[OSGeo-Conf] Fwd: FOSS4G North America 2013

Tue Jul 31 09:52:12 PDT 2012

I'm ok with that.

+1

Dave

On 2012-07-31, at 12:25 PM, Paul Ramsey <pramsey at opengeo.org> wrote:

> If I may form this as a motion:
> 
> "The conference committee recommends to the Board that OSGeo act as a
> financial backstop for the 2013 FOSS4GNA event. This means the board
> will (a) approve the budget of FOSS4GNA and (b) FOSS4GNA will only
> incur expenses within the envelope of that budget. In return (a) OSGeo
> will be responsible for any deficit that might be incurred by the
> event and (b) OSGeo will receive any surplus generated by the event."
> 
> For reference these are the same terms FOSS4G international generally
> runs under.
> 
> If I may start the bidding: +1
> 
> Other bidders are listed here, please place your bids.
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Conference_Committee#Current_Members
> 
> Paul
> 
> On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 12:05 PM, David William Bitner
> <bitner at dbspatial.com> wrote:
>> OSGeo Conference Committee,
>> 
>> I am forwarding on the message that I just sent to the OSGeo Board and was
>> rightly directed to bring to your attention first.
>> 
>> We are seeking action by the OSGeo Conference Committee to recommend that
>> the Board approves OSGeo to act as the financial backstop for the FOSS4GNA
>> 2013 Conference in Minneapolis, MN.
>> 
>> We will turn over any revenues from this event to OSGeo after the event. We
>> would request that some percentage of any revenue turned over to OSGeo will
>> be ear marked for future FOSS4GNA events.
>> 
>> Please let me know if there are any questions that I can answer or further
>> documentation that I can provide.
>> 
>> Thank you very much for your support,
>> 
>> David Bitner
>> Conference Chair, FOSS4G North America 2013
>> 
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: David William Bitner <bitner at dbspatial.com>
>> Date: Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 11:01 AM
>> Subject: FOSS4G North America 2013
>> To: OSGeo-Board List <board at lists.osgeo.org>
>> 
>> 
>> OSGeo Board,
>> 
>> I am excited to tell you that we have settled on a date and a venue for
>> FOSS4G North America 2013 in Minneapolis, MN. The event will follow a
>> similar two days of reviewed sessions + 1 free day of sponsor sessions as
>> the event in DC this year. It will be held at the Marriott City Center in
>> Minneapolis from May 22-24. We are additionally working with a couple
>> Universities in town and with the Minnesota GIS/LIS consortium and hope to
>> have a day of workshops on May 21.
>> 
>> While our goal was to provide as much time between this event and the UK
>> International Event, working with conflicts presented by our LOC and Program
>> Committee due to other events, the availability (and reduced cost) of
>> venues, and the possibilities for workshops at a University that become
>> available once classes are out all focused towards the end of May.
>> 
>> I have attached a draft budget for this event along with this email.
>> 
>> This budget assumes a goal audience of 500-700. With sponsorship of $60,000
>> (comparable to what was achieved for the smaller DC event) this would reach
>> profitability at 350 attendees. Fixed costs are near what we hope to receive
>> in sponsorship and as such profit per person would remain fairly static once
>> we reach 400 attendees.
>> 
>> We have negotiated with the venue and are able to get these prices with
>> absolutely no room block liability. The only venue liabilities that we have
>> are on the following schedule based on a percentage of our food minimum of
>> $75,000.
>> 
>> 2012-08-10 (anticipated contract signing) $1,500 (due as a deposit)
>> 2012-09-21 25%, $18,750
>> 2012-12-21 50%, $37,500
>> 2012-02-21 75%, $56,250
>> 2012-04-21 100%, $75,000
>> 
>> This would be in addition to any other expenses that we would incur for hard
>> goods and professional services as we incur those costs.
>> 
>> We intend to make sure that this event carries full liability and event
>> cancellation (to cover things beyond our control) insurance.
>> 
>> With the $9,000 we are receiving that was carry over from the DC event, we
>> are not seeking any start up funds from OSGeo. We are still in the process
>> of arranging our fiscal sponsor to actually handle bank accounts for us, but
>> we would like to request that OSGeo be willing to act as a financial
>> backstop for this event.
>> 
>> We would certainly invite an OSGeo representative to participate on the LOC
>> and to review any financial decisions being made by the Committee.
>> 
>> Much as we are receiving the benefits of the DC event, we would like to push
>> forward revenue (or at least a significant percentage) to be used for future
>> specific North American events (with the next NA event likely to be 2015
>> having the 2014 international event likely in our turf).
>> 
>> Please let me know if you have any questions for myself or the rest of the
>> committee.
>> 
>> Thank you very much for your consideration and we look forward to seeing
>> many of you next May! Please expect announcements to start flowing in the
>> coming days.
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> 
>> David Bitner
>> Conference Chair, FOSS4G North America 2013
>> 
>> --
>> ************************************
>> David William Bitner
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> ************************************
>> David William Bitner
>> 
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