+1 Charlie Schweik
On Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 6:36 PM, Venkatesh Raghavan < ragha...@media.osaka-cu.ac.jp> wrote: > Jeff, > > Many thanks for the great job you are doing in > representing OSGeo with selfless dedication > and for sharing your vision with all of us. > > I wish you great fun and safe travel for representing OSGeo at > the GISConf in Moscow [1] that is coming up this weekend. > > Best > > Venka > > [1] http://gisconf.ru/ > > On 2015/11/16 4:13, Jeff McKenna wrote: > >> Hi Cameron, >> >> Thank you for your message. It is very refreshing to speak on this topic >> openly here, as others would rather send me strong private messages >> questioning my sanity, and making threats. I realize that many cannot be >> open on this topic for various reasons. >> >> Let me assure everyone here that I only have one agenda, which is very >> rare these days, and that is to help the OSGeo foundation. I am not >> muzzled by fear or threats, and I will stand up for the OSGeo foundation >> whenever that is required. If by standing up for OSGeo's only event all >> year, FOSS4G, means that I am called "confrontational" and "obstructive", >> then yes you are fully right. >> >> Some may not know this by reading this thread, but I have always been a >> big supporter of LocationTech. I was involved in the beginning of >> LocationTech, involved in the sense of being one of the first subscribers >> to their mailing list, and I even have had many chats inside their >> #locationtech IRC channel, even answering questions from new LocationTech >> community members (technical readers will find it interesting to join their >> IRC channel now on freenode and see the first message that is displayed >> when entering their channel "LocationTech: location aware open source >> software friendly to commercialization."). I have followed the development >> of that organization right from the beginning, where they smartly filled a >> void by aiming at the business/commercial side of Open Source geospatial >> (of course, recently they publicly pointed out to me, even questioned my >> sanity, that this was false, I am dreaming, that they have always focused >> instead on the same goals as OSGeo, but readers, do a google search for LT >> and press release, and you will see their early visions). Which is why I >> asked now to hear the vision of LocationTech (I was not answered, but >> someone else pointed to an FAQ just made). In any case, no I am not >> insane, I have always followed LocationTech closely. >> >> I do travel to many OSGeo local chapters around the world, constantly, >> and especially to developing areas that are just becoming interested in >> Open Source. In a few days I will again take 3 more planes and represent >> OSGeo at a growing community, again putting life on hold, including my >> health, my money, and my life in general, to go help grow the OSGeo >> community. In this event I can bet that I will speak personally to over >> 100 developers, students, decision makers, and researchers; I bet I will >> personally talk to over 20 businesses looking at OSGeo. Those who know me >> well know that this is why I make those trips (I don't go for presentations >> etc.), it is that face to face representation that is so very important, >> especially in the long run. >> >> As the leader of the OSGeo foundation, part of my role is to listen to >> all of the criticism about me; and I realize that the negative words you've >> used about me here for everyone to read, are not the first negative ones >> used at me in years past, nor will they be the last. In the big theater >> room that is the community, there will always be those that disagree with >> me, and I value their opinion as well. >> >> Few in this community see me being so involved behind the scenes. New >> committees, new MoUs, FOSS4G local committees, all just pop up on the scene >> and grow, but few see me behind the scenes helping them form initially, and >> I am ok with that. The core community members in the OSGeo foundation know >> that I support them in every way that I can. I often am actively working 2 >> or even 3 years in advance of a FOSS4G for that region, talking with those >> regions members, getting them to think of the possibilities, years before >> the release of the call for hosting. To you and others it looks like I >> have no innovation, no new ideas, I don't work with community leaders, >> because you don't see me working behind the scenes for OSGeo. I am ok with >> that. You can keep going on in thinking this way of me, but I am very >> proud of what I do for OSGeo, what I constantly try to do for OSGeo. >> Long-time members of OSGeo know how I have failed in several proposals to >> past OSGeo boards, and to this day those so-called "failures" are my most >> proud moments. But yes, you can always argue that I am not innovative and >> do not help OSGeo. >> >> I am also not wired to think of "money" first. I follow my heart and I >> try to do the best I can for OSGeo, for the OSGeo foundation, always, even >> if it doesn't make sense for me personally or for my career. I do it, for >> the love of OSGeo. I also realize that it is this fact, of how I am wired, >> that causes conflict with others (another example is my father, who >> constantly says I should go get a real job and earn the money I deserve, he >> sees me struggle financially and it drives him crazy). Instead of money, >> my goal in life is to be happy and do well for society. I feel OSGeo and >> its local chapters fits in perfectly with my own personal goals, and I give >> to OSGeo everything I can, every ounce of my being. It is, what I do and >> what I enjoy. >> >> Ok back on track again: >> >> I truly feel that Andrea is doing a great job for LocationTech, always >> has. We have known each other for a long time, since back when I was the >> MapServer users group chair in Ottawa and she first attended. I have >> always treated Andrea and LocationTech with respect. >> >> (before you say how false that is, I will now go into my vision for OSGeo) >> >> Vision For OSGeo >> ================ >> >> (I should first state that I have called a face to face meeting with the >> OSGeo Board members to work together on topics such as vision and the goals >> of OSGeo, and how to achieve those goals, and that meeting will be in >> January, attended by all members of this new OSGeo board) >> >> "My vision is for OSGeo to be the Open Source geospatial community all >> across the globe, everywhere and anywhere, and have fun doing it. The >> OSGeo community is special, we are unique, we do great things for the >> world, we are open, and we have fun. We accept anyone into our community >> and will give them the spotlight, to help their local community and the >> world share its spatial information. We are OSGeo." >> >> Many have seen me speak about "community" all around the world since >> about 2008, and it is OSGeo's community that is so valued. This vision puts >> our community in that spotlight, and is something that I already know that >> we all follow in our hearts. It is the OSGeo spirit that drives us all, >> that some may not understand, but we can teach them and help them share >> their geospatial information openly, and, show them how fun it is. >> >> How to get there >> ================ >> >> Focus on Developing Regions >> --------------------------- >> >> Over the next 5 or 10 years, various developing regions ("developing" in >> the sense of in-progress of becoming world leaders in open) across the >> globe, not known globally for their OSGeo chapters yet, will be given the >> OSGeo spotlight. These are important regions of the world, extremely >> active locally but not as well known globally for their efforts in Open >> Source geospatial. Some possible examples are South America, South Asia, >> Russia, China, Middle East, North Africa, and India. OSGeo will help give >> them the world stage for Open Source geospatial. >> >> Local Chapters >> -------------- >> >> All of the fun happens locally, it is through local chapters that OSGeo >> can grow Open Source geospatial software, learn, share, and have fun. We >> currently have about 30 official chapters, and about 30 in formation, but >> we have so much more work to do to help chapters grow in other >> communities. Let's help them! :) >> >> Projects >> -------- >> >> OSGeo projects and those in incubation are very stable and have vibrant >> communities. OSGeo must help these projects grow, and also help incoming >> projects find a home in our community. We must be accepting to changing >> trends and styles in the global industry. >> >> Charter Members >> --------------- >> >> OSGeo charter members will drive the formation of the Open Source >> geospatial community. >> >> Diversity >> --------- >> >> OSGeo must from now on have 50% women on its Board of Directors. This >> year's board has the first women ever on its board, but for 2016/2017 and >> beyond, women will again be strongly represented at the board level of the >> OSGeo foundation. This will help provide strong leadership from OSGeo >> throughout the world. >> >> Education and Training >> ---------------------- >> >> OSGeo will continue to spread Open Source geospatial to students and >> educators around the world, through the GeoForAll initiative. Focus will >> also change from post-secondary institutions to secondary/high-school, >> getting the young minds excited and interested in sharing and being open. >> >> Professional Service Providers >> ------------------------------ >> >> OSGeo will begin to focus on its service providers, