[OSGeo-Conf] RfP FOSS4G2024

michael terner ternergeo at gmail.com
Fri Dec 30 09:09:09 PST 2022 

I'd like to validate that I agree with almost everything that was written
recently:

   1. YES, we should split the discussion between getting the 2024 RFP out,
   and the "larger FOSS4G issues"
      - Perhaps changing the rotation and reconsidering regions is a
      "larger issue"?
      - There does seem to be flexibility to include other regions
      responding to 2024 if North America can't muster a bid.
   2. YES, I would be available to participate in a Conference Dev meeting;
   or, as suggested, having a more focused email thread aimed at getting to
   consensus on changes, and then releasing the 2024 RFP.
   3. I neglected to thank Steven in my earlier email as he has been a
   consistent advocate for new ideas and he has been talking about "active
   recruitment" of FOSS4G teams for a long time. Suffice to say, I strongly
   agree with that perspective. I hope I am wrong, but I continue to be
   worried about not having enough bidders to sustain a strong FOSS4G.
   4. I believe that Conference Dev should convene some kind of meeting
   and/or email thread to address multiple valid and important issues that we
   (as Conference Dev)/OSGeo need to address. Based on this thread alone, the
   following have come up:
      - How important is FOSS4G conference revenue to OSGeo? Perhaps, we
      need to hear from the OSGeo Board?
      - Is it feasible to believe that OSGeo corporate sponsorships would
      be enough to support FOSS4G conferences?
      - Should we reevaluate the current 3 region rotation for FOSS4G?
      - Should we consider re-thinking and re-defining the current 3
      regions? Should there be more regions? Should current regional
definitions
      change?
      - Should we reconsider the current model of relying solely on
      regional volunteers to deliver FOSS4G Conferences? Could/should OSGeo do
      more to actively recruit FOSS4G teams?

Once the holidays pass, it seems like a good time to look forward and think
about potential change.

All the best for a great new year in 2023...

MT

On Fri, Dec 30, 2022 at 8:32 AM Steven Feldman <shfeldman at gmail.com> wrote:

> Maxi
>
> The old rotation of NA, Europe, Rest of World was based on demand from
> attendees and finances.
>
> The surpluses from the NA and Europe events were the majority of the
> funding that OSGeo received. While the Rest of World events made little
> surplus in the third year, they supported our desire to promote open source
> geo in places that we had not reached. That seems to me like a reasonable
> balance between financial prudence and evangelism.
>
> Recently we have not had a queue of people wanting to organise a FOSS4G
> whether from NA, Europe or RoW. That is a challenge that we need to address
> by offering encouragement and support to potential organising committees
> wherever they are based. It may be that we have to recognise that
> conferences will not be a source of income for OSGeo in the future and the
> board will need to plan for that.
>
> Re the large NGO’s or international agencies funding FOSS4G/OSGeo -
> several of us have worked hard to try and secure sponsorships from World
> Bank, UN and EU, the best we have achieved is short term commitment to one
> or at most two events and the levels of support are often much less than
> you might expect. I doubt that these organisations are the answer to
> funding FOSS4G or OSGeo.
>
> Mappy New Year
> ______
> Steven
>
> Unusual maps in strange places -  mappery.org
>
> Subscribe to my weekly “Maps in the Wild <http://eepurl.com/dKStT-/>”
> newsletter
>
> On 30 Dec 2022, at 12:52, massimiliano cannata <
> massimiliano.cannata at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Adam,
> Not sure to get what you are meaning...
> You don't like the support from global organizations? Like those that
> defines SDGs and humanitarian missions?
>
> Back to the discussion... What is the reason for the current rotation rule
> that favorite EU-NA?
>
> I have always pragmatically tough (but I'm maybe wrong) that is because:
> - most of developers and members are from those part of the world
> - this guarantee an higher number of participants which is good for the
> community and the finances
>
> Any other points?
>
> As an equitable and global community I strongly believe we should promote
> the spread of open source geospatial in every corner of the world.
>
> The fact is that in my opinion to make it effectively happen we should
> have a well defined strategy and resource plan...
>
> Maxi
>
>
>
> Il ven 30 dic 2022, 12:54 Adam Steer <adam.d.steer at gmail.com> ha scritto:
>
>> Hi Luca, Maxi
>>
>> I am sure you didn't really mean to suggest that global FOSS4G events
>> held outside of EU / NA states need to get support from EU / NA based
>> organisations...
>>
>> I think the right place for this discussion is here, in trackable
>> public archives. Perhaps in a new thread, it has hijacked Vasile's
>> work on getting the 2024 RfP done.
>>
>> Adam
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 30 Dec 2022 at 06:57, Luca Delucchi <lucadeluge at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > On Thu, 29 Dec 2022 at 18:21, massimiliano cannata
>> > <massimiliano.cannata at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Dear all,
>> > > My 2 cents...
>> > >
>> > > Foss4g is the main conference of osgeo and provide:
>> > > - funding for the function of osgeo
>> > > - visibility and credibility to the community
>> > >
>> > > I'm 100% for having often outside EU-NA but then we should have
>> strong financial and political support by third parties: e.g. Europe
>> Community, United Nations, World Bank, etc...
>> > >
>> >
>> > Yes, this should be important.
>> > Right now it seems that it works mainly if someone of the LOC knows
>> > someone of the agency, instead OSGeo should be able to retain them
>> > somehow
>> >
>> > >
>> > > Maxi
>> > >
>> >
>> > Luca
>>
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-- 
Michael Terner
ternergeo at gmail.com
(M) 978-631-6602
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