[Board] OSGEO US Chapter

[Randal Hale]

Good Morning (or Afternoon) OSGEO Board.

I'm emailing you all per (https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Local_Chapter_Guidelines) to ask is the OSGEO.US Forming chapter could become a formal chapter.

After the Bosston FOSS4G event several of started talking about the need for a National Chapter. There are several smaller chapters that exist within the confines of the Boundaries of the United states - we contacted as many as we could and had positive responses from those that responded. We don't want to change anything they are doing but provide a larger umbrella to help if possible. As of right now the organizers are as follows: Guido Stein, Laura Doty, Josh Rosenthal, Sheeri Cabral, Mike Foster, Randy Hale, Kurt Menke, and Kayla Patel. There have been many more that have emailed me off list and asked to help.

We've developed a mission statement: OSGeo.US will cultivate and support local OSGeo chapters and projects in the United States. OSGeo.US will also support activities and events that build awareness of the OSGeo and create opportunities to grow the OSGeo community.

We've started a website: http://OSGEO.us. We have added ourselves to the OSGEO.org Site and I've put in a trac (https://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo/ticket/2157#ticket) ticket to get an email list going. Which will be nice - as emails have been flying from person to person and it will be good to get them in one location.

I've been picked to be the liason with the board if that is OK.

We've started attempting to fund a few activities in and around the US. Support for FOSS4GNA 2018 Community Day and an upcoming meeting of OSGEO Enthusiasts in East Tennessee.

We don't have a conflict with any existing chapters - all we wish to do is help them continue what they are doing. Linguistics and other issues shouldn't be a problem (but if it does we welcome the diversity and will work with anyone). We feel like we have momentum. We're accepting of members from anywhere - but since we've Focused on the US (and the US territories) that's who we are targeting...BUT - bring us your tired poor and huddled masses yearning for Free and Open Source Software for GIS.

If there's anything else you need to know feel free to email myself (rjhale at northrivergeographic.com) or Guido Stein (guido at guidostein.com)

Thanks for your time,

Randy

-- 
Randal Hale
rjhale at northrivergeographic.com
https://www.northrivergeographic.com
(423)653-3611

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