[OSGeo-Discuss] A wonderful FOSS4G event...

[Jeff McKenna]

Hello all,

I want to publicly thank Peter Baumann and the whole organizing
committee for such a fun and inspiring FOSS4G-Europe event.  I have the
same feeling now that I had after I came back from other vibrant events
such as FOSS4G-CEE in Bucharest and FOSS4G-BA in Argentina.  These
smaller events are filled with passion, fun, learning, and energetic
students, and are true to the spirit of what FOSS4G is meant to be -
sharing and fun.  This first ever FOSS4G Europe event had many of the
original FOSS4G family members, including Venka and Markus and myself,
together again after so many years.

The event may seem smaller, but not in terms of countries represented
(over 50), and I heard from many attendees how great the program was.
There is also something about the feeling of where FOSS4G started: on a
university campus, with lower costs, with a focus on workshops and
technical talks, and free social events of course.  This event even had
Becks beer as a sponsor, which would make any core FOSS4G-er smile with
pleasure.  Even the code sprint, which was small (about 18 attendees)
but it was just fun to be a part of, to hear the testing and compiling
of OSGeo-Live, of seeing students show up and willing to contribute:
thanks to Jachym and Peter for giving us the time and space to do this.

I am very glad I was there in person, as you can see a lot of momentum
has been generated from this event, with many European local leaders
becoming much more vocal now, on topics such as OSGeo representation in
Europe, industry focus, etc.  I am happy that I was there in person to
talk face-to-face with community members and hear the wonderful ideas
and also concerns.  I encouraged them there to speak openly from now on,
share their ideas with the global community.  I am happy to see already
such a buzz of activity on the mailing lists as a result of all these
discussions.

I know myself I feel rejuvenated, filled even more with FOSS4G passion
and energy.  I owe this to the FOSS4G-Europe attendees and local
committee: all the relaxing talks I had outside the building sitting
down in the shade 'in my office' ha.

And who really would ever believe that I cooked for about 40 FOSS4G-ers?
 Well only those there could believe it ha!

Thank you to everyone who attended the first FOSS4G Europe, you are my
true family.

-jeff