[EU] Chapter creation as NGO

[Jeff McKenna]

Hi Dirk,

This is what I assumed as well, but this is not stated in the bylaws 
draft (this was my point of my message).

-jeff



On 2017-01-16 7:14 AM, Dirk Frigne wrote:
> Hi Jeff,
>
> The goal is to request official acceptance as a regional OSGeo chapter
> (as Marc Suggests).
>
> I think the interaction should be as a normal local chapter, with focus
> on the typical regional goals such as specified in Article 3.
>
> Eventually we can add that the association will propose an official
> representative to liaise with the OSGeo Board. If accepted by the board,
> the representative will be an officer of OSGeo.
>
> I don't think we should propose another vision. The chapter should act
> as an enforcement for the OSGeo movement, with today already more than
> 50 OSGeo Chapters. We should follow the guidelines as indicated in [1]
>
>
> Dirk.
>
> [1] http://www.osgeo.org/content/chapters/guidelines.html
>
>
> On 15-01-17 17:42, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>> Hi Dirk, all,
>>
>> I've given a read to the bylaws draft.  After reading it, I am still
>> unsure of:
>>
>>  - will this entity ("association" as referenced in this document)
>> request official acceptance as an OSGeo Local Chapter, from the OSGeo
>> Board?  (maybe this should be mentioned in "Article 3" in the document)
>>
>>  - how will this association interact with the OSGeo foundation? (maybe
>> this is a missing section/"article")  Meaning: does the vision include
>> operating as a normal local chapter, or, some other vision?  It would be
>> good to state this in the draft.
>>
>>
>>
>> -jeff
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2017-01-14 11:17 AM, Dirk Frigne wrote:
>>> Till et all,
>>>
>>> I created a shared document on Google drive with the english translation
>>> of the bylaws. PLease provide your comments into the document and
>>> discuss.
>>>
>>> I already received from 4 members the address, date and place of birth,
>>> so they will be part of the document and will be registered in the
>>> Belgium Statute Book.
>>>
>>> Those indicated on the wiki, but not yet informed me with their private
>>> data have a comment on their name in the document.
>>>
>>> Please send me per private é-mail your data, so I can prepare the
>>> official registration accordingly.
>>>
>>>
>>> https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6VDKzAKHUKESEpPbERER2p2Y3c?usp=sharing
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Dirk
>>>
>>> On 12-01-17 15:10, Till Adams wrote:
>>>> Hi Dirk,
>>>>
>>>> sorry, I guess you overrate my french knowledge ... perhaps I
>>>> understand, what is written (with much help from leo.org) but I am not
>>>> able to translate it.
>>>>
>>>> If there is somebody that is able to translate it to true english, I
>>>> could translate the english version to german.
>>>>
>>>> Regards, Till
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Am 11.01.2017 um 18:16 schrieb Dirk Frigne:
>>>>> Hi Jeff,
>>>>>
>>>>> Ha, we don't laugh ...
>>>>> We appreciate the support from Canada:-)
>>>>>
>>>>> I think also we need this momentum to go on with the creation of the
>>>>> non-for-profit organisation.
>>>>>
>>>>> In Bonn there was a decision in the BOF meeting Wednesday August 24;
>>>>> 17:30, to go on with the initiative. The attendants decided that
>>>>> Vasile,
>>>>> Maria and myself should look for several alternatives, and in a meeting
>>>>> some time ago between Vasile, myself and Maria we decided to look if
>>>>> Spain should be a good country to create the organisation.
>>>>>
>>>>> Europe is a region with a lot of languages. And the organisation should
>>>>> be registered in the official language of the country.
>>>>>
>>>>> Belgium is a good alternative, because of the several official
>>>>> languages
>>>>> in place and the fact that anyone can become a founding member (no
>>>>> restriction on nationality).
>>>>> Some information (in Dutch) you can find here [1]
>>>>> The advantage of a Belgium as the country to host the non-for-profit
>>>>> organisation is that we can have the bylaws in all the official Belgium
>>>>> languages: French, Dutch and German. The English version can then be
>>>>> created as a reference for other language speaking members.
>>>>> Another advantage is that I have experience with non-for-profit
>>>>> organisations and organisations in general.
>>>>>
>>>>> We can use the bylaws of the OSGeo.be organisation as an example to
>>>>> start from (in attachement) as we besed these bylaws on OSGeo.org.
>>>>> These bylaws are in French and I can translate them to Dutch and
>>>>> English, Till can translate them maybe into German. We can publish them
>>>>> in the several official languages.
>>>>>
>>>>> I note following members as founding members (as of today 11/1/2017).
>>>>> If you are interested to join and are not yet on the list, please add
>>>>> your name on the wiki[2]
>>>>>
>>>>> Please give me also your birth date, place of birth and your official
>>>>> address. This should be sufficient for the registration.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Dirk.
>>>>>
>>>>> [1] http://justice.belgium.be/sites/default/files/downloads/VZW_NL.pdf
>>>>> [2] https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Europe
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 11-01-17 14:47, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>>>>>> Hi María, all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am in full support of an official non-profit organization, around
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> EU chapter of OSGeo.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dirk and others know that I have been trying to help this along for
>>>>>> years now, even in person in meetings with Dirk, and I do
>>>>>> understand the
>>>>>> importance of this official entity - it will open doors and give
>>>>>> opportunities.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The QGIS project did create its own official entity, QGIS.ORG
>>>>>> registered
>>>>>> in Switzerland, but as a for-profit organization - I also supported
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> creation, initially discussing with Tim and others, and it seems to be
>>>>>> doing great for their needs (similar to OSGeo, they just released
>>>>>> their
>>>>>> 2016 financial report and are discussing their 2017 budget).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So I feel attached to this discussion, and am interested to help the
>>>>>> EU/Europe chapter formation along.  I also volunteer to help, and
>>>>>> to be
>>>>>> listed as an initial member (before you laugh, consider that I have
>>>>>> attended almost all FOSS4G-Europe events, and never attended a single
>>>>>> FOSS4G-NorthAmerica event: that fact should show you the importance of
>>>>>> Europe for the OSGeo community).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have read this whole thread and am interested in seeing this
>>>>>> through.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So keep up the great momentum! :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -jeff
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>