Hey Jeff, can you please at least give the board a chance to form an opinion on this? If it ever gets to the point that a motion is on the table and you have not been persuaded, you can always vote -1.
I feel you’re prohibiting the discussions from happening at the board level at all with this kind of e-mail. It’s essentially a board decision IMHO, not the decision of the president only. Thanks for listening. Best regards, Bart On 16 Sep 2014, at 16:38, Jeff McKenna <jmcke...@gatewaygeomatics.com> wrote: > Hello everyone, > > To clarify publicly, I have no problem with LocationTech, and in fact I feel > that its foundation plays an important role in our ecosystem. > > The issue actually boils down to OSGeo's only event, FOSS4G. We, as OSGeo, > present this event each year and it is a large part of our annual revenue. > It is very important to the OSGeo foundation, as it is our flagship event. > > It was made clear to me that LocationTech is not interested in having their > own global event, and that they are in fact interested in our event, FOSS4G. > > So maybe to remove this stress, or "fear", I would prefer to pull back on the > throttle, start with an MoU between the two foundations, and then begin to > share booths at events, or donate booths at each other's events. In other > words, take baby steps, and build the relationship slowly, as we do with > every other foundation. > > I apologize for not bringing this issue to the community sooner. In fact > this all really came to a head in Portland, and you can see that now we must > deal with this all together. > > I always try to represent the entire OSGeo community well, if you feel that I > have made mistakes please share this here with everyone. I am here to > represent you. > > The last few days have been very hard on me. > > -jeff > OSGeo President > > > > > On 2014-09-16 11:01 AM, Andrew Ross wrote: >> Dear All, >> >> Discussions started informally back in 2011. By 2012, there were more >> formal discussions ongoing including a face to face meeting with Michael >> Gerlek who was appointed by the OSGeo board to represent OSGeo. I wanted >> to say publicly that Michael's work was extremely professional and I was >> very impressed. >> >> I believe it's fair to say reaction was similar back then. Many people >> saw many positives in working closely together. Some asked if the two >> organizations could be one. Like today, there were some who were very >> fearful. Those that supported working closely together felt it was best >> not to push too hard. Discussions have continued since then over the >> past 3-4 years focusing on specific collaboration on a case by case basis. >> >> During that time, LocationTech has sponsored and its projects >> participated in 2 FOSS4Gs. It was asked by an OSGeo board member to >> organize FOSS4G NA 2015. It has provided discrete feedback to OSGeo >> projects regarding intellectual property related issues in OSGeo >> projects so they could be fixed. OSGeo projects were well represented on >> the 2013 LocationTech tour and again in 2014. I hope these things are >> seen as a significant positive force. >> >> I would like to draw attention to the fact that LocationTech's growth >> has not taken anything away from OSGeo. In fairness, building upon what >> Steven Feldman eloquently put, the problems OSGeo faces are problems >> today were faced before LocationTech existed, and since. >> >> It's fair to say there is tension to collaborate more closely since the >> strengths of OSGeo & LocationTech complement each other despite some >> overlap. LocationTech & the Eclipse Foundation are *offering* to help >> solve some of the problems we've been talking about in OSGeo for many >> years. It's been 4 years and the offer hasn't been withdrawn nor really >> pushed despite fearful attempts to portray it as otherwise. >> >> Andrew >> >> On 15/09/14 20:28, Venkatesh Raghavan wrote: >>> On 9/16/2014 10:48 AM, Richard Greenwood wrote: >>>> I don't get it, and my question is moot at this point in time, but why do >>>> we need a new foundation? Why couldn't OSGeo have provided what >>>> LocationTech purports to provide? Was there any discussion, or awareness, >>>> in the OSGeo board prior to the formation of LocationTech? >>> >>> Very pertinent questions form Rich. I hope we will receive some lucid >>> answers. >>> >>> Best >>> >>> Venka >>>> Rich >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Sep 15, 2014 at 4:18 PM, Jeff McKenna >>>> <jmcke...@gatewaygeomatics.com >>>>> wrote: >>>>> Arnulf, >>>>> >>>>> I definitely agree that both foundations fill a role and need to exist. >>>>> >>>>> The point I am trying to make is that we have the power to change OSGeo, >>>>> if we feel some needs are not being met well. >>>>> >>>>> I used too strong of words again, I am sorry. >>>>> >>>>> -jeff >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 2014-09-15 2:59 PM, Arnulf Christl wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >>>>>> Hash: SHA1 >>>>>> >>>>>> Jeff, >>>>>> I believe that Daniel is actually right in what he says - given that I >>>>>> understand the point he is trying to make. There are differences >>>>>> between OSGeo and LocationTech and trying to talk them away will not >>>>>> get us anywhere. And its not "bad" or "goo" either way, we just >>>>>> operate differently. >>>>>> >>>>>> The point is that in OSGeo you cannot move anything at all as a >>>>>> business, not directly. In LocationTech you become a corporate member, >>>>>> pay money and in return have influence over certain things and get >>>>>> support. Directly geared towards your specific needs. OSGeo does none >>>>>> of those things. >>>>>> >>>>>> As an individual (with or without business) you can become the >>>>>> committee chair and an OSGeo officer with absolutely no preconditions, >>>>>> no money needed, no organizational backing and no other hierarchy. >>>>>> Just because othes think you are doing a cool job and have accumulated >>>>>> enough merit to go ahead as a leader. This would not work in this way >>>>>> in LocationTech. >>>>>> >>>>>> Both ways have reasons to exist and are good. Right? >>>>>> >>>>>> Cheers. >>>>>> Arnulf >>>>>> >>>>>> Am 2014-09-15 10:45, schrieb Jeff McKenna: >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 2014-09-15 1:22 PM, Daniel Morissette wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> the members in OSGeo are individuals and the members in >>>>>>>> Eclipse/LocationTech are businesses >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> Daniel this statement is not true, regarding OSGeo. OSGeo members >>>>>>> are made up of all walks of life, and many are running private >>>>>>> businesses all around the world. I have visited their >>>>>>> organizations/offices myself in my FOSS4G travels throughout the >>>>>>> years. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> However I cannot change how you feel. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> This part is unfortunate, these strong statements made publicly, >>>>>>> which I feel are made to divide our community. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Let me reinforce: our OSGeo community and our FOSS4G events (of >>>>>>> all sizes) are geared for everyone and anyone, with no sole focus >>>>>>> on one type of community. And as the President of OSGeo, I am >>>>>>> happy to represent all of the members, of any kind :) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -jeff >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
