[Board] Support fot OSGeo officers (Re: My attendance in Portland)

Wed Jul 16 05:12:30 PDT 2014

Strong +1 on everything Arnulf wrote here.

Daniel

On 14-07-16 4:07 AM, Seven (aka Arnulf) wrote:
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> Even,
> this is well summarized, thanks.
>
> (...if you missed the thread go check the board list)
>
> Further to this I mut say that the president should get all the
> support from OSGeo to travel to events - very obviously also including
> FOSS4G. I never asked directly because I felt awkward. Stupid but
> honest. Towards the end of my presidency I did ask and also got some
> travel support because otherwise I would not have been able to sustain
> it. I have it all in plain numbers before me now because my accountant
> made a point of tagging everything I did for OSGeo or for business. In
> 2011 I spent more than 35k US$ for travel - all out of my own pocket
> except for 10% out of OSGeo budget. This is in low cost
> accommodations, just to put numbers into relation. Traveling at a
> higher standard would have pushed my travel budget to 70$ or 100k easily.
>
> Next: Yes, my business suffered a lot during my presidency. It is one
> of the reasons why I think that the term should be limited. Oher than
> Jeff I think that one year president elect followed by one year full
> president is enough. There is nothing worse than burning out your
> presidents and discarding them when they are done. Not good.
>
> Yes, being president connected me with many "important" people and
> yes, I expected to get great job offers. This did not happen. People
> expect that you get paid if you meet them at conferences in the role
> of OSGeo president. They all get paid to get there themselves. They
> cannot even imagine that you would go there on your own, private cost.
> It is usually only the odd single consultant who has to pay "on their
> own". Everybody else gets sent by their company. Strangely all OSGeo's
> last presidents at one point were odd single consultants and had to
> pay for conferences, cater for their own travel and accommodation. So
> if you like these folks to reperesent you then make sure they can
> afford it.
>
> Ha, this developed a bit into a rant, please excuse.
>
> But please give our president and the board and all the OSGeo officers
> all the support they need. Rest assure that they deserve it and also
> rest assured that they will not misuse any funding they get. I
> personally vouch for each single one of the folks on the board right
> now and before. Hard working nice people who just have this extra edge
> to drive OSGeo forward.
>
> And if you don't like how anybody in these roles acts then nominate
> and vote differently next time. It is very straight forward, really.
> Stand up yourself and do things, after all we declared it a do-ocracy
> not a complai-no-crazy.
>
> Have fun,
> Arnulf
>
> PS:
> I am currently offline on holidays and only chimed in by pure chance
> so please do not expect anything else from me until beginning of August.
>
> /me waves...
>
>
>
> On 07/15/2014 10:02 AM, Even Rouault wrote:
>> Cameron,
>>
>> I agree in principle with the accountability, but I don't think we
>> should make Jeff's life harder than it needs to be. In the end, the
>> board is elected and if people are not happy with how the budget is
>> spent, they will say it with their votes. Let trust people, and
>> especially when their past accomplishments speak for them. And for
>> having been in Notthingham last year, I can remember having seen
>> Jeff many times on the OSGeo booth.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Even
>>
>>> Hi Jeff, I acknowledge that you do a lot on behalf of OSGeo, and
>>> would hasten to add other things that you do, such as traveling
>>> to and presenting at various conferences about OSGeo. (There are
>>> also many others amongst the OSGeo membership who do much, often
>>> with very little public recognition).
>>>
>>> Following are a few points for my opinion:
>>>
>>> What OSGeo is very good at is being efficient in how we spend
>>> our limited budget by drawing upon our talented membership (see
>>> Board priorities [1]).
>>>
>>> There are specific tasks which the board should be addressing,
>>> and funding if required.   One of these I think is important is
>>> the setting up and manning of an OSGeo booth at the annual FOSS4G
>>> conference. It is an excellent way to meet face to face with the
>>> greater community. This task can be done by anyone from the
>>> community, but it does help to have people with deep OSGeo
>>> experience, such as a board member or president.
>>>
>>> Personally, I don't see what the big issue is regarding setting
>>> up a booth. I've done it a number of times. I really enjoy being
>>> at the OSGeo booth because it attracts lots of really interesting
>>> people who would love to know more about OSGeo. All that is
>>> required is for someone to bring an OSGeo banner, and have a
>>> laptop showing OSGeo-Live on it. (Some people do more, but that
>>> covers the essentials).
>>>
>>> The board should be accountable to our members for all budget
>>> spent. If we pay for someone's travel budget to a conference,
>>> what does OSGeo gain from that sponsorship beyond what is already
>>> provided by existing attendees? It is an easy question to answer
>>> if the money is going toward manning a booth, where we evangelise
>>> OSGeo.
>>>
