[OSGeo-Conf] RfP FOSS4G2024

[Nobusuke Iwasaki]

Hi everyone

Yesterday, OSGeo Japan chapter members discussed the possibility of
holding the global FOSS4G event in Japan. As Paul mentioned earlier,
the Japanese community is highly active, but we concluded that hosting
FOSS4G 2024 would be extremely difficult.

However, hosting the global FOSS4G event in Japan remains one of our
aspirations. Personally, I would like to invite it to Japan in 2025,
and OSGeo.JP is also planning to start preparations.

Adam's opinions are indeed very important. In yesterday's discussion,
opinions very similar to Adam's comment, "more hopefully, 'I can do
this as a regular part of my work day'", were brought up:

> So, in order to keep our community sane and happy and not burned out with the expectation of a huge FOSS4G each year, can we look at ways to make better != bigger?

Definitely, I agree with this opinion.

Best regards,
Nobusuke IWASAKI
Representative of OSGeo Japan Chapter


2023年4月28日(金) 8:54 Adam Steer <adam.d.steer at gmail.com>:
>
> Hi everyone
>
> I've spoken to one community I know who would be great at hosting a global FOSS4G. We actually worked on an RFP, which would place FOSS4G as a co-event with another important regional geospatial+political forum - then it was felt that 2026 might be a better target.
>
> Here are issues I saw:
>
> - The southern hemisphere outside the Americas just isn't on the OSGeo map. This is unapologetically blunt, and the standard response to pointing this out is "but the people and money are in the north", and an obvious response is "so you can afford travel more easily right?" ;)
>
> - Related to that point, the tradition / expectation / requirement that FOSS4G is OSGeo's primary funding source limits where it can be held.
>
> - Related to profit-making is the scale. An expectation that a global FOSS4G should be ca. 1000 in-person attendees is for sure daunting and excludes a lot of potential venues.
>
> FOSS4G is extraordinary as a volunteer (and/or people who can do stuff as part of their normal paid job) run event. In many interactions we have with other organisations, it is clear that volunteer-driven organisations and events at this scale are unprecedented. Which is a huge credit to the community.
>
> So, in order to keep our community sane and happy and not burned out with the expectation of a huge FOSS4G each year, can we look at ways to make better != bigger?
>
> If there's no "global" FOSS4G in a year, how can OSGeo better serve / support regional events? Importantly, how can the energy of FOSS4G events be captured in ongoing OSGeo volunteerism?
>
> Suggestions from me:
>
> - immediately in 2024: as soon as we can be sure no "global" focus event will happen, publicise that fact and draw peoples' attention to OSGeo support systems like the travel grant program. Also remind everyone how sponsorship currently works, so that anyone organising regional events is fully aware of how local support also translates into global support.
>
> - In 2022 there was some effort toward co-sessions (remote) between two regional events in Oceania. It didn't work out then - maybe it can in future. Also what about ideas like "24 hours of FOSS4G" with regional events coordinated around the globe so that anyone, anywhere can tune into a session at any time during the week? That is also a lot of distributed logistics...
>
> - in the long term: continue work on ways to decouple OSGeo funding from FOSS4G events. Take the pressure off.
>
> At this point, I can only offer ideas. I have my own multiple crises to deal with before I can say "yes I am secure and can offer time to act on things" (or more hopefully "I can do this as a regular part of my work day").
>
> Cheers
>
> Adam
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 28, 2023, 01:32 Msilikale Msilanga <msilikalemsilanga at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Thank you for following up and for your comments. I have been providing support to Vasile behind the scenes, but given the current situation, we could really use your suggestions. If you have any experience or ideas, please share them with us. Vasile, if you have any insights or proposed solutions, please let me know how I can assist in moving us forward.
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Msilikale
>>
>>
>> On 27. Apr 2023, at 4.13 PM, Paul Ramsey <pramsey at cleverelephant.ca> wrote:
>>
>> Seems like a pretty rough situation.
>>
>> We could go out and directly solicit some communities, where we know there are strong local groups and hasn’t yet been a FOSS4G. At least get a sense of what’s holding people back.
>>
>> Calgary, Halifax from the last North American call.
>> DC, Minneapolis, Seattle.
>>
>> Further afield, Japan, Netherlands, Brazil, India, all feel like places with large local communities that might be able to pull off a FOSS4G.
>>
>> That said, the clock is running and it will soon be infeasible to carry out a large international conference.
>>
>> P.
>
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岩崎 亘典