[OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G2016 and diversity
Andrea Ross
andrea.ross at eclipse.org
Mon May 30 16:48:16 PDT 2016
Cameron,
That's an unexpected response. Was someone suggesting OSGeo should be a
forum for human rights?
Kind regards,
Andrea
On 30/05/16 17:28, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>
> All,
>
> While I'm hugely in favour of mutual respect, and I personally
> co-authored the OSGeo Code-Of-Conduct, I feel that OSGeo shouldn't aim
> to be a forum for human rights. (There are other places for this).
>
> Our primary focus should be on supporting the creation of great OSGeo
> code, and supporting the communities doing this.
>
> Having a Code-Of-Conduct in place is a small part of supporting a
> community, and we should refer to it in cases where conversations or
> interactions deviate from good behavior, but I'm hopeful that we can
> leave it at that, and focus our time on our core code writing passions.
>
> Warm regards, Cameron
>
> On 30/05/2016 7:30 pm, Marc Vloemans wrote:
>> Thanks Andrea,
>>
>> You are quite right, unfortunately. Sharing and discussing
>> experiences and insights on this could come across as negative.
>>
>> The same happened when I read an earlier discussion on a Code of
>> Conduct for conferences. Frankly I was abhorred that such code was
>> deemed necessary. Until I realised that I was perhaps ignorant
>> (living in Amsterdam is such a privilege).
>>
>> Can I invite you to share your list-of-thoughts regarding potential
>> pitfalls for a Conference at least with me
>> (marcvloemans1[at]gmail.com <http://gmail.com>)? It would be such a
>> shame if we unintentionally overlook the obvious!
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Marc Vloemans
>>
>>
>> Op 30 mei 2016 om 03:49 heeft Andrea Ross <andrea.ross at eclipse.org>
>> het volgende geschreven:
>>
>>> Marc,
>>>
>>> I started to write a whole bunch of thoughts related to this but
>>> instead decided against as I felt it was stating the obvious and I
>>> didn't want the thoughts to be perceived as negative.
>>>
>>> The essence was that these things you have listed are great, and
>>> they help keep things from being screwed up, but they're not the
>>> hard work that it takes to really make a difference. So good, but so
>>> much more is needed.
>>>
>>> Kind regards,
>>>
>>> Andrea
>>>
>>> On 28/05/16 11:26, Marc Vloemans wrote:
>>>> Dear all,
>>>>
>>>> To build upon the positive results as mentioned in the thread
>>>> below, I invite anyone to supply any suggestion that may support
>>>> the LOC FOSS4G 2016 in Bonn Germany, regarding diversity related
>>>> policies during the actual Conference. Either directly to me or via
>>>> this list.
>>>>
>>>> As LOC we strive to be aware that public policies and personal
>>>> experiences vary per continent, region, country and/or province.
>>>> However, living in Western-Europe we sometimes are unaware how
>>>> fortunate we are! That could hinder us in anticipating potential
>>>> fears, uncertainties and doubts that visitors to Bonn may have.
>>>>
>>>> For starters, please note the following from
>>>> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Germany :
>>>>
>>>> "Germany has become the first country in Europe to enact a law that
>>>> allows German citizens to choose to neither identify as male or
>>>> female on their birth certificate, which has been said to
>>>> specifically benefit hermaphrodites
>>>> <https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermaphrodites> and intersex
>>>> <https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex> persons."
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately same sex marriage is still 'under construction', but
>>>> that does not reflect negatively on a number of laws protecting the
>>>> rights of the LGBTI community (including registered partnership).
>>>>
>>>> Best regards and hopefully we meet in Bonn,
>>>> Marc Vloemans
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Vriendelijke groet,
>>>> Marc Vloemans
>>>>
>>>> Op 28 mei 2016 om 03:04 heeft Andrea Ross <andrea.ross at eclipse.org>
>>>> het volgende geschreven:
>>>>
>>>>> Dear Kristin, Everyone
>>>>>
>>>>> The sex/gender split was similar for FOSS4G NA 2016 as FOSS4G NA
>>>>> 2015. In the range of 25 to 30 percent women for both speakers and
>>>>> attendees. We don't ask people their gender as part of submitting
>>>>> or registering, so this is obviously a best effort from having met
>>>>> a number of folks, and discretely Google-stalking them just a little.
>>>>>
>>>>> We probably had a record high number of trans people participate,
>>>>> despite North Carolina's HB2. Also because of HB2, many LGBT
>>>>> people reached out to me before the conference to understand what
>>>>> was being done, and to help decide whether to boycott or not. We
>>>>> are so grateful that so many did not boycott, and came anyway. It
>>>>> was a moving experience for me to learn how big the LGBT part of
>>>>> the community is and get a bit of the sense of how important the
>>>>> work they're doing is.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also, I want to call out the exemplary work of the Raleigh
>>>>> Convention Center. They really went above and beyond to ensure our
>>>>> attendees were safe and comfortable. So far as I know, there were
>>>>> zero instances of harassment of LGBT people. Laurie Okun from the
>>>>> Convention Center in particular was a superstar and so impressive
>>>>> & professional from our first contact when trying to assess
>>>>> Raleigh, through the chaos that HB2 inflicted, and to the
>>>>> post-conference follow-up. We are grateful.
