[Board] resignation

Mon Sep 15 15:26:01 PDT 2014

Jeff,

I really appreciate the apology, and I'm optimistic we can figure things 
out so that everyone is comfortable and benefits.

It is very clear how much FOSS4G and OSGeo mean to you, and so many 
others. I deeply respect that. My smiling face has been a fixture at 
FOSS4G since 2007, I've sponsored, spoke, and jumped through hoops to 
record it to bring it to people who couldn't attend many times.

All I can do is assure everyone, again, that there is no attempt/plan or 
otherwise to take over FOSS4G or harm OSGeo (or anyone else for that 
matter!). For OSGeo, I heartfelt believe the only fear to fear is fear 
itself.

Fear is so dangerously easy. I feel the many positive things that can 
happen if OSGeo & LocationTech work well together is worth the risk. 
Free conference passes to speakers, more money for travel scholarships, 
clean IP bill of good health to projects, less volunteer burnout 
organizing, more people using and contributing back to the technology 
projects, strong engagement in academia, even stronger focus on 
diversity, more wide reaching outreach events, beneficial marketing 
programs, and so much more. I believe these are things everyone wants. 
We can have them all if we collaborate. I don't think it's a zero sum 
game. There's a good chance it's actually a multiplier effect.

I am grateful for the trust and faith collaborating requires of people. 
We'll do our best to try to never to disappoint. If there's anything 
anyone feels that LocationTech & the Eclipse Foundation have done that 
was improper, please let me know either on list or in private. We are 
doing our very best to be a significant positive force.

Andrew

On 15/09/14 15:52, Jeff McKenna wrote:
> 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
>>>>