[Board] Fwd: Demand for support from OSGeo Europe to OSgeo

[Angelos Tzotsos]

Motion passed on Loomio:

https://www.loomio.org/p/5rodPlm4/motion-to-support-osgeo-eu-request-for-1916-52-eur

On 3/4/22 18:08, Angelos Tzotsos wrote:
> Forwarding to the OSGeo board.
>
> There is now a motion for approval:
> https://www.loomio.org/p/5rodPlm4/motion-to-support-osgeo-eu-request-for-1916-52-eur 
>
>
>
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> Subject:     Demand for support from OSGeo Europe to OSgeo
> Date:     Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:46:22 +0100
> From:     Dirk Frigne <dirk at osgeo.org>
> Reply-To:     Dirk Frigne <dirk at osgeo.org>
> Organization:     osgeo Europe
> To:     Angelos Tzotsos <tzotsos at gmail.com>
> CC:     codrina at geo-spatial.org <codrina at geo-spatial.org>, Michael 
> Smith <michael.smith.erdc at gmail.com>
>
>
>
> Dear Angelos,
> Dear OSGeo Board,
>
>
> During the last general assemblee of OSGeo Europe on FEB 17, 2022, the 
> meeting decided to mandate me with the liquidation of the 
> organisation. See also meeting minutes [1].
>
> In short the reason is a lack of income for the organisation due to:
> - the strategic decision not to compete with the local chapters
> - get income from events that sponsor members bring together to 
> promote OSGeo on events.
> - no events since the pandemic and hence no income
> - extra recurrent costs due to new ligislation for organisations
>
> The assumptions at the start where:
> - having an EURO account for OSGeo.org was rather expensive at that 
> time, so having an account Europe was an opportunity. (also to act as 
> an umbrella for the European FOSS4G conference)
> - creating a bank account was for free for NGO's
> - running an organisation was a low cost process (except for the 
> monthly VAT liability, for which we needed the support of an accountant)
>
> Since end 2019, the legisiation changed resulting in reccurent costs 
> to hold a bank account.
>
> during the pandemic there were no physical events and hence no income, 
> but the recurring costs continued.
>
> The start in 2018 and 2019 didn't result in a sufficiënt financial 
> buffer to survive the pandemie.
>
> The organisation has an outstanding dept of 1916,52, including the 
> amount needed to close the organization nicely.
>
> Since filing for bankruptcy would mean that current board members are 
> associated with the failure of an organization (including OSGeo), in a 
> public Belgian register, and as we are all volunteers promoting OSGeo 
> projects and initiatives, I dare to ask if the OSGeo board would 
> consider to help OSGeo by transfer 1916,52 EUR to our account so that 
> we can pay our debts and close the organization.
>
> If we recieve the saldo on the accoount of the organisation before MAR 
> 11, 2022, We can pay for our debts and shut down avoiding further costs.
>
> Thank you in advance for considering this request with the board.
>
>


-- 
Angelos Tzotsos, PhD
President
Open Source Geospatial Foundation
http://users.ntua.gr/tzotsos