[OSGeo-Discuss] Question(s) for board candidates

[Jody Garnett]

Great set of open ended questions Darrell, and difficult to answer as there
is a gap between what OSGeo is in position to do as a volunteer
driven organization and all the opportunities available in our industry. Since
OSGeo is a transparent organization we all had a ring side seat for the
decline in sponsorship leading to the board scaling back ambitions a few
years back.

My strategy is to work with a number of organizations to get the job done.
I have worked with OGC in the past on standards. I volunteer with
LocationTech currently on industry outreach. And perhaps most importantly
with the Boundless team as they work across a range of our OSGeo projects,
tribes and timezones.

OSGeo is providing a lot of value and opportunities for everyone involved
and I have accepted this nomination to step up and take part.

*1) What do you see as OSGeo’s purpose today?*

Same as it always has been, to foster a healthy environment for open source
spatial software to succeed.

The fun part of this is with such a diverse community there are many
different ways to succeed (as pointed out by your other email). Developing
the software, and reaching out to new projects, being my passion. Working
with groups like the OGC to foster an level playing field of standards for
our software to grow. Working with Geo4All to produce course materials for
our software to be useful in an education context.

*1a) What is OSGeo doing today that it shouldn’t be doing?*

Waiting: As a volunteer based organization our response is often measured
by drumming up interest in the short term, or painting a long
range strategy that inspires. Waiting provides a hesitation that kills the
enthusiasm on which we thrive. Please don't wait - dive in.

*2) What do you see as OSGeo’s purpose in five years?*

In five years OSGeo should be even more of a force to be reckoned with. Our
open source software is gradually taking hold, and we will see the first
harvest from the seeds Geo4All is planning in our education system. We need
to make good on this harvest and responsibly direct the future of our
industry.

*2a) What should OSGeo be doing in five years that it *isn’t* doing today?*

Building reliable lines of communication/collaboration with
external organizations. Spearheading RnD collaborations to fill in holes in
our open source ecosystem.

We should take the bigger picture and *start* projects based on our vision
rather than wait for software to come to us. As an example some five years
after WPS servers started popping up we are finally getting decent client
support. OSGeo should be in position to collaborate with the OGC and make
sure a reference client and server are available for each new specification
as they are produced.

We should follow the OGC "Test Bed" model and give projects
an opportunity and funding to address interoperability issues.

*3) How do we get from (1) to (2)?*

Treasuring our volunteers, promoting our sponsors (direct and indirect) and
fundraising (rather than complaining about lack of resources).

Staying focused on our mission, and redirecting projects/questions/causes
to a more appropriate venue if they are not ours to answer.

*3a) How can you help that?*

By staying focused on the health and happiness of our projects, measuring
success by number of employed developers, growth in the number of pull
requests.

By celebrating and caring for our volunteers, pride in each accomplishment,
joy in each new member ... and keeping an eye on each other so we do not
burn out.

By recognizing that the board members are also volunteers, asking as much
from our membership as we do from the board.

--
Jody Garnett

On 21 September 2015 at 11:03, Darrell Fuhriman <darrell at garnix.org> wrote:

> I have a set of inter-related questions for board candidates.
>
> 1) What do you see as OSGeo’s purpose today?
> 1a) What is OSGeo doing today that it shouldn’t be doing?
>
> 2) What do you see as OSGeo’s purpose in five years?
> 2a) What should OSGeo be doing in five years that it *isn’t* doing today?
>
> 3) How do we get from (1) to (2)?
> 3a) How can you help that?
>
> Darrell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
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