[OSGeo-Conf] Proposed text for an OSGeo Code of Conduct

Sun Jan 18 14:16:56 PST 2015

Hi David,
I'm happy to move proposed CoC text across to a wiki. If requested, I'll 
copy across now (within 48 hours), or can wait till there has been 
further discussion.

Also happy to expand the discussion to other lists, although I expect 
the conference committee is probably the logical primary point for 
discussion, as a CoC is most applicable to conferences. The board would 
need to sign off on a CoC and should be invited to comment.

Re identifying what should be in a code of conduct. I've attempted to 
start on that in the list of items I've attempted to address, listed below.

I have presented the draft CoC (below), as I find it is often easier to 
start with a "straw man" which can be picked apart, rather than talking 
vaguely in conceptual levels. However, I'm not wedded to the text, and 
hope to see constructive criticism of the ideas, text and structure.

On 19/01/2015 3:46 am, David William Bitner wrote:
> I really want to thank everyone here for engaging in this issue. I do 
> appreciate all the different voices that have contributed to this 
> conversation -- they all certainly speak to the diversity of thoughts 
> and experiences that we already have in this community.
>
> Cameron -- thank you very much for putting forward a first draft of a 
> potential CoC for us to use. Before drafting and wordsmithing a CoC I 
> want to step back and make sure we answer a few questions that would 
> certainly impact how a CoC gets written. When we get to the point of 
> drafting, we should certainly do so on the wiki (or other trackable 
> collaborative medium) rather than in an email thread.
>
> With some of the wording in this draft as well as seeing the 
> discussion from the last Board Meeting, is the conference committee 
> the correct venue for this discussion or should this be at the Board 
> level so that this applies to all OSGeo activities (mailing lists, 
> events, etc)? I am certain that many of the same people would remain 
> engaged in helping draft a Code of Conduct either for the foundation 
> as a whole or just for our events, but this certainly impacts the 
> scope and wording required in a draft.
>
> Many of the comments that I read as against having a CoC seem to stem 
> from people wondering what does a CoC solve. Sadly, having a CoC does 
> not "solve" anything. There will still be issues. A CoC simply 
> provides one tool for us to help resolve those issues when they come 
> up as well as providing a proactive statement that we aim to be a 
> welcoming and diverse community to hopefully prevent some of those 
> issues in the first place. A CoC is not the end point of diversity 
> initiatives, but it is a very low hanging fruit to start with. Other 
> initiatives that I know have been tried that we should continue to 
> look at their effectiveness include author blind public program 
> review, scholarship initiatives, proactively seeking out diversity in 
> key notes, and many more things that we haven't tried.

On 18/01/2015 2:33 pm, Cameron Shorter wrote:
> Following on from this email thread, I've drafted a proposed Code of 
> Conduct, where I've aimed to address:
> * Be concise (concise words get read more)
> * Cover key messages
> * Include an escalation process for dealing with both minor and major 
> issues
> * Ensure key terms are understood (in particular reference to 
> definition of sexualised images)
> * Couch in positive language
>
> *Tickbox version*:
> * I agree to act respectfully toward others in line with the OSGeo 
> Code of Conduct.
>
> *OSGeo Code of Conduct*:
>
> This Code of Conduct collates the collective values adopted by our 
> OSGeo community which baselines the behaviour we do and don't support 
> to ensure OSGeo is a safe and productive environment for all.
>
> We invite everyone to be respectful to all, regardless of race, 
> gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, 
> national origin, ethnicity, religion, or ideas. We do not tolerate 
> harassment of others in any form. Examples of harassment include 
> offensive comments, verbal threats or demands, sexualized images in 
> public spaces, intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or 
> recording, sustained disruption of events, and unwelcome physical 
> contact or sexual attention. [1]
>
> We expect all participants to follow the Code of Conduct when involved 
> in OSGeo activities. This includes conferences, related social events, 
> and online forums. Participants violating this Code of Conduct will be 
> asked to desist and/or make amends. For gross or continual violations, 
> offenders may be expelled from the event or forum without a refund, 
> and/or banned from future events or other forums.
>
> Participants are encouraged to bring any concerns to the attention of 
> event staff, the forum, forum leader, or OSGeo Board. We thank all for 
> helping keep OSGeo welcoming, respectful, and friendly for all.
>
> [1] Examples of inappropriate sexualised environments are described 
> here: http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Sexualized_environment
>
> On 10/01/2015 9:59 pm, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>> Looking around at various Conference "Codes of Conduct", I found the 
>> O'Reilly definition to be eloquently worded, and less threatening to 
>> potential attendees. (Although I still can't find a clear definition 
>> of "sexual images".)
>>
>> http://www.oreilly.com/conferences/code-of-conduct.html
>>
>>
>>   Code of Conduct
>>
>> At O'Reilly, we assume that most people are intelligent and 
>> well-intended, and we're not inclined to tell people what to do. 
>> However, we want every O'Reilly conference to be a safe and 
>> productive environment for everyone. To that end, this code of 
>> conduct spells out the behavior we support and don't support at 
>> conferences. The core of our approach is this:
>>
>> We don't condone harassment or offensive behavior, at our conference 
>> venues or anywhere. It's counter to our company values. More 
>> importantly, it's counter to our values as human beings.
>>
>> We're voicing our strong, unequivocal support of appropriate behavior 
>> by all participants at technical events, including all O'Reilly 
>> conferences. We invite you to help us make each O'Reilly conference a 
>> place that is welcoming and respectful to all participants, 
>> regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, 
>> physical appearance, national origin, ethnicity, or religion. So that 
>> everyone can focus on the conference itself, and the great networking 
>> and community richness that happens when we get together in person, 
>> we will not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any 
>> form---in person or online.
>>
>> Examples of harassment include offensive comments, verbal threats or 
>> demands, sexualized images in public spaces, intimidation, stalking, 
>> harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of sessions 
>> or events, and unwelcome physical contact or sexual attention.
>>
>> We expect all participants---attendees, speakers, sponsors, and 
>> volunteers---to follow the Code of Conduct during the conference. 
>> This includes conference-related social events at off-site locations, 
>> and in related online communities and social media. Participants 
>> asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply 
>> immediately. Conference participants violating this Code of Conduct 
>> may be expelled from the conference without a refund, and/or banned 
>> from future O'Reilly events, at the discretion of O'Reilly Media.
>>
>> Please bring any concerns to the immediate attention of the event 
>> staff, or contact our VP of Conferences, Gina Blaber 
>> atgina at oreilly.com <mailto:gina at oreilly.com>. We thank our 
>> participants for your help in keeping the event welcoming, 
>> respectful, and friendly to all participants.
>>
>> Read theblog post by Tim O'Reilly 
>> <http://radar.oreilly.com/2011/07/sexual-harassment-at-technical.html>that 
>> is the basis of our functional code of conduct for all O'Reilly 
>> conferences.
>>
>> Thanks to theLean Startup 
>> <http://2014.leanstartup.co/code-of-conduct/>folks and thejsconf.us 
>> <http://jsconf.com/codeofconduct.html>folks, whose Codes of Conduct 
>> inspired some changes to our own.
>>
>
> -- 
> Cameron Shorter,
> Software and Data Solutions Manager
> LISAsoft
> Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
> 26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
>
> P +61 2 9009 5000,  Wwww.lisasoft.com,  F +61 2 9009 5099

-- 
Cameron Shorter,
Software and Data Solutions Manager
LISAsoft
Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009

P +61 2 9009 5000,  W www.lisasoft.com,  F +61 2 9009 5099

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