Choosing the Choosers

[Aaron Koning]

I agree with what Paul has presented here and a great question is does
MapServer need a Foundation? If the Mapserver Technical Steering Committee
is in place to move MapServer forward... whats the benefit of a
foundation? As it is I see progress all around MapServer: the MapServer
website, core development, packages from DM Solutions, Refractions, etc, the
Mapserver Technical Steering Committee, a book showcasing MapServer, etc;
what does a foundation bring. Especially when it is somewhat force-fed? I
appreciate and respect the MapServer related work of every member that
helped create the foundation... I just don't know if the foundation was
created correctly. I will support the MTSC in making tough decisions IF they
consult the MapServer community in an OPEN fashion via surveys (Kudos:
Tyler/Howard) or another method that will work. I wont get into the naming
war, as I addressed that in a more formal fashion via the MapServer surveys
(good job providing a location for that input).

If the foundation is for ALL open source spatial products, then don't name
it the MapServer Foundation, name it something else, like: Spatial Cheetah
Enterprise Foundation (j/k). If a benefit to having such a foundation is
foreseen, then it has to be OPEN for me to buy-in; meaning: asking us what
we think.

Thanks for reading,
Aaron


On 12/16/05, Paul Ramsey <pramsey at refractions.net> wrote:
>
> Mapserverers:
>
> You may have noticed that things have been relatively quiet since the
> initial Mapserver Foundation open letter, and associated flurry of
> response.  One of the reasons is that the folks behind the open
> letter are a little shell shocked and trying to figure out how to
> move forward in a way that is both inclusive and not hopelessly
> inefficient.
>
> The big question they are wrestling with is:  Who can make decisions
> on matters regarding the future of Mapserver?
>
> It is not an easy problem, because among the questions that have to
> be answered are:
>
> - Should Mapserver join a 'Foundation' at all?
> - If so, under what terms of membership?
> - If so, under what name?
>
> I would put to you, the 'community at large' the proposition that
> Mapserver already has a good decision making body that has the
> interests of Mapserver at heart: the Mapserver Technical Steering
> Committee.  The MTSC can make the final decisions on all of the above
> questions quite capably providing they:
>
> - Take the temperature of the overall community before making big
> decisions.
> - Hold their discussions in an open forum so all viewpoints get a
> hearing.
>
> The MTSC might want to add some advisory members, so they feel that
> their voting numbers reflect a broader community, and I think that is
> reasonable too, again, as long as they first put the names out for a
> public hearing and make sure there are no substantive objections to
> their choices.
>
> So, I put the question to you, do you feel comfortable with the MTSC
> making some 'big decisions' for Mapserver over the next few months,
> providing that they make their decisions within an open framework of
> discussion?
>
> For the record, the current members of the MTSC are: Steve Lime
> (Chair), Daniel Morissette, Frank Warmerdam, Sean Gilles, Assefa
> Yewondwossen, Howard Butler and Perry Nacionales.
>
> Paul
>
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