[OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G2016 and diversity
Cameron Shorter
cameron.shorter at gmail.com
Mon May 30 19:54:06 PDT 2016
Marc, Andrea,
My point I'm hoping to make is that I think we might be spending more
time discussing ethical code-of-conduct type questions than I think we
need to. Yes it is important. Yes we need to flag bad behaviour and
resolve it. But hopefully we can limit such discussions to 1% (or so) of
our bandwidth - which we achieve by referencing our code-of-conduct.
Disclaimer - I'm a privileged white male, living in a democratic
country, and I'm used to expecting good behaviour to be the norm.
Warm regards, Cameron
On 31/05/2016 9:48 AM, Andrea Ross wrote:
> That's an unexpected response. Was someone suggesting OSGeo should be
> a forum for human rights?
On 31/05/2016 9:28 AM, Marc Vloemans wrote:
> Cameron,
>
> I think you misunderstood the aim of my comment.
> I am not talking about human rights as such. (Unless they are
> threatened, of course)
>
> I am addressing the need to guard and promote our inclusivity. If we
> want to grow and develop as a community we need to take any
> past/present/future concern about it seriously.
>
> That is an integral part of our marketing and communications effort:
> avoid wrong perceptions and manage our public image where/when
> possible. Whether such perceptions address the nature of our code, our
> projects, our members, our organisation and its policies or our
> activities.
>
> Hope this clarifies, cheers,
> Marc Vloemans
>
>
> Op 30 mei 2016 om 23:28 heeft Cameron Shorter
> <cameron.shorter at gmail.com <mailto:cameron.shorter at gmail.com>> het
> volgende geschreven:
>
>> 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
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>>>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>>>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org <mailto:Discuss at lists.osgeo.org>
>>>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>> --
>> 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
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org <mailto:Discuss at lists.osgeo.org>
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
--
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, W www.lisasoft.com, F +61 2 9009 5099
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