[intl-discuss] Local Chapter Guidelines

[Arnulf Christl]

On Sun, June 4, 2006 10:33, Dave McIlhagga wrote:
> Just did a quick review as well - I tend to agree with everything Frank
> has proposed below. I would stress that because we should want to
> encourage as many local chapters as possible to form, there should be as
> few barriers to making this happen as possible.
>
> For instance - why do we need a minimum number of 10 people to form a
> chapter? if 3 people want to get together in a local area to talk about
> OSGeo - shouldn't we encourage that?
>
> And forcing an OSGeo chapter to include an OSGeo member would instantly
> make it impossible to form a chapter in over 200 countries around the
> world ...
>
> Dave

Hi,
I added all of what
> Frank Warmerdam wrote:
to the Wiki discussion page at:
http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/Talk:Local_Chapter_Guidelines
and added some of your suggestions to the existing guidelines porposal.

Maybe we can contiune discussion there.

>> Arnulf,
>>
>> I reviewed the Local Chapter Guidelines wiki page at:
>>
>>   http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/Local_Chapter_Guidelines
>>
>> Generally I like it, but I have a few concerns / suggestions.
>>
>> 1) I don't specially see that a local chapter needs to have a voting
>>    member of OSGeo involved.  We don't require this of projects, or
>>    committees, so why local chapters?
>>
>> 2) I think we need to imagine 2-3 "levels" of chapter.   The minimum
>>    level might not have any "official" existance, just existing as a
>> mailing
>>    list and wiki pages.  This is roughly the same as the "working group"
>>    discussed in the past.
>>
>>    The second level would be authorized by the board, has a "project" on
>> the
>>    osgeo domain, mailing lists and is expected to designate someone to
>> report
>>    back to the board (but not necessarily an officer).   The group does
>> a
>>    variety of things, but maintains no chapter private chapter finances.
>>
>>    The third level might actually officially exist as an organization in
>> the
>>    country where it is formed, has it's own chapter board, has it's own
>>    bank account, etc.   This level would potentially be required if the
>> local
>>    chapter wants to put on local conferences or pursue other kinds of
>> projects
>>    that might require funding, sponsorship, etc.  I would not
>> necessarily
>>    expect detailed OSGeo oversight of such finances.
>>
>>    I imagine something like OSGeo Japan Branch being in category 3,
>> while
>>    some other chapters not wanting too much organizational overhead
>> might
>>    opt for category 2.  Groups working on building some momentum to form
>>    a chapter might start in category 1, and might never get past that
>> level
>>    if there is no need.
>>
>> 3) I foresee some local chapters that are essentially very local "social
>>    and support" groups.  For instance, the mooted "OSGeo Ottawa
>> Chapter".
>>    Such chapters would be focused around a local group that meets
>> regularly
>>    as opposed to a "language or national" based group that might not
>> actually
>>    meet in person frequently.
>>
>> 4) Generally I think OSGeo needs to ensure that local chapters are
>>    behaving in a manner congruent with the OSGeo mission, and not
>>    otherwise bringing the foundation into disrepute, but beyond that
>>    we shouldn't need to interfere much.
>>
>> I do like the idea of language based chapters acting as an advocate for
>> translation into their language.
>>
>> Best regards,
>
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-- 
Arnulf Christl
http://www.ccgis.de