[Marketing] Re: [OSGeo-Conf] FOSS4G Sydney and conference software

[Cameron Shorter]

Summary so far from my FOSS4G2009 decision making perspective:
* All agree that it would be desirable to use Open Source Software.
* There is marketing benefit in using Open Source (which is difficult to 
quantify).
* There is marketing and maybe usability benefit in keeping a look and feel.
* We have a business requirement to keep presentations available and 
hosted at the same address ad-infinitum after the conference.

But:
* We need to contain risk and cost of conference software, and this will 
likely involve a decent budget allocation. As yet this has not been 
scoped and has not been aligned against other OSGeo budget priorities.

Next steps:
* I will ask Tour Hosts to consider Open Source conference software, but 
would not expect them to address this without extra (yet to be scoped) 
budget.
* OSGeo board needs to test desire for Conference software against other 
funding desires and advise decision.


Jeff McKenna wrote:
> Clearly we need a decision on this very soon, as 2009 preparations are 
> beginning.  Tyler is there any room in the OSGeo budget to hire an OCS 
> developer?
>
> Also, I want to remind every member of the OSGeo conference committee 
> that we need your input in big decisions like this.  I wonder if we 
> should meet on IRC possibly on Friday to discuss options and come to a 
> committee decision.
>
> -jeff
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 21-May-08, at 11:12 AM, Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
>
>> I'm much in the same boat as Frank - I personally see high value in 
>> having open access to our content and the underlying system, but 
>> don't think I can help support a choice either way now due to lack of 
>> time.  I wouldn't be surprised if there is a good job here for 
>> someone, either as a volunteer or possibly in some part time work.  I 
>> see several ads for OJS/OCS developers, for example.
>>
>> In the end I see it as more of a question of having access to 
>> presentations and other organisational details from year to year.   
>> So far we are fine because our past events are still being 
>> (voluntarily) hosted by past organisers and, presumably, we still 
>> have people on the inside that can access the systems to suck the 
>> info out when needed.
>>
>> If we were able to implement a solution (and really, we already have 
>> with OCS) and improve it so it met all our/PCO needs - the FOSS-lover 
>> in me dreams that PCO's would have a free tool they could use 
>> internally too.  I've seen some PCO's have to sub-license these kinds 
>> of tools from other service providers as well, so they are not always 
>> 100% in charge of the tools anyway.
>>
>> Tyler
>
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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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