[Board] [OSGeo-Discuss] OSGeo is the host of FOSS4G not a guest

Mon Jul 3 07:36:49 PDT 2017

Dear All,

With my 'Marketing-hat' on, I have followed this thread with interest and
growing apprehension. As is often the case with this type of
discussion-thread: everyone makes a serious point, but we are jointly still
far away from a solution. The good thing: more and more of us seem to care
how we are perceived....from a marketing committee
perspective....absolutely great!

With only a few weeks to FOSS4G-Europe in Paris and FOSS4G-2017 in Boston,
with FOSS4G-NL last week and FOSS4G-NA-2018 and FOSS4G-2018 in the making
(and other events I am mostly likely forgetting); 'FOSS4G' has become an
established OSGeo brand. Super!

As with brands of this kind, it is usual that the owner (OSGeo, right???)
provides branding-guidelines for all those using it. This to safeguard
mis-use and mis-perceptions. The FOSS4G-ribbon is already 'in the pocket',
but certainly not enough.
The present rebrand exercise is meant to professionalise our promotional
activities with a branding handbook. How the relationship OSGeo and FOSS4G
(international, regional, local) is communicated is definitely worth
addressing in the handbook.

I propose:
- a meeting in Boston on the issue between Board and Marketing Committee.
- anyone having a suggestion/advice/solution to mail it to marketing@
lists.osgeo.org, for collecting
- our present branding agency to provide guidance
- a proposal text to be voted upon by the Board
- integration of this specific guideline into the handbook

Hopefully we can steer this discussion away from 'I want you to do this'
and 'why should I do that' and other 'I ...' to a fruitful discussion in
Boston. Personally, I would welcome these type of topics at such event, as
a non-coder-but-still-interested-in-open-spatial ;-)

With so many volunteers working on so many facets of our community right
now, I would hate to see energy flowing into the wrong direction. Please,
all involved, remain focused on Paris, Boston, the new website and the new
marketing collateral and other initiatives I am ignorant of.

Let's keep the momentum, the mojo, the vibe and focus on the future!
Cheers, Marc

Kind regards,

Marc Vloemans

Mobile +31(0)651 844262
LinkedIn: http://nl.linkedin.com/in/marcvloemans
Twitter: http://twitter.com/marcvloemans
http://www.slideshare.net/marcvloemans

On Mon, Jul 3, 2017 at 3:58 PM, Massimiliano Cannata <
massimiliano.cannata at supsi.ch> wrote:

> Hi Guido,
> I don't understand why you are frustrated and disheartened by this
> conversation.
> We're not discussing on climate changes :-D
>
> To All of you,
> (i swear it is my last mail in the tread - maybe -)
>
> My point of view is very simple: OSGeo is not a sponsor of the event, is
> the "owner" which selected you great team and proposal for organizing the
> conference. Thus is not correct list OSGeo in the sponsor list.
> Try to open this link: http://2017.foss4g.org/sponsor/ and honestly tell
> me if you understand OSGeo is the host, or do you get the impression it is
> just one of the 20 sponsors?
>
> Since this fact has been part of discussions in the past, I believe it is
> very important to be underlined and communicated to avoid misunderstanding,
> also for the future FOSS4G conferences.
> I believe that details and communication are important (otherwise, for
> example why spend time  and money in marketing and site re-branding?).
>
> And it has nothing to do with the great work you are doing in bringing
> another wonderful foss4g (big big thanks). These are small (but not
> negligible) details..
>
> I just requested the board to take a position on this, without entering in
> details of when, what and why it happened.
> Then I will be happy whatever is the decision and will go on on doing my
> contribution and work for OSGeo ;-)
>
>
> Ciao,
> Maxi
>
> 2017-07-03 14:29 GMT+02:00 Ian Turton <ijturton at gmail.com>:
>
>> I have to disagree here, to me it is clear that OSGeo is presenting
>> ("owns") the conference while by listing the contributions the OSGeo
>> provides (seed money etc) formally on the Sponsors' page/list it makes it
>> clear just how much money (and time) the OSGeo is putting it into the
>> event.
>>
>> By formally listing as a sponsor it probably makes it easier to handle
>> things like remembering to allocate booth space, passes etc as it is
>> already on the spreadsheet when those tasks are carried out.
>>
>> Ian
>>
>> On 2 July 2017 at 09:22, Massimiliano Cannata <
>> massimiliano.cannata at supsi.ch> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear community and board members,
>>> Today I found out that OSGeo is a a SPONSOR of the FOSS4G-2017 Boston
>>> conference.
>>>
>>> This is disappointing me !
>>>
>>> At least for two reasons:
>>>
>>> 1- foss4g is the OSGeo's conference, so OSGeo is the host not a guest
>>> (have you ever seen AGU sponsoring it's annual event?)
>>>
>>> 2- OSGeo is already providing seed and risk exposure money so it
>>> shouldn't need to pay for get exposure or being listed in the sponsor page.
>>>
>>> So, as an OSGeo charter member, I formally ask the board to remove OSGeo
>>> from the sponsor list !
>>>
>>> Regards
>>> Maxi
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ian Turton
>>
>
>
>
> --
> *Massimiliano Cannata*
>
> Professore SUPSI in ingegneria Geomatica
>
> Responsabile settore Geomatica
>
>
> Istituto scienze della Terra
>
> Dipartimento ambiente costruzione e design
>
> Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana
>
> Campus Trevano, CH - 6952 Canobbio
>
> Tel. +41 (0)58 666 62 14 <+41%2058%20666%2062%2014>
>
> Fax +41 (0)58 666 62 09 <+41%2058%20666%2062%2009>
>
> massimiliano.cannata at supsi.ch
>
> *www.supsi.ch/ist <http://www.supsi.ch/ist>*
>
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