[Ottawa_users] Proposal to expand Chapter

[Scott Mitchell]

On 4-Oct-07, at 16:06 , Frank Warmerdam wrote:

> Jeff McKenna wrote:
>> I was approached, in the form of friendly teasing, throughout the  
>> FOSS4G conference regarding how we are a very "exclusive" group,  
>> as we call this chapter the "Ottawa Local Chapter".
...
>> So, as co-chair of our "exclusive" chapter, I propose that we  
>> change from our single city-based thinking to a much broader  
>> approach: as in the Canadian OSGeo Chapter.  (our wiki page is  
>> down as I write this, but...) Our goal could be to promote Open  
>> Source geospatial activity in *Canada*.
>
> Jeff,
>
> I'm somewhat opposed since I feel our local focus is what makes our
> chapter work.  People who can't make it to the face to face meetings
> are unlikely to get much benefit from participation.

I agree with Frank, in that I'm opposed to "converting" to a national  
chapter.  That would be a completely different focus.  If we kept to  
the same membership and "called ourselves" the Canadian chapter, that  
would be pretty arrogant, and perhaps considered (stereo-)typical of  
"those bastards in the East / Ottawa".  If we instead actually got  
national membership, we lose attractive aspects of our local focus.   
The local aspect of our group has its own advantages, and I'll keep  
promoting the local approach as a good model, at least in areas with  
the interested population to support it.

At the same time, I would welcome a Canadian chapter, and imagine  
that many of us would be active in such a beast.  Maybe we could  
instead discuss how to get our colleagues across the country to get  
in involved in a NEW (additional) Canada chapter?

Cheers,
Scott