[Board] Dear President [?????]

Thu Nov 2 16:03:50 PDT 2017

Dear colleagues of OSGeo board of directors,

As I already mention in on one of my last CRO messages, in our public 
communication, logic, facts and careful planing should prevail over our 
emotions. Of course, the way we are feeling about open source geospatial 
is the driving force of our involvement in OSGeo's board. However, our 
public message/image should be a professional one. I don't suggest a 
corporate attitude, I would like to just make everyone aware that our 
entirely "world" is looking and us, expecting a balanced and 
inspirational attitude. We should be careful to be open and inclusive 
enough not to offend any flavor of our community members (of course, 
those members that are also embrace our values). Somehow, we are not 
there, even if it's in our mandate to behave this way. Everyone from the 
community already knows that we accepted the director role because we 
truly believe in FOSS values and our work and vision was awarded by 
being voted in this position. We don't have to to repeat indefinitely 
how great we and our ideas/values are (as individuals or as a 
community). By doing so we will only dilute our message. We already know 
that we are doing the right thing and we should have an well-balanced 
message and attitude in order to convince others to join. Also, please 
let's focus more on getting back the trust back in our community by 
acting in a coherent and professional way (simple words are not enough). 
By doing so we will also close the gaps that are currently dividing our 
community.

Best,
Vasile

PS. This is not necessarily a response to the current thread. I know 
that everyone involved acted in total good will. My original intention 
was to send this message through board-priv mailing list. Anyway, I 
decided to send this through the public board list as is something not 
really related to the current situation/board.

On 11/2/17 10:50 PM, Jeff McKenna wrote:
> Hi Barend,
> 
> I take the blame here, it was an idea I had, shared without background 
> research and explanation.  Many are pointing out that I was very wrong. 
> I am sorry.  I am trying to propose a way forward for the leadership of 
> the foundation, openly.  Others are right, the Board will need to decide.
> 
> But my words do have meaning, for me, to both Helena and Venka, who I 
> have the utmost respect for, as leaders.  I believe they can help bring 
> the leadership needed for the OSGeo community.
> 
> -jeff
> 
> 
> 
> On 2017-11-02 5:25 PM, b.j.kobben at utwente.nl wrote:
>> Can someone PLEASE explain these messages? It's hard enough to follow 
>> what goes on as a charter member, but if even following all messages 
>> on <board> and <discuss> leaves us with apparent huge gaps in what 
>> goes on, it becomes impossible...
>>
>> I understood that Venka was not re-elected, so how can he be asked to 
>> be President (together with Helena or not)....?
>>
>> yours, utterly confused,
>> -- 
>> Barend Köbben
>>
>> On 02/11/2017, 20:21, "Board on behalf of Jody Garnett" 
>> <board-bounces at lists.osgeo.org on behalf of jody.garnett at gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>      I understand Jeff, I have a slight different vision for the board 
>> - focused on enabling our participants and committees, rather than 
>> asking the board to assume so much activity.
>>      This is why we have a diverse board, discussion, and reach a 
>> direction together.
>>      --
>>      Jody Garnett
>>      On 2 November 2017 at 12:17, Jeff McKenna
>>      <jmckenna at gatewaygeomatics.com> wrote:
>>      Hi all,
>>      This is a message asking Venka to attend the next meeting, and an 
>> idea I have to have both Helena and Venka lead OSGeo.  It is me being 
>> kind and respectful, speaking from the heart.  This is not an attack 
>> against anyone.  We can of course all decide what is
>>       best as a Board at the next meeting.  This was meant as a nice 
>> kind message to propose a way forward for the foundation.  There have 
>> been lots of messages against me, so many negative messages out there 
>> archived, I am just trying to share what I have been
>>       thinking and being very positive.  I think it's ok to talk about 
>> the leadership of the foundation openly and in a positive way.  And 
>> what a better way than to have an executive board of 4, share the 
>> workload (2 presidents and 2 VPs).  I of course have much
>>       experience in this, and I feel that this idea would be very 
>> helpful, the sharing of the work.  I was just being respectful to 
>> Venka, his leadership, and all of the great work that Helena has done 
>> behind the scenes, and putting an idea out there to help lead
>>       the foundation.  I think this is a nice way forward for the 
>> foundation, I have no other motive.  I am sorry if this message was 
>> misinterpreted.  -jeff
>>      On 2017-11-02 3:05 PM, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>>      Dear Venka-sensei,
>>      Today during the OSGeo Board meeting, Angelos and I vocally 
>> proposed you remain as the OSGeo President (to be honest, I proposed a 
>> dual presidency of both you and Helena).  I think this is a magical team.
>>      I formally request that you attend the next OSGeo Board meeting, 
>> as the OSGeo President (even if you cannot attend, you will still be 
>> the OSGeo President). But I think attending can help.
>>      I would very much like to see OSGeo's first dual presidency of 
>> Helena and you in place.  (let's leave the bylaws aside for a second, 
>> and this is me proposing this to you)
>>      Thank you Venka for your leadership.  (I had suggested this to 
>> Helena during the meeting)  Thank you also Helena for your continued 
>> great leadership.  You both have my utmost respect.  I thought about 
>> this all of last night.
>>      With all my love, passion, life, energy, heart, career, ability 
>> to earn a living, willingness to help others through even the worst 
>> attacks and criticisms, willingness to take one for the team, 
>> willingness to fall down even in front of thousands, willing to
>>       just try, I am forever yours OSGeo,
>>      -Jeff McKenna
>>      Family.
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-- 
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Vasile Crăciunescu
geo-spatial.org: An elegant place for sharing geoKnowledge & geoData
http://www.geo-spatial.org
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/geo-spatial