[Board] resignation

[Jeff McKenna]

Andrew, I think I have been overly protective.  I am sorry.  Me getting 
defensive is not helping anyone.

OSGeo and FOSS4G mean so much to me.

Throughout the years I have always been very careful to respect 
organizations, in our ecosystem.  (twitter, emails, presentations, 
everything)

I was somehow set off on the wrong track when I perceived that someone 
could be trying to take control (not the best choice of words again) of 
the beloved FOSS4G event.

I am sorry to cause any fear and derogatory statements to LocationTech 
and yourself.  You work hard and are one of the leaders of the geo 
community.

I also realize that I must represent the entire OSGeo and FOSS4G 
community, at all times.  And I must be very careful with strong 
statements or words, that most of the community may not agree with.

All this to say, I'm not feeling so great about how things went saturday 
or today.  And I hope I didn't damage the relationship between OSGeo and 
LocationTech.

-jeff








On 2014-09-15 5:44 PM, Andrew Ross wrote:
> Jeff,
>
> Really? How about the comment about fighting big pockets, lawyers, etc.
> Even in your more moderate reply you're raising the spectre of big
> business. That's nonsense, a cheap play to fear, and unhelpful. There's
> nothing of the sort going on.
>
> Andrew
>
> On 15/09/14 14:32, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>> I did see fear, this week, i mentioned that in another email.
>>
>> I question why we cannot just both exist as-is, our foundations. Look
>> at what is happening....this stress.
>>
>> Maybe we need to pull back a bit, all of us, and agree that FOSS4G
>> will focus on community, keeping things fun and small, hosted by
>> OSGeo; and LocationTech can focus on business, and fill that missing
>> void (for big business interests).
>>
>> A few months ago I wrote that I think FOSS4GNA 2015 is good for
>> LocationTech, I did write that; I wrote that because I've seen that
>> every past FOSS4GNA has been focused on business already. So I felt
>> that FOSS4GNA 2015 is perfect for LocationTech.
>>
>> I do not feel this way for the international event, and I told you
>> that in person during the meeting.
>>
>> Where in my other emails was FUD and derogatory?
>>
>> -jeff
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2014-09-15 5:17 PM, Andrew Ross wrote:
>>> Jeff,
>>>
>>> Perhaps you might like to apologize?
>>>
>>> What you have written is very derogatory, FUD-laden, and extremely
>>> unprofessional. And it's completely uncalled for. Give me a break!
>>>
>>> Andrew
>>>
>>> On 15/09/14 13:17, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>>>> Bart, what if you stay on the Board, and I go away, for good?  This
>>>> way the merge can happen, and big business is happy.  I can't fight
>>>> with LocationTech lawyers, their big pockets...I realized this on the
>>>> plane home, it's a fight I cannot win.  If the little guy with the
>>>> massive FOSS4G spirit could win, I would; but reality, reality (damn)
>>>> is that this world needs money, business, funding, all that stuff I'm
>>>> not good at.
>>>>
>>>> This week I saw things I thought I would never see in this community:
>>>> talking behind backs, 'so and so said this', picking events to go
>>>> to....it was dirty dirty dirty.  THAT isn't what FOSS4G is supposed to
>>>> be about (no disrespect meant to the 2014 loc, which held an amazing
>>>> event, or LocationTech which did nothing wrong).  I saw friends turn
>>>> on friends.  I saw fear.  I even saw tears (yes i had tears in my eyes
>>>> on saturday, but i tried to hide them...i bet Gerald noticed them in
>>>> my eyes only during the meeting).
>>>>
>>>> It all saddens me deeply.
>>>>
>>>> -jeff
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2014-09-15 4:05 PM, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>>>>> Hi Bart,
>>>>>
>>>>> I never closed any discussion with LocationTech, I did not run away
>>>>> from
>>>>> sitting down with Andrew, and even on the Discuss list we are all
>>>>> talking; I feel, this is all what must happen, talking, this all
>>>>> helps.
>>>>>   I ended up donating all of my Saturday to this, (and well, looks
>>>>> like
>>>>> all of my today to this)...because it is ultra important.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is a sad day.  I have been sad ever since the Board meeting
>>>>> ended.
>>>>>
>>>>> -jeff
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2014-09-15 3:58 PM, Bart van den Eijnden wrote:
>>>>>> Jeff,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> you just wrote: "I do have a problem however with pointing out
>>>>>> problems with OSGeo and our baby, FOSS4G; instead of pointing out
>>>>>> problems, I feel those same people could be diving into helping OSGeo
>>>>>> grow and pick up the ball themselves.”
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unfortunately I don’t have the energy to pick up the balls.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also, the e-mail by you and Venka over the weekend sounded to me like
>>>>>> we’re already closing down the LocationTech discussion before it even
>>>>>> really started: "Let’s take a few steps back and have a booth at each
>>>>>> other’s conference.”. This does not really encourage any further
>>>>>> actions to be honest.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anyway, I just don’t have the energy to fight anymore to make
>>>>>> changes,
>>>>>> sorry.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best regards,
>>>>>> Bart
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 15 Sep 2014, at 20:48, Jeff McKenna
>>>>>> <jmckenna at gatewaygeomatics.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Bart,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't understand why you feel that we cannot tackle issues.  I
>>>>>>> personally make a point to do so (we met with Andrew on Saturday for
>>>>>>> this reason, donating must of our Saturday for that). However you
>>>>>>> are referring to public emails?  I feel we are just now opening up
>>>>>>> and discussing what it at the core of the issues (in today's email
>>>>>>> thread, done super publicly on the Discuss list).  How do you feel
>>>>>>> that we are avoiding the topic?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Avoiding would be not attending the meeting with Andrew, or not
>>>>>>> responding on any thread in a mailing list.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Can you explain how we (of if you mean myself) avoids issues in the
>>>>>>> public?  Should I have rather not responded in the public thread, in
>>>>>>> your opinion?  If we don't discuss it on the Discuss list, where
>>>>>>> else
>>>>>>> would we do it?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -jeff
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 2014-09-15 3:35 PM, Bart van den Eijnden wrote:
>>>>>>>> Hello board,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I’m resigning from the board of directors, mostly because, if I’m
>>>>>>>> honest with myself, this has been mostly a frustrating experience
>>>>>>>> for me, sadly.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I cannot function in an organisation where things / issues
>>>>>>>> cannot be
>>>>>>>> put on the table publicly and get discussed.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I’d rather see someone else take up the spot.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I wish you all the best.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Best regards,
>>>>>>>> Bart
>>>