>>> So anyway, it is possible we have a misunderstanding over how
>>> much effort is required to be involved in an OSGeo booth, and
>>> hope that you can re-consider.
>>>
>>> [1]
>>>
>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors#OSGeo_as_a_low_capital.2C_volunteer_focused_organisation
>>>
>>>
>>
> On 14/07/2014 9:30 pm, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>>>> Hi Cameron,
>>>>
>>>> I would agree that it is very important to have a face of
>>>> OSGeo representing the foundation at the main FOSS4G event.
>>>>
>>>> As I grow into this role (I've only been President for about
>>>> 1.5 years now) I realize the demands of the position, and how
>>>> important it is to build and maintain relationships (especially
>>>> with other foundations and groups in our 'ecosystem').  There
>>>> is a lot to the position, and a lot that no one sees (I am
>>>> brought into discussions as OSGeo president almost every day it
>>>> seems).
>>>>
>>>> With that said, adding to my responsibilities, with already so
>>>> much on my plate, is not possible.  Plus you can search the
>>>> OSGeo Marketing mailing list for questions from me about this
>>>> time last year for booth materials for Nottingham (unanswered,
>>>> materials non-existent).  The reality is that it always comes
>>>> down to boots-on-the-ground for making the booth happen
>>>> (massive thanks to Ian Edwards last year in Nottingham, as an
>>>> example).  As president I will be already pulled into so many
>>>> things in Portland.
>>>>
>>>> As an example, the LOC is already on me about the AGM...and I
>>>> must soon start the Sol Katz process...likely help Jorge with
>>>> elections....    get my drift?
>>>>
>>>> Also, unfortunately again charter members send me private
>>>> messages saying great things that I want the whole community to
>>>> hear - but in the end it is me bringing it public again. So,
>>>> here it is again: I got several responses privately to this
>>>> 'attendance' message that it is terrible that i must ask for
>>>> funding as president, that there should be a separate president
>>>> travel budget and i shouldn't have to justify publicly
>>>> travel..that this message is noise and we should be talking of
>>>> more important things etc etc...all true, but i wish they would
>>>> bring this public and not me have to say it.  well here again i
>>>> am.
>>>>
>>>> So to answer your questions directly Cameron: I am more than
>>>> ready to represent OSGeo in the Portland event.  I feel it is
>>>> very important to have this constant and stable face of OSGeo
>>>> at events.  As for increasing my role, that is really
>>>> physically impossible; I will do my best, but I would ask that
>>>> we rely on a local chapter for gathering booth materials etc.
>>>>
>>>> Your President,
>>>>
>>>> -jeff
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2014-07-13, 4:26 AM, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>>>>> Hi Jeff and others, I think that it is important for an
>>>>> official OSGeo representative to be at the FOSS4G conference
>>>>> to facilitate evangelising OSGeo, and OSGeo (or FOSS4G)
>>>>> should cover expenses of this person. Ideally, this person
>>>>> should be the OSGeo President, but could be someone else if
>>>>> the president is not available.
>>>>>
>>>>> I would envisage the representative would play quite a public
>>>>> role, likely talking with many people at an OSGeo booth. This
>>>>> would typically involve the representative also playing a
>>>>> lead role in ensuring the OSGeo booth is set up and running
>>>>> smoothly.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jeff, would you be ok with taking on this type of role? Could
>>>>> you please expand on how you would envisage this working.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 11/07/2014 3:34 am, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>>>>>> Hi Board,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We're about 2 months away from FOSS4G-Portland, and I just
>>>>>> want to be open that no one has contacted me to represent
>>>>>> OSGeo at that event. Other (regional) events give me lots
>>>>>> of notice, handle flights, hotels, meals, for the OSGeo
>>>>>> President to attend; however I learned last year that for
>>>>>> the main FOSS4G event it is just assumed that I will be
>>>>>> there in person.  Well to avoid that last minute chaos
>>>>>> again, I am here asking the Board for use of the "Strategic
>>>>>> travel" funding (as listed in the budget
>>>>>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Budget_2014) to cover my
>>>>>> flights, hotel, and misc expenses (transfers) for FOSS4G
>>>>>> Portland.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Last year there was a debate as to whether this should be
>>>>>> funded by the FOSS4G committee or in fact by the OSGeo
>>>>>> Board, and it was decided it made most sense for the OSGeo
>>>>>> Board to cover it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thoughts?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -jeff
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________ 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
>>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> - --
> Seven of Nine
> http://arnulf.us/Seven
> Exploring Body, Space and Mind
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Daniel Morissette
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