[OSGeo-Conf] North American FOSS4G conference

Fri Sep 23 16:37:43 EDT 2011

Dave and Bart,
I personally think, that rotation principle is good and I think, that is
good to give chance not only for Europe and North America, but also for
other parts of word. I am writing this as representative of organisation,
who competed for this year.  We join to the competition, when in first round
was not offer, before we didn't thinking about this. Only when there were
not other offer, we tried to participate. As I mentioned, I am sure, that
China will be organised good event.
I would like also clarify, why we would like organised this Central and
Eastern European event. For many people from post socialist countries
(mainly for people working on Universities), where is many OS developers is
difficult or impossible to travel on FOSS conferences around the World. And
I think, that direct contact are useful and to organise regional events is
chance for them to meet part of community. I think, that this is also
important to support grooving of community in this way. I am sure, that will
be mistake to organise events, which could compeate for World FOSS4G, but
regional events will help to establish cooperation, but also promote OS
solution. I see also his as important aspect to establish ling among
developers and users.
I have also one recommendation, for big FOSS4G conference provide selection
two years in advance, it will give better possibilities and time for
preparation of such large events, but also will give possibilities for
better coordination with regional event.
Karel

-----Original Message-----
From: conference_dev-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:conference_dev-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Dave McIlhagga
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 9:44 PM
To: Bart van den Eijnden
Cc: conference; OSGeo-Board List
Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Conf] North American FOSS4G conference

It depends on what OSGeo is trying to achieve through running conferences.
Is it:

1. Provide an opportunity for a maximum number of developers to connect face
to face
2. Encourage adoption of OSGeo technologies
3. Raise funds for OSGeo
4. etc...

Encouraging adoption fo OSGeo was the primary driver for the current 3
region rotation, but I'm not sure if that's still the highest priority of
the organization. Uncertainty in this matter led in some part to the
difficulties in the selection process this year.

I'd like to suggest that the Board conduct a full review of the conference
selection process -- as it currently feels highly disconnected from the
priorities of the board. The recent decision of the board to eliminate the
Exec Director position was in part rooted in finances -- that's
understandable, however at the same time, selecting China was likely not a
wise choice if finances were the primary driver. Is it possible that this
selection led directly to the termination of the ED position? Was that wise?

I believe the FOSS4G selection process is one of the most important
decisions made annually by OSGeo as an organization. What concerns me is
that this decision is currently effectively made by this committee without
it being strongly connected to the priorities of the organization as a
whole.

If nothing else, given the financial link between this selection, and the
viability of OSGeo, I believe fixing this process needs to be one of the top
priorities by the board.

My 2 cents.

Dave

On 2011-09-23, at 3:05 PM, Bart van den Eijnden wrote:

> I totally agree with what Volker says here.
> 
> My personal preference would be a two year rotation between Europe and
North America, with only local conferences in Other.
> 
> Bart
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Sep 23, 2011, at 7:52 PM, Volker Mische <volker.mische at gmail.com>
wrote:
> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I already wrote it in my blog post about the FOSS4G, but it should also
>> hit the mailing lists as well.
>> 
>> I don't think that a yearly North American FOSS4G is a good idea. I fear
>> that people will be going there and the global one will die (especially
>> next year, when it is "in some other country").
>> 
>> A lot of devs in the FOSS4G world are from North America (I'd even say
>> the majority, but I'm not sure about it). Those will definitely go to a
>> North American event.
>> 
>> I could imagine that many people from Europe can justify one conference
>> to go somewhere in the world, when there's enough value. Which is for
>> me, in case for the FOSS4G, meeting almost all core developers of the
>> various FOSS4G projects.
>> 
>> If I have the choice to meet all the North American developers and a lot
>> of other ones as well, and the choice between meeting some American and
>> European developers perhaps at some other place in the world (where it
>> might even be harder to get there (think about past events like
>> Australia)). Where would you go?
>> 
>> And also important: where would the sponsors invest? It was already a
>> hard time for the Sydney conference to cover the costs, how hard would
>> it be if there's another big conference?
>> 
>> For me those are reasons why the a global event might die, and that
>> would be a shame. As we heard at (I think) the AGM, past conferences
>> planted seeds in those locations.
>> 
>> The rotating between Europe, North America and somewhere else makes a
>> lot of sense to me, but if there will be a North American conference
>> every year, we can just drop the "somewhere else" and go for a Europe,
>> North America, North America rotation.
>> 
>> For me the solution would be to make more localised conferences in North
>> America, like a West Coast, East Coast, Central, Canadian one. This
>> won't draw to much developers away from the global one. It would kind of
>> the same as in Europe, where we also have local Chapter conferences.
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Volker
>> _______________________________________________
>> Conference_dev mailing list
>> Conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/conference_dev
>> 
> _______________________________________________
> Conference_dev mailing list
> Conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/conference_dev

_______________________________________________
Conference_dev mailing list
Conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/conference_dev

__________ Informace od ESET Smart Security, verze databaze 6489 (20110923)
__________

Tuto zpravu proveril ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.cz

__________ Informace od ESET Smart Security, verze databaze 6489 (20110923)
__________

Tuto zpravu proveril ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.cz