[OSGeo-Discuss] Campaign Statement for María Arias de Reyna

[Rob Emanuele]

Hi María,

I'm not a charter member, so don't get to vote; however I do participate in
the OSGeo and FOSS4G world, and I just want to publicly share that your
statement really resonates with me. Though we have never met, it seems
clear to me from your statement that you have vision, honesty, and are
considerate of what is truly important in our communities. I also agree
with all of the views you mention. If I were able to vote, you would have
mine :)

Cheers,
Rob

On Sat, Sep 24, 2016 at 2:23 PM, María Arias de Reyna <
delawen+osgeo at gmail.com> wrote:

> So, let's try to answer the main question:
>
>  "What should the community expect from my board membership?"
>
> <TL;DR>
> I am a very active activist :) More known on the spanish speaking
> geo-world, I would say. I work with spatial metadata and GeoNetwork.
>
> I intend to make OSGeo as inclusive and free (as in free puppies) as
> possible. I want OSGeo to continue being transparent, comfortable and
> useful to promote FLOSS in the geo world. I would like to press on
> public administrations so they promote open data and software. I would
> like to increase diversity of OSGeo (because, you already notice, most
> of you are white men on developed countries with a similar vision, you
> know).
>
> Anyway, all the candidates proposed are really good. So, whoever you
> choose to vote, you will make a good choice. But vote, be involved,
> please :)
> </TL;DR>
>
> Many of you don't know me, I know. Maybe if I say "metadata" and
> "(meta)cat" some bell will ring. Maybe not. Let me talk you a bit
> about me, let's put humility aside for a moment.
>
> I work for GeoCat, which you *should* remember from sponsoring many
> geo-events. I work with metadata. Ever heard of GeoNetwork, the data
> catalog? Well, that's part of my work. I am also part of the
> geoinquietos group, which is one of the most active group in the
> spanish speaking geo-world. We are a very unorganized welcoming group
> that tries to make geothings fun. Unconferences, mapping parties,
> geobeers, workshops,... Anything we can enjoy while sharing our
> knowledge and help people around us.
>
> Some people say I'm very straight forward when talking. I can't help
> it. I don't like dancing around an idea losing time while the elephant
> sits on the center of the room eating all the peanuts. So this I can
> assure you: I will fight for what I think is better, even if it means
> making me look unpolite or the "bad cop". I'm used to get my hands
> dirty, I don't care. And if OSGeo decides to do something I don't
> agree with, I promise you I will fight the same (unless it makes me so
> uncomfortable I have to step down, but I don't think this can happen,
> we share the same goals). It will not be the first time I have to
> defend something I don't fully agree with. But, anyway, unless OSGeo
> changes a lot, this is not bothering me.
>
> To me, transparency is key. You will never hear me saying opposite
> things in private and in public. I will not say things in public I
> understand they shouldn't be made public. But you will never hear me
> defend something in private and another thing in public. I can change
> my mind, of course, and that happens more often than what I am willing
> to admit :) But I will not be a hypocrit and I usually have no problem
> in sharing my knowledge or perspective on something. I don't like
> being manipulative. I don't like lies. I don't think the end justifies
> the means.
>
> Let's focus on OSGeo and how I see it. As we heard on the FOSS4G: This
> is about people. And I couldn't agree more. I see OSGeo as an
> organization built on top of regional chapters which are built on top
> of local "chapters" which are built by people. So my idea of OSGeo is
> like a pyramid, where local "layers" work together to get the same
> goal at the top. "Think globally, act locally". And that's how I think
> it should work. Spread the work into very small pieces so we all can
> contribute to a greater good. I think this is how we should always
> work.
>
> So I think it is important to promote small events all around the
> world. Specially if they focus on target groups we are not very close
> to. I would like to see more diversity in the OSGeo membership, we are
> all very "standard". As we diversify our base, we will get better
> ideas and visions on the top. On my utopic OSGeo vision, there will be
> a group of local "geoinquietos" everywhere, all of them making the
> world better while having fun.
>
> Changing the subject to something more earthly: I see there is some
> buzzing around LocationTech. To me, they are important allies. They
> are more "open" and we are more "free", but as we agree on, let's say,
> 80% of the goals, why not work together on that 80%? Once we achieve
> those goals we can start an open war about that 20%. In the meantime,
> it would be stupid to fight.
>
> If you don't understand why I distinguish between open and free, here
> is the answer:
> http://ftp5.gwdg.de/pub/misc/openstreetmap/FOSS4G-2016/
> foss4g-2016-1106-free_open_and_libre-hd.webm
> Yes, that's me. Now you know my face too :)
>
> I think this is it. I hope to have convinced you to vote for me. If
> not, well, I will have to focus more on the "lower" layers of the
> pyramid.
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