[OSGeo-Discuss] Board Geographic Diversity

[Paul Ramsey]

I think it's a terrible idea, unless we really consider geography to  
be the true organizing principle behind OSGeo.  Why not project-based  
board seats?  Or language?  Ethnicity?  How about all three! We can  
have a matrix board.

First, is there a problem: is our board representation bad relative  
to our membership and goals?

If you can clearly articulate a problem, perhaps we can discuss  
solutions, but slaving board representation to geography is a Big  
Hammer, so it better be the Most Important Thing we care about.

P.

On 13-Aug-07, at 11:06 AM, P Kishor wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I would love hear from others about what they think of geography-based
> Board seats. Please weigh in.
>
> PS: If anyone is CDG tomorrow morning at 8.20a local time, page me,
> but make sure to wear your OSGeo swag so I can recognize you... I'll
> be there for two hours waiting for my flight to DEL.
>
> On 8/11/07, P Kishor <punk.kish at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On 8/10/07, Steve Lime <Steve.Lime at dnr.state.mn.us> wrote:
>>> Hi all: Perhaps this has been discussed before, but... Given the  
>>> apparent desire to maintain geographic diversity amongst OSgeo  
>>> leadership perhaps in the future we might consider regionally  
>>> based board seats.
>>
>> This is absolutely the most wonderful, workable, and simplest idea to
>> this problem.
>>
>> When I was casting my vote, I had little to go on. One vote went to
>> someone who I have met personally, if only briefly (that person won
>> the election). One vote went to someone from a geographic area other
>> than Europe/NA (that person did not win). The other votes were based
>> on my recollection of their contribution to the mailing lists,
>> software, activism, and somewhat on the nomination write-ups. It is
>> hard to compare someone who writes code (I don't as much... at least,
>> not basic code) to someone who evangelizes (I do a lot of that... I
>> just spent the entire morning yesterday giving a presentation on open
>> geospatial at the World Bank... it was received with a lot of
>> enthusiasm and interest).
>>
>> Having regionally allocated board seats would cut down on some of  
>> this
>> comparison problem, and it would also ensure representation from
>> around the world, from regions that are different levels in diffusion
>> and adoption, and hence, need different kinds of work and  
>> involvement.
>>
>> Thanks Steve, for suggesting this... I wholeheartedly second this.
>>
>>
>>> That is, you have representatives from:
>>>
>>> North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, South/Central America and  
>>> Oceania
>>>
>>> If the bulk of activity is in North America and Europe then given  
>>> them two seats. Then you have nominations within a region and so  
>>> on... Every other year different geographic regions would be up  
>>> for re-election. As a voting member you'd vote for candidates in  
>>> each region.
>>>
>>> If organizational affiliation diversity is more important  
>>> (government vs. higher education vs. private sector vs. hobbyist)  
>>> than geographic diversity then the same idea would apply. We do  
>>> that here in Minnesota for our state GIS/LIS consortium board.  
>>> That board also has an at-large seat open to anyone.
>>>
>>> Just a thought...
>>>
>>> Steve
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/
>> Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/
>> Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/education/
>> S&T Policy Fellow, National Academy of Sciences http://www.nas.edu/
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> collaborate, communicate, compete
>> =====================================================================
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/
> Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/
> Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/education/
> S&T Policy Fellow, National Academy of Sciences http://www.nas.edu/
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> collaborate, communicate, compete
> =====================================================================
> _______________________________________________
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> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss