've both hit the nail right on the head. Before the DC event,
> there was a push to start an NA Chapter explicitly to help with putting
> some broader framework around this regional event. At the time, the Board
> did not see the value in having any sorts of "meta" chapters and the
> request for an NA Chapter was turned down. There currently is no process
> for reaching consensus on where the next NA event.
>
> My main argument is not whether we need an NA Chapter or whether we want
> OSGeo Global to pick the NA event, but we do need something. With the
> successes of the DC event and the Minneapolis event (and the very
> significant seed money we have earmarked for the next NA specific event) I
> am very optimistic about the continued growth of the NA event.
>
> As to Cameron's "control" vs. "support". I would say that support from
> OSGeo is absolutely welcome and critical for continued success. I have to
> admit to being more ambivalent on the control question. I would personally
> be OK with more OSGeo control, but if that is the case, we need to make
> what that means very clear. Ambiguity of expectations is the thing that
> will lead to problems whether those are with revenue sharing or
> expectations of things that need to happen at events (ie OSGeo table/ Live
> DVD).
>
> David
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 6:04 PM, Frank Warmerdam <warmerdam at pobox.com>wrote:
>
>> David,
>>
>> I'm curious how you think the FOSS4G-NA selection should work?  Initially
>> reaching rough consensus amoung various interested parties can work (as for
>> the first two events), but I *feel* that one of the benefits of OSGeo or a
>> local chapter is some sort of relatively unambiguous way of reaching
>> decisions.  Are you thinking there would be a FOSS4G-NA committee to make
>> future siting decisions?  Should it continue to be by rough consensus among
>> interested parties?
>>
>> In my ideal world there would be an at least moderately formalized
>> committee to select new sites, possibly making a recommendation to the
>> board if we want to have OSGeo holding money and backing the event.  If
>> there was an NA chapter, then that chapter could take care of things.
>>  Lacking that I'm not sure if there ought to be a FOSS4G-NA committee or
>> what.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 3:55 PM, Cameron Shorter <
>> cameron.shorter at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>  (Retitling this email thread as I don't believe it is relevant to the
>>> FOSS4G global decision).
>>>
>>> Hi David,
>>> I think you are touching on the subtle difference between "OSGeo
>>> support" vs "OSGeo control" of regional FOSS4G events.
>>> As you are hinting at, "Support" is welcome, "Control" is not. Ie, OSGeo
>>> should aim to collect a repository of wisdom and best practices, which
>>> regional conferences can draw upon, but still give regional conferences the
>>> flexibility to be creative and innovative and do things differently if they
>>> wish.
>>>
>>> With regards to city selection for FOSS4G-NA, I agree that it should be
>>> up to the region to decide the process for selecting the city.
>>>
>>> On 23/07/2013 10:36 PM, David William Bitner wrote:
>>>
>>> The precedence to date has been that the regional events are events
>>> selected and organized by the regions at a bit of an arms length from OSGeo
>>> International. FOSS4G-NA in Minneapolis did not have the resources to
>>> operate without OSGeo as a financial backstop (note we just needed the
>>> "insurance"  of a financial backstop, not any up-front thanks to the
>>> FOSS4G-NA organizers in DC).
>>>
>>>  If OSGeo is going to get in the business of selecting the locations
>>> for any of these regionals, in my opinion, OSGeo better be willing to step
>>> up to play a much more active role in these events. The direction from
>>> OSGeo to these regional events has been wishy-washy at best. I think that
>>> OSGeo needs a real strategy for these events. FOSS4G-NA is not a
>>> consolation prize, it is an event thrown by and for the NA community with a
>>> focus on the issues of that region.
>>>
>>>  If the OSGeo Board and the Conf Comm believe that an LOC needs more
>>> experience, I think it is reasonable to encourage them to bid for a
>>> regional event as things are run right now.
>>>
>>>  David
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jul 22, 2013 at 11:50 PM, Cameron Shorter <
>>> cameron.shorter at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>  Hi Mark,
>>>> I do like your proposal of 1st place being awarded FOSS4G Global, and
>>>> 2nd place being offered FOSS4G-NA the following year.
>>>>
>>>> However, I'm not sure who will be responsible for selecting the
>>>> FOSS4G-NA city, or what process is in place (if any) for selecting a
>>>> FOSS4G-NA city. If someone following this thread is in the know, I'd
>>>> encourage you to speak up.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 23/07/2013 12:01 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> 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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Daniel Morissette
>>>> http://www.mapgears.com/
>>>> Provider of Professional MapServer Support since 2000
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  --
>>>> Cameron Shorter
>>>> Software and Data Solutions Manager
>>>> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
>>>>
>>>> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Think Globally, Fix Locally
>>>> Geospatial & Data Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Sourcehttp://www.lisasoft.com
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  --
>>> ************************************
>>> David William Bitner
>>> dbSpatial LLC
>>> 612-424-9932
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Cameron Shorter
>>> Software and Data Solutions Manager
>>> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
>>> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>>>
>>> Think Globally, Fix Locally
>>> Geospatial & Data Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Sourcehttp://www.lisasoft.com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Board mailing list
>>> Board at lists.osgeo.org
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> ---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
>> I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam,
>> warmerdam at pobox.com
>> light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
>> and watch the world go round - Rush    | Geospatial Software Developer
>>
>
>
>
> --
> ************************************
> David William Bitner
> dbSpatial LLC
> 612-424-9932
>

-- 
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam,
warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush    | Geospatial Software Developer
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