[OSGeo-Conf] "OSGeo Teach-in

[Cameron Shorter]

Very exciting proposal and I agree with the general principles.
I've read a sample of board emails, but not all, so please forgive me if 
I'm covering old ground.

* OSGeo is a not-for-profit which gives it a very powerful reputation in 
the broader community. As the proposal stands, it looks like OSGeo is 
selling its brand name and I think this will be detrimental in the long 
term.

* The proposal is missing one of the key elements of the Open Source 
Business model. Ie, all material used for the "teach in" should be 
provided for free under an open license. Conference organisors can sell 
their services (as presenters).


* It is desirable that local OSGeo communities become self sustainable. 
To that end, using local resources (if available) should be encouraged 
in preference to international resources.

* I don't think OSGeo can show favours to any company over another. All 
privileges offered to a conference organisor by OSGeo needs to be 
offered to every other company.
OSGeo might say "First to register for an area gets the conferece". But 
what is to stop Clever Elephant registering for conferences in all 
regions over the next 5 years, thus monopolizing the market.
The other alternative is that 2 conference organisors might register to 
hold competing conferences in the same city and OSGeo will need to back 
(or not back) both conferences equally. I think the 2nd option is 
slightly better.

* OSGeo should allow all conference organisors presenting the official 
OSGeo material to list themselves on OSGeo websites and promote 
themselves at OSGeo events (at the Conference organisor's expense).

* There will be a market for an "OSGeo Teach In" in Australia.  There 
was a request for a workshop along these lines a few weeks ago.

So here are my proposals for a policy:
1. All material presented at "OSGeo teach ins" must be Open.
2. OSGeo should put its name behind the material presented, but not the 
organisor.
3. There should be rules in place with regards to when a conference is 
held (and possibly content) so that it doesn't clash with FOSS4G.



Markus Neteler wrote:
> Conference committee,
>
> a draft page has been already initiated which could be
> used to develop the policy document:
>
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Conference_Policy
>
> The page may be extended or even completely rewritten.
>
> As Paul says, please review the available material.
>
> Best,
> Markus
>
> On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 9:44 PM, Paul Ramsey <pramsey at cleverelephant.ca> wrote:
>   
>> Conference committee,
>>
>> At the board meeting today, the Board referred a proposal[1] to the
>> conference committee, with a request that the committee prepare a
>> policy regarding third-party promoted events using the OSGeo name.  In
>> particular, this proposal looks to create an event named "OSGeo
>> Teach-in", and provide financial consideration back to OSGeo in
>> return.
>>
>> I think preparation of the policy needs two steps:
>>
>> (a) The conference committee should decide on whether third-party
>> promoted "OSGeo" events are acceptable at all, and
>> (b) If they are acceptable, what decision process should be applied to
>> third-party events.
>>
>> Please take some time to read the proposal, as an example of a
>> third-party event, and think about the implications. Reading the
>> threads on the [Board] list is probably also wise, to see some
>> arguments on various sides. I'll call the question on (a) in a couple
>> days to take the temperature of the committee, since there is no point
>> on working on (b) if (a) is a no-go.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> [1] http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/board/2008-May/002444.html
>> _______________________________________________
>> Conference_dev mailing list
>> Conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org
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>>     
> _______________________________________________
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>   


-- 
Cameron Shorter
Geospatial Systems Architect
Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254

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