[Marketing] Motion: AAG 2009 Proposal

[Cameron Shorter]

+1 from me this time around, but in future I'll likely vote against 
without matching local sponsorship. I still think we should approach 
Autodesk and ask for a co-contribution.

Tim Bowden wrote:
> On Tue, 2008-10-14 at 13:23 -0700, Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
>   
>> Committee members, please share you comments or concerns ASAP on this:
>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/AAG_2009
>> The main issue being the $1,000 booth charge.  The rest is flexible.   
>> If there are no huge objections, then I will book the booth with a  
>> $500 deposit since there are only 4 booth spots left and deadline is  
>> in a day or so.
>>
>> Tyler
>>
>>     
>
> +1 given the level of volunteer involvement there seems to be for this.
>
> Notes: It's always nice to try and get local sponsors (commercial
> outfits friendly to FOSS) to pay for booths where possible, but looks
> like this is not an option for this time around.
>
> Sometimes it helps to plead poor non profit and get a free booth, but I
> see from irc that we're already getting the non profit price.
>
> Sharing a booth with Autodesk:  If Autodesk (or any other friendly
> outfit) have a booth at an event, I don't see there is a problem if they
> let us take up a corner where we wouldn't otherwise have space.  I don't
> consider that a conflict of interest wrt FOSS v proprietary.  It is
> healthy to see that proprietary outfits can support and start to play in
> the FOSS sandpit.  Autodesk here in AU have lent us booth space before
> and it has gone off well.
>
> Regards,
> Tim
>
>   
>> On 14-Oct-08, at 1:18 PM, Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> I support the proposed approach and discussed it today with Alex in  
>>> more detail:
>>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/AAG_2009
>>> At the end of the day it's whether or not we want to have a booth -  
>>> that will cost $1,000.  The other costs are very flexible and  
>>> alternatives will be sought to cover them.
>>>
>>> $1,000 is, relatively speaking, great value for money and virtually  
>>> supports local chapters around North America and, apparently,  
>>> internationally too.  We've lamented not having a booth at AAG for  
>>> several years now.  I see it as a strategic outreach that crosses  
>>> disciplines, focuses on potential users and has a large number of  
>>> interested attendees.
>>>
>>> Time is running out and we need to make a $500 deposit ASAP, before  
>>> they close us out of having a booth.  Since the event isn't until  
>>> next year, that gives us lots of time to work on further  
>>> sponsorships or partnerships to help fund the remaining $500 of the  
>>> booth.
>>>
>>> Also, even though it's always a good strategy to reduce our costs  
>>> or cost-share for these kinds of events - these are some of the  
>>> things our foundation sponsors sponsor us to do.  So finding OSGeo  
>>> sponsors helps to make these events more sustainable in the future.
>>>
>>> Tyler
>>>
>>> On 8-Oct-08, at 12:48 AM, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>>>
>>>       
>>>> 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.
>>>>         
>>> Tyler Mitchell
>>> Executive Director
>>> Open Source Geospatial Foundation
>>> tmitchell at osgeo.org
>>> P: +1-250-277-1621
>>> M: +1-250-303-1831
>>>       
>> _______________________________________________
>> Marketing mailing list
>> Marketing at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/marketing
>>     


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

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