[Ottawa_users] Proposal to expand Chapter

[Doyon, Jean-Francois]

"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?"

I agree that our community focus is a big part of our "success".

I'll second scott's idea.  If people are feeling "left out", maybe we
could provide assistance in starting other canadian local chapters, or a
national one.

J.F.

-----Original Message-----
From: ottawa_users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:ottawa_users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Scott
Mitchell
Sent: October 4, 2007 14:32
To: Ottawa (Canada) Local Chapter List
Subject: Re: [Ottawa_users] Proposal to expand Chapter

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
_______________________________________________
Ottawa_users mailing list
Ottawa_users at lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/ottawa_users