[OSGeo-Conf] About funding of FOSS4G

[Frank Warmerdam]

On Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 5:45 AM, Pekka Sarkola <pekka at gispo.fi> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
>
>
> I have studied carefully FOSS4G conference RFP documentation, but I just
> need some clarifications:

Pekka,

I'll add my unofficial answers - hopefully helpful.

> ·         In page 6: OSGeo will take on financial responsibility. This very
> good deal. However, this “bridge funding” needs some clarification. I
> understand that this means that OSGeo will fund local organization committee
> expenses from September 2012 until LOC will get some money from participants
> / sponsors etc. Right?

Once the location is selected, the LOC is expected to prepare a budget.
Once *that* has been approved by the OSGeo board it becomes possible
for OSGeo to advance seed funding to the LOC to cover deposits and early
expenses (within some constraints).

> ·         Will OSGeo took all revenue or could it be that some part of
> “possible” revenue will stay in the country? Like to establish Local
> Chapter?

By default all profits would revert to OSGeo.   There is room to consider
other arrangements, and it would be best to note this in the proposal in
at least general terms.

> ·         Will OSGeo and LOC make legal agreement about conference?

In some cases the LOC has no official existance (ie. as a corporation)
in which case an OSGeo officer signs legal agreements with the
company assisting in operating the conference, and possible with the
venue.    In other cases there is a local organization that takes care
of this, and OSGeo either signs a legal agreement with them or at
least establishes a written understanding.

The goal of the advance funding, and OSGeo being willing to sign
legal agreements with the conference organizer and/or venue is to
avoid the situation where a local individual or friendly company ends
up having to take on substantial financial risk to host the conference.

Best regards,
-- 
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I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush    | Geospatial Software Developer