[OSGeo-Conf] Analysing the downfall of FOSS4G 2011

[Matthew Syphus]

The point would be to generate an open (even written) expectation that
the help afforded will go both ways.  The local/regional entity knows it
going in and OSGeo has a specific group (not person) to call on to help
with FOSS4G tasks, (as well as public community requests).  Yes, it
rests mostly on personal feeling of obligation.  No, there is no OSGeo
retribution (except perhaps for future event sponsoring). Some
individuals will not participate, for reasons good or bad, but I think
the net effect is that more people would end up helping FOSS4G.  (Y was
expected, X never happened, Y-X >= 0.)

 

By volunteer I mean:

Unpaid

Individual decides precisely what they can/will do

No single individual is assigned a specific job

No individual has a specific time requirement

No legal enforcement

 

From: david.bitner at gmail.com [mailto:david.bitner at gmail.com] On Behalf
Of David William Bitner
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 2:27 PM
To: Matthew Syphus
Cc: Cameron Shorter; Frank Warmerdam; conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Conf] Analysing the downfall of FOSS4G 2011

 

 

On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 3:12 PM, Matthew Syphus <MSyphus at lhtac.org>
wrote:

Cameron,

I am a simple community member at large who enjoyed the Denver
conference.  I like your perspective regarding more volunteers as a
result of helping smaller events.  My thought is: can you add some sort
of volunteer requirement as a condition of having OSGeo help with an
event?

 

You can never categorically count on volunteer effort in the future.
"volunteer requirement" is an oxymoron. I don't say this to be flippant,
but as someone who has worked for many years with volunteer communities.
Volunteers in any group come and go, I have often seen some of the most
dedicated volunteers in a group simply drop off the face of the planet
because they got burnt out, had personal issues, or even just that they
got bored or found something else they thought was more worth their
time. We should certainly do everything we can to encourage those with
experience to hang around and to share their experience forward, but it
is simply not practical to establish this as a hard expectation.

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