[Marketing] AAG 2009 Proposal

[Cameron Shorter]

Alex,
I don't expect you will get a commitment from the Marketing Committee 
before Tyler returns (on Monday).

Even then, OSGeo's budget is small, ~ $3K per local chapter. And I'd 
argue that OSGeo doesn't have resources to fully fund participation at 
any event.

I suggest you approach local Open Source industry who will be at the 
conference. You may be able to share a booth with them.

Commercial Support for Open Source is key to the user value proposition, 
and without it Open Source uptake will be limited.

Alex Mandel wrote:
> Was there any resolution on this proposal at the conference. We need 
> to move fast to at least get the deposit($500) for a booth down in the 
> next 8 days.
>
> I'd just like to reiterate that the AAG should not be considered a 
> local event as it changes location every year (the US is quite large) 
> and draws an international crowd.
>
> Alternate funding suggestions are welcome, but we need to at least get 
> the booth deposit down before the deadline to have something to work 
> with.
>
> Regardless we are moving ahead with organizing sessions, although the 
> response on EDU and General list has been quite low compared to last 
> year. Suggestions for where to send the Call for Papers?
>
> Thanks,
> Alex
>
> Cameron Shorter wrote:
>> This does look like an excellent opportunity for OSGeo and I'd love 
>> to see OSGeo present.
>>
>> However, it does bring up a bigger question about whether OSGeo 
>> should fund local events.
>> If OSGeo funds events in the US, then should all 100+ other countries 
>> expect the same level of funding? Do we have budget to support this?
>>
>> Here in Australia the OSGeo local chapter have been setting up 
>> conference stands, giving presentations and workshops and funding 
>> ourselves. Local industry has been coughing up for travel expenses 
>> fliers and registration fees and often OSGeo friendly delegates help 
>> man the stand. We often get free registration often based on us being 
>> Non-Profit and a highly desirable act.
>>
>> We have some good presentations you are welcome to use at:
>> http://www.lisasoft.com/LISAsoft/Company/Presentations.html
>> Mark Leslie's summary of the Open Source Gespatial Stack
>> and my Business Case for using Open Source.
>>
>> Alex Mandel wrote:
>>> Marketing Committee,
>>>
>>> I would like to propose that Osgeo commit to exhibiting at the 
>>> Association of American Geographers meeting in late March, 2009 in 
>>> Las Vegas, Nevada. The AAG annual meeting is the largest meeting of 
>>> geographers in the United States and includes many international 
>>> academics and government employees in geography. The last 2 
>>> conferences have had over 7000 attendees.
>>>
>>> I've put together a preliminary budget proposal at
>>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/AAG_2009
>>>
>>> At minimum we need to commit to $1000 to reserve the booth in the 
>>> exhibit hall very soon, there are less than 8 spots left for 
>>> non-profits with a deposit of $500 at booking.
>>>
>>> I can guarantee 4 volunteers for the booth on top of the request to 
>>> send at least one top Osgeo member(board?).
>>>
>>> In conjunction with the exhibit I'm attempting to organize paper 
>>> sessions around FOSS software which I will be proposing to the Edu 
>>> and general lists shortly.
>>>
>>> Thank you,
>>> Alex Mandel (wildintellect)
>>> Geography Graduate Group
>>> University of California, Davis
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Marketing mailing list
>>> Marketing at lists.osgeo.org
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/marketing
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Marketing mailing list
> Marketing at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/marketing


-- 
Cameron Shorter
Geospatial Systems Architect
Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254

Think Globally, Fix Locally
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