[OSGeo-Conf] [Board] FOSS4G rotation

[Jachym Cepicky]

Cameron, I'm aware of board priorities, but I think, the message from
OSGeo (board) to the community is just not communicated well (clear
enough). Please tell me, if there is web presentation (single web page),
which would clearly say how things are:

1) OSGeo is taking the financial risks for the global and some regional
conferences
2) To organize such event, we need in general about $xK
3) And that are the reasons, why we ask for revenue

The questions from the community to the board and conference committee
are just coming again and again: "why are you asking so much for Open
Source conference, why isn't it (preferably) for free?"

Maybe I'm wrong - that are just my impressions, that some statements,
clear to the long-time board members are not clear to larger crowd of
the community.

Jachym

Dne 16.4.2013 13:41, Cameron Shorter napsal(a):
> On 16/04/13 16:29, Jachym Cepicky wrote:
>> Correct me, if I'm wrong, but from publicly easy available materials
>> (osgeo.org) it is not fully clear, that the financial risk of the
>> conference goes to OSGeo. OSGeo is investing money to FOSS4G, naturally
>> it's expecting revenue and also profit, so the not-so-financially
>> oriented events (as already noted, basically non-US/EU events) could
>> take place without having to worry, whether we will be able to organize
>> next event.
> Jachym,
> As far as I'm aware, OSGeo has financially backed all FOSS4G global
> events since OSGeo came into existence, (except FOSS4G Beijing). OSGeo
> also is also backing the last and current FOSS4G-NA event.
> 
> So as per our board priorities:
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_Meeting_2013-02-26#Conferences_and_related_events
> 
> 
> /Conferences are financially risky events. They need to be planned well
> in advance, and you are never sure how many people will turn up, or
> whether some global event will have a substantial impact on
> registrations. Consequently, conferences such as FOSS4G require
> financial guarantees up front in order to secure a venue. To support and
> enable these conferences, OSGeo will endevour to retain sufficient
> capital to offer such guarantees for any FOSS4G event requesting it. If
> OSGeo's support is requested, then OSGeo would expect these events to
> budget for a modest profit under conservative estimates, and for OSGeo
> to retain profits from such events. To date, such profits, while
> relatively modest, have been OSGeo's primary income source. /
> 

-- 
Jachym Cepicky
Help Service - Remote Sensing s.r.o.
jachym.cepicky at gmail.com
HS-RS: jachym at hsrs.cz http://bnhelp.cz
http://les-ejk.cz

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