[Board] OSGeo membership in GLTN

Thu Feb 6 09:56:46 PST 2014

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Daniel,
thanks for pointing this out. I tried to make my introduction as short
as possible which in turn makes it incomplete. :-) The basic idea is
that GLTN is a formal relationship which allows to transfer funds. Put
the other way round UN-Habitat can currently not sponsor anything
OSGeo. Simple as that. But once there is a formal relationship like
this membership, then there are options. This is not software
development but just like you were saying could be around code
sprints, workshops, but also to fund individuals to come to
conferences and meetings.

One example is the upcoming FIG conference in Kuala Lumpur where OSGeo
was invited to give a presentation but there was no option to waive
the fees. Through the GLTN membership there are options to reimburse
travel and lodging expenses. This could be done directly through the
individuals or through OSGeo, whichever way the respective fiscal
systems require. We will have to learn how this works once we are there.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Arnulf

On 02/06/2014 04:47 PM, Daniel Morissette wrote:
> Hi Arnulf, All,
> 
> I am fine with the proposal and Cameron's proposed changes.
> 
> Just one quick reminder as treasurer, in your initial mail you
> wrote "Joining this partnership will allow partners to fund
> individuals through OSGeo to join forces on the project,
> collaborate on the software, take part in meetings, conferences,
> workshops, etc."
> 
> I have to remind you all that our US non-profit status does not
> allow us to "fund individuals through OSGeo" to work on software
> projects as that would be unfair competition to private sector
> companies. However, as long as OSGeo doesn't pay for their work, we
> can still provide tools (like the hosted services you mention) or a
> venue (think: host a code sprint) to facilitate collaboration
> between participants who each get their own funding/salary directly
> from other sources.
> 
> The letter didn't talk about funding at all, so there is nothing
> to change there. This is just a friendly reminder.
> 
> Daniel
> 
> 
> On 14-02-04 5:19 PM, Arnulf Christl wrote: Hi Cameron, thank you
> for the quick reply and support. I changed the document according
> to your suggestions, find it attached (sorry for spamming your
> respective inboxes).
> 
> Best regards, Arnulf
> 
> On 02/03/2014 09:09 PM, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>>>> Hi Arnulf, I think this is an excellent initiative that you
>>>> are proposing, re OSGeo supporting GLTN, and as a member of
>>>> the OSGeo board I'd like to vote to support it.
>>>> 
>>>> However, before voting, I'd like to propose a few tweaks to
>>>> your proposed text. In particular, I think it important that
>>>> OSGeo is careful not to over promise what we can deliver,
>>>> noting that we are a volunteer driven organisation, and the
>>>> best we can offer is to encourage contributions from
>>>> volunteers.
>>>> 
>>>> Text is currently:
>>>> 
>>>> /... and contribute to the development and evolution of the
>>>> STDM project. OSGeo is also interested in supporting training
>>>> and education through conferences and workshops on land
>>>> tenure-related topics and will support the development of a
>>>> community of developers especially from Africa around the
>>>> project./
>>>> 
>>>> I suggest changing to:
>>>> 
>>>> /... and *encourage our volunteers to contribute* to the 
>>>> development and evolution of the STDM project. OSGeo is also 
>>>> interested in supporting training and education through 
>>>> *encouraging STDM themes at* *our* conferences and
>>>> workshops. *<strike>**on land tenure-related topics and will
>>>> support the development of a community of developers
>>>> especially from Africa around the project.</strike>*/
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> (I suggest dropping specific reference to Africa, as I don't
>>>> think it adds value, and has potential to alienate other
>>>> regions where STDM will be valuable.)
>>>> 
>>>> On 04/02/14 00:41, Arnulf Christl wrote: Dear Board, I am
>>>> currently working on a project for the UN-Habitat Office.
>>>> They develop an Open Source project called STDM (social
>>>> tenure domain model). It is a tool, data schema and concept
>>>> to help data collection of tenure data in informal
>>>> settlements: 
>>>> http://www.gltn.net/index.php/land-tools/social-tenure-domain-model-stdm
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 
The toolset includes a plug-in for QGIS and a data schema for
>>>> PostGIS. STDM is a dedicated pro-poor effort and has been
>>>> designed especially to address the continuum of tenure
>>>> relations typically found in informal settlements. Slums
>>>> usually lack a cadaster or other precise mapping background
>>>> and the relations between ownership and tenure are not well
>>>> defined. This tool is designed to address these issues.
>>>> 
>>>> The project has been started through GLTN (the Global Land
>>>> Tool Network, http://www.gltn.net/) a non-profit association
>>>> dedicated to developing tools for land registry and
>>>> management. We (OSGeo) have now been invited to become a
>>>> partner of this association. Joining this partnership will
>>>> allow partners to fund individuals through OSGeo to join
>>>> forces on the project, collaborate on the software, take part
>>>> in meetings, conferences, workshops, etc.
>>>> 
>>>> Our side of the commitment would be the provision of 
>>>> infrastructure support for the STDM tool, the kind of support
>>>> we already give to some projects. The current focus lies on
>>>> operating the mailing lists for the project and set up a
>>>> landing page in our Wiki (which I both commit to doing). The
>>>> STDM project has been set up in compliance with OSGeo's way
>>>> of doing things, the code will be Open Source, the
>>>> documentation available for free, etc. The coding aspect of
>>>> the project is not very big so we currently do not foresee
>>>> the need to go through incubation but it might be a nice 
>>>> addition for our OSGeo Live effort.
>>>> 
>>>> OSGeo's support for QGIS and PostGIS is highly appreciated by
>>>> GLTN and they acknowledge this as part of our active support
>>>> in this partnership. So basically we are already doing all
>>>> that they need and in turn they would like to give back
>>>> through this partnership.
>>>> 
>>>> I have already confirmed that we can set up mailing lists and
>>>> will do this in the next days (see ticket #1295).
>>>> 
>>>> Could the board please go through the attached draft request
>>>> for membership and raise any questions you might have. Please
>>>> note that I will only be available until the end of the week
>>>> but you can also contact Danilo Antonio directly, he is the
>>>> project lead at UN-Habitat and copied in this mail - or
>>>> Clarissa Augustinus, Chief, Land & Tenure Section,
>>>> UN-HABITAT.
>>>> 
>>>> I would be happy to act as the initial point of contact
>>>> unless somebody else with a better background in our African
>>>> OSGeo chapter activities is highly interested in further
>>>> developing this relationship.
>>>> 
>>>> Best regards, Arnulf
>>>> 
>>>> PS: Please note that I will be away most of the rest of
>>>> February and into March.
>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________ Board
>>>>> mailing list Board at lists.osgeo.org 
>>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -- Cameron Shorter, Software and Data Solutions Manager
>>>> LISAsoft Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf, 26 - 32 Pirrama Rd,
>>>> Pyrmont NSW 2009
>>>> 
>>>> P +61 2 9009 5000,  W www.lisasoft.com,  F +61 2 9009 5099
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________ 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
>> 
> 
> 

- -- 
Seven of Nine
http://arnulf.us/Seven
Exploring Body, Space and Mind

- -- 
Arnulf Christl
http://metaspatial.net
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