[OSGeo-Discuss] Board Digest, Vol 94, Issue 24 (actually: president's role in OSGEO)

[Jeff McKenna]

Hi Dimitris,

Although your points make sense, the reality is that the President is
requested specifically for many things, in person, or on a Skype call,
writing a support letter, shaking a hand, giving a talk, etc etc.  This
is why I am so busy lately, and obviously why Arnulf was as well.  For a
second, imagine if Arnulf was the president all those years *without*
ever having a fulltime employee (which was the case for many years, as
Tyler was here as a paid Executive Director); the reality is different
now, where our foundation has no employees and things in fact do trickle
up (this is natural).

So I am ok with more specific definitions of roles in our organization,
but let us be realistic, is all that I ask. :)

-jeff



On 2014-07-18, 11:26 AM, Dimitris Kotzinos wrote:
> Dear all,
> 
> some thoughts on the discussion of the role of the president in OSGEO,
> as the discussion is going on in the board-list.
> First of all, I hope that this is a discussion of interest for all OSGEO
> members and thus I cc:discuss.
> Secondly I think I agree mostly with Michael Gerlek's point in his
> e-mail of July 17th, so I think that there are ways to lighten the
> President's burden. A small example: there are very competent board
> members coming from Europe, they can easily and successfully represent
> the board in European based events. The same is true for Australia and
> South America. So less work for the president and fewer expenses for the
> board and the budget even if these trips are covered (which could even
> not be the case if the specific board member would attend anyway).
> Moreover this brings back an older suggestion that we need to officially
> establish regional chapters that will also be directly connected with
> the regional events like FOSS4G-Europe. This would ease a lot of those
> discussions.
> Thirdly, reading Arnulf's account for his term, one can only say
> "wowowow" and thank you to Arnulf and Jeff for the (both personal and
> financial) burden they have taken so far.
> Forthly, I think that the organization should cover the expenses of any
> members going on an "official" business, given that the board agrees on
> that. For me it goes without saying that some limits should be set (e.g.
> X* hotels) and as others pointed out maybe also a yearly overall limit
> not to be exceeded in any case. Of course again and as usual in OSGEO
> everything funded should be public.
> Lastly, I think that increasing the president's term will only
> discourage people to apply for that position. Two years is enough and if
> he/she wants can reapply - Eli's suggestion of putting a two terms limit
> is also good. I prefer a more flexible scheme that could include a
> president elect or some sharing of responsibilities with other members
> of the board, e.g. establishing a vice-president's position.
> 
> My 2cs and thanks for listening,
> Dimitris