[OSGeo-Discuss] Re: [OSGeo-Board] Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Is OSGeo North America-centric?

[Helena Mitasova]

On Sep 5, 2006, at 5:10 AM, Markus Neteler wrote:

> On 9/5/06, Jody Garnett <jgarnett at refractions.net> wrote:
>> Tyler Mitchell wrote:
>> > On 4-Sep-06, at 6:38 PM, Gary Lang wrote:
>> >>
>> >> "How to enable more people to participate in OSGeo efforts  
>> (make it
>> >> less North-America centric which is getting to be an issue in
>> >> European GFOSS communities)"
>> >>
>> > Is this purely an issue about optics - or how the organisation
>> > 'appears' to be?  Or is it based on some deliberate decisions that
>> > make it more difficult to participate?
>> >
>> > Like you say, when any group wants to do more or feel closer to the
>> > action, it sets the stage for regional chapters.  Surely people
>> > wouldn't say, for example, the German Chapter of OSGeo is too North
>> > American focused?  Yet we are all OSGeo.  Local focus is the reason
>> > for the chapters, so engagement at that level will be the most
>> > effective and empowering.
>>
>> Maybe I should ask the question a different way, when I return  
>> home how
>> can I join the North American chapter :-)  If people in North America
>> have not felt the need to make a chapter yet, perhaps it explains the
>> impression of a North American focus for the organization as a whole.
>
> Good point in my opinion. Why do we need German, India etc. chapters
> but not an USA chapter? Because it's is (to become) an US Foundation.
> It is not about what OSGeo is, but how it is perceived outside - in  
> some
> parts of the world. I don't know if OSGeo-USA chapter makes sense,  
> but a
> bit of bias is there.

I don't think OSGeo-USA chapter makes much sense - state-based chapters
would be more helpful - we are trying to put together one for NC.

Helena
> I think that OSGeo is doing a great job which needs
> to be communicated appropiately.
>
> I appreciate that this (non-)issue is discussed here.
>
> Markus
>
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