<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br></div><div>Jeff,</div><div><br></div><div>Great to have you back, look forward to working with you again.</div><div><br></div><div>Mark</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div><div>On Jul 24, 2012, at 10:58 AM, Jeff McKenna <<a href="mailto:jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com">jmckenna@gatewaygeomatics.com</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">Hello OSGeo community!<br><br>I thank Mike for such a nice nomination. It would be an honor to again<br>represent the OSGeo community on the Board of Directors of OSGeo, and I<br>accept this nomination.<br><br>General Thoughts<br>----------------<br><br>OSGeo for me has always been about the community. I have worked very<br>hard in my career on specific parts of community building for OSGeo,<br>that often involved no code writing: answering questions on mailing<br>lists (often on non-English lists), documentation, installers, testing<br>new features in software, providing feedback to developers, event<br>planning, hands-on workshops, benchmarking...<br><br>So, in my mind, the future of OSGeo will still be about the community.<br>Sure, we/OSGeo are in the middle of an interesting time:<br><br>- a 15,000-strong event is happening as I write this now in San Diego,<br>and a lot of their products are using FOSS code now (this to me is very<br>positive)<br>- FOSS4G regional events are being created all around the globe (I am<br>fascinated as I watch this)<br>- Our recently added Charter Members are mostly all non-North American<br>(wow really a great sign of OSGeo and FOSS4G spreading around the world)<br>- OSGeo revenue sources are not as clear as before<br>- a very interesting group is being formed as we speak, Location<br>Industry Working Group, composed of some key industry players (and we<br>must consider how OSGeo can work with this group, as there is some great<br>momentum being generated there)<br>- a large FOSS4G event will not be happening in 2012<br><br>Ambitions for OSGeo<br>-------------------<br><br>I want OSGeo to grow. I want every person in the geospatial industry to<br>know what OSGeo and FOSS4G are. I want them to see our passion, to feel<br>it, to experience it. And I want them to experience it in their local<br>areas. I want more local chapters forming, more informal chapter<br>meetings over a drink and chat at the local restaurant.<br><br>Personal Motivation<br>-------------------<br><br>Some of you might wonder what happened, that I felt I should resign from<br>the OSGeo Board so recently (February), after being so active on it<br>since back in September of 2009. Some community members might have<br>strong opinions that: I was worn out, exhausted, frustrated, unhappy<br>that my FOSS4G Advisor proposal didn't take off, needed a change, not<br>made for such a director position,... I've now heard many opinions.<br>Looking back now, I needed a break. After Denver I needed to take some<br>time, to step back. And I did just that.<br><br>Recently some might have noticed that I am active again; indeed I feel<br>rejuvenated. I am the old me. Passionate about OSGeo, FOSS4G, and,<br>chicken wings and beer :)<br><br>Personal Goals<br>--------------<br><br>As Mike mentioned, I don't lack any passion for OSGeo or FOSS4G, I can<br>be very vocal, but sometimes that is not what is needed. I must learn<br>to be more professional, to let others do their jobs, to let things<br>happen, and to help the community grow. I will work hard to do this.<br><br>I have made many mistakes; and because I am so open and vocal, all of my<br>mistakes are there for everyone to see. But I don't regret being open.<br> Mistakes give me character, make me who I am, allow me to grow. So, I<br>will grow with OSGeo and FOSS4G :)<br><br>Call for more Board Nominations<br>-------------------------------<br><br>I too have been asking other community members these past weeks if they<br>are interested in being nominated for the Board; I hope everyone is<br>contacting their own local community leaders and asking them.<br><br>Thanks<br>------<br><br>I also respect that sometimes it is good to have new members on the<br>Board, a new perspective, from a different geographic region (or how did<br>Arnulf put it? a non-NorthAmerican-middleaged-male? ha) And I agree.<br><br>But don't get me wrong, I am interested in helping OSGeo and FOSS4G. I<br>would be honored to represent the community again.<br><br>Thank you everyone, you've all really helped me grow.<br><br>-jeff<br><br>--<br><a href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Jeff_McKenna">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Jeff_McKenna</a><br><br><br><br><br>On 12-07-23 7:03 PM, Smith, Michael ERDC-CRREL-NH wrote:<br><blockquote type="cite">I would like to nominate Jeff McKenna to the board of OSGeo.<br><br>As to his qualifications, how much time to do you have? Jeff lives and<br>breathes OSGeo and is one of the most active members of the OSGeo<br>community. He is a friend, resource and gateway to all who have an<br>interest in Open Source (data and software) and OSGeo in particular.<br>Jeff is one of the original charter members (from 2006) and has been on<br>the OSGeo board before (September 2009). Jeff has a passion for OSGeo<br>that is unrivaled by anyone, a big heart, and is considered someone<br>always ready to talk or listen when anyone, anywhere has a OSGeo<br>question, comment or critique. Jeff is very international in his<br>approach to OSGeo and works with and participates with many, many OSGeo<br>chapters worldwide. He has also been an incredible force behind almost<br>all of the international FOSS4G conferences. Jeff would be a humble,<br>strong, active and loud voice for OSGeo.<br><br>And I'm proud to call him my friend.<br><br>Mike<br><br>-- <br>Michael Smith<br>US Army Corps<br>Remote Sensing GIS/Center<br><br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Discuss mailing list<br>Discuss@lists.osgeo.org<br>http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss<br></blockquote></div><br></body></html>