>>>>>
>>>>> So many good things to note. I also want to note that it is still
>>>>> a mostly white conference. So the job is not done, and there's
>>>>> still much more important work to be done.
>>>>>
>>>>> Kind regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Andrea
>>>>>
>>>>> On 27/05/16 17:28, Kristin Bott wrote:
>>>>>> Thanks for sharing the synopsis; I'm especially encouraged by (1)
>>>>>> gender (identity) parity in the planning committee (2) strong
>>>>>> presence of female-identifying folk at the conference and (3)
>>>>>> continued financial support for attendees.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'd be curious what the gender split was across attendees v.
>>>>>> speakers -- possibly something worth tracking across years of
>>>>>> conferences to get a sense of any shifts in attendee demographics.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> cheers -
>>>>>> -k.bott
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 7:09 AM, Mark Lucas <mlucas17 at mac.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I had the pleasure of serving as the OSGeo representative for
>>>>>> the 2016 FOSS4G NA conference selection and planning. I
>>>>>> thought the team did an excellent job in selecting, planning
>>>>>> and running the conference. The team made the decision to
>>>>>> not pursue a 2017 NA conference so as not to compete for
>>>>>> resources with the OSGeo international conference. Our
>>>>>> efforts will focus on 2018 planning and selection for the
>>>>>> next NA regional conference.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On a personal note I was initially concerned about how the
>>>>>> relationship with Location Tech and OSGeo would evolve. Our
>>>>>> teaming has resulted in yet another successful conference
>>>>>> that I believe plays to the strengths of both organizations.
>>>>>> I was very pleased with the openness and collaboration that I
>>>>>> witnessed.
>>>>>> — Mark
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The synopsis from Andrea Ross is included below:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> FOSS4G NA 2016 Synopsis (please feel free to re-use this data)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> The conference ran from May 2-5, at the Raleigh
>>>>>> Convention Center, in Raleigh North Carolina. The code
>>>>>> sprint & unconference ran May 6 & 7 at Red Hat’s
>>>>>> headquarters, a few blocks from the convention center. A
>>>>>> Tour of the NCSU OSGeo Research and Education lab took
>>>>>> place on May 6th.
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> The conference featured 1 day of workshops, 3 days of
>>>>>> sessions, a code sprint, an unconference, and social
>>>>>> events every night. There were 93 full length (35 minute)
>>>>>> sessions, 36 short length (15 minute) sessions, 10
>>>>>> workshops, and 3 keynotes. This represented an increase
>>>>>> in full length. The rooms were generally always near full
>>>>>> or slightly overflowing for particularly popular talks,
>>>>>> despite them being big rooms.
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> The conference grew by 33% . There were 558 attendees.
>>>>>> This level of increase is very positive, when so many
>>>>>> other conferences are in decline.
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> Like 2015’s team, 50% of the 2016 committee were women.
>>>>>> Also like 2015, a significant proportion of speakers and
>>>>>> attendees were women (in the 30% range), which is great
>>>>>> to see.
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> 23 people were at the conference who wouldn't have
>>>>>> otherwise been without the financial support we gave them.
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> From the attendee survey, people were clearly thrilled
>>>>>> about the conference... 99% positive feedback. (n=102).
>>>>>> The one negative response said they were disappointed
>>>>>> there was no lunch served. We’re not sure how they missed
>>>>>> it! The venue, the strong program, and the positive &
>>>>>> supportive atmosphere were the things people commented
>>>>>> (positively) on most.
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> People loved the keynotes, and especially Tamar Cohen's
>>>>>> entitled Extreme Mapping.
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> The video recordings of sessions are being uploaded to
>>>>>> Youtube, with dozens up, and more each day.
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> 90% of sponsors rated the value excellent. 10% rated it
>>>>>> very good. The layout of the conference was especially
>>>>>> appreciated as it meant plenty of traffic for sponsors at
>>>>>> all times.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This year’s conference was produced by Andrea Ross and the
>>>>>> team at the Eclipse Foundation, the same as 2015. Sarah
>>>>>> Cordivano served as Community Chair. Rob Emanuele was Program
>>>>>> Committee Chair, repeating the same role he performed in 2015.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org <mailto:Discuss at lists.osgeo.org>
>>>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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>
> --
> Cameron Shorter,
> Software and Data Solutions Manager
> LISAsoft
> Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
> 26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
>
> P +61 2 9009 5000, Wwww.lisasoft.com, F +61 2 9009 5099
>
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