[OSGeo-Conf] Re: 'OSGeo Teach-in

[Dave Patton]

On 2008/06/20 7:08 AM, Frank Warmerdam wrote:

> On this general topic I think it was suggested that any OSGeo branded
> training events should be required to provide their training materials
> under an appropriate open source license.
> 
> Before such a policy into place, it should be considered whether it
> applies to FOSS4G.  In the past I do not believe FOSS4G has had such
> a requirement.

And if it was to apply to FOSS4G, perhaps too late to apply
it to 2009, given that it wasn't in place when the bid was made?


> Generally speaking, my opinion is that we ought to have the following
> expectations of an OSGeo branded training event operated by an outside
> party (ie. not under the direct administration of OSGeo).

[snip]

> ... I believe any decision is going
> to require a very subjective evaluation by someone.  The decision will also
> require a reasonable detailed written proposal from the event organizer.

It looked to me like there were two possibilities:
1)
A "third-party event", that somehow utilizes the 'OSGeo brand'.
2)
An "OSGeo-branded event", run by a third party.

Your wording of "OSGeo branded training event operated by
an outside party" would seem to apply to #2. Does that
therefore mean that option #1 is not the mechanism that
OSGeo wants to use? If so, then Paul & Jeff's original
proposal can be rejected right now, however, Paul indicated
a willingness to consider running it as a 'type 2' event.

Practically speaking, given the time and resources involved
to review such proposals, and presumably to follow up with
participants[1], such events may as well be "OSGeo events",
and therefore be 'type 2'. It might be wise to add something
into any policy to say what is not going to be provided by
OSGeo, so that it is clear to third parties that OSGeo will
not be doing "direct administration" for such events. However,
if it's an "OSGeo event", in practical terms there will be
some 'administration' involved in marketing the event, so it's
wise to be clear up front "who will do what" for such events.

[1]
When, as a contractor, I taught courses for a large company,
we made sure to give every attendee a "course evaluation form",
and encouraged them to fill it out. We also made sure they
had multiple ways to 'hand in' their form, because not everyone
feels comfortable handing in their evaluation directly to the
instructor.

-- 
Dave Patton
CIS Canadian Information Systems
Victoria, B.C.

Degree Confluence Project:
Canadian Coordinator
Technical Coordinator
http://www.confluence.org/

OSGeo FOSS4G2007 conference:
Workshop Committee Chair
Conference Committee member
http://www.foss4g2007.org/

Personal website:
Maps, GPS, etc.
http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/