"Geospatial Foundation" Meeting

[Puneet Kishor]

On Jan 14, 2006, at 11:24 AM, Paul Ramsey wrote:

> Puneet,
>
> ..Autodesk wants a strong, independent foundation with a broad 
> membership to put their product.  We also want a strong independent 
> foundation with a broad membership.  We all have the same destination 
> in mind, and are motives for getting there are the same too.  Let's 
> go.
>

Cool. See y'all on Feb 4. I hate driving, but for love and the 
foundation...


> On Jan 14, 2006, at 6:43 AM, Puneet Kishor wrote:
>
>> On Jan 13, 2006, at 11:32 AM, Paul Ramsey wrote:
>>
>>> In order to help move along the process of starting an "open source 
>>> geospatial foundation" there will be a face-to-face meeting in 
>>> Chicago, Westin O'Hare, on February 4, 2006, hosted by Autodesk. In 
>>> conceiving of this meeting, we have tried (and will continue to try) 
>>> to follow these principles:
>>>
>>> - Inclusion. Members from a number of different open source projects 
>>> have been invited (see the list so far below) and Autodesk has 
>>> offered to pay the travel costs of some of these invitees in order 
>>> to ensure they can attend if they cannot afford it otherwise. Anyone 
>>> else is also welcome to attend physically or virtually (see below).
>>
>> Thanks to everyone for making this possible. There is a potential 
>> problem with the above (note: I have said "potential," hence, it is 
>> entirely possible that there may be no problem at all).
>>
>> The meeting is hosted by Autodesk, and Autodesk will also pay for 
>> some of the attendees to attend the meeting. Most of the negative 
>> reaction to the initial announcement stemmed from a feeling of a 
>> free/open source project and its name and goodwill being usurped by a 
>> for-profit, closed source, publicly held corporation. Most everyone 
>> welcomed Autodesk, but most everyone did not want to have the 
>> MapServer Enterprise name applied to their product.
>>
>> I hope Autodesk's financial underwriting of the above event will not 
>> create a conflict of interest of any sort. Would it be worthwhile 
>> publicly announcing the event so other private corporations have an 
>> equal opportunity to attend/sponsor/represent at the event?
>>
>> Personally, I am happy that the meeting is at a place that I can 
>> attend. Well, it is 150 miles from here, but I can drive there on my 
>> own steam without feeling obligated to anyone. But, it would have 
>> been nicer to have the meeting at a "neutral" location and perhaps 
>> even at a neutral event. For example, the meeting could be held at 
>> UMN, or even at a "rented" meeting room at O'Hare -- I would be happy 
>> to chip in toward the cost from my pocket if the expense is 
>> reasonable.
>>
>> In any case, I believe this is an important and concrete step 
>> forward, and I welcome and support it. As long as we come to the 
>> meeting with an open and constructive mind, there shouldn't be any 
>> issue. Thanks again, to all those who made it possible (and that 
>> includes Autodesk).
>>
>> --
>> Puneet Kishor
>>
>>
--
Puneet Kishor