MapServer Foundation thoughts and reactions

[P Kishor]

ok. The cat's out of the bag. So, what now?

In the interest of bringing the community back to happytown, here are
a few suggestions --

1. Tell Autodesk that they are welcome to the community, however...

2. "MapServer Enterprise" is the re-branding of our MapServer with our
PostGIS (go, Refractions, go...). Then we can forget about the Cheetah
episode. Funny, Refractions' contribution of their product to the
MapServer community was so well done, and so well received. We are
forever grateful to Paul Ramsey and friends for their work. And then,
this behemoth organization comes in, with no prior history with
MapServer, and just blows it.

3. Autodesk is welcome to rename their contribution as Autodesk
Coregeo for MapServer Enterprise (ACME, if they so desire).

4. Autodesk is welcome to contribute their other intellectual
properties to the MapServer Foundation, which, the foundation will
accept after due pontification. (note: MapStudio kinda thing for
MapServer enterprise might be nice...). Invite other supersize players
to join in as well.

5. MapServer Foundation create the mechanism for transparently and
openly electing the governing council. There are many examples out
there... the Perl Foundation, the Apache Foundation, etc. Perl Chief
Pumpkin Holder mechanism might be a cool thing to emulate for the
development side (Steve-o can be the benevolent dictator for life --
he has my vote). The foundation members should represent independent
developers, Universities, small as well as supersized business
owners/NGOs.

6. Everyone hug each other in Switzerland (for which, thankfully I
won't be around -- for the hugging, that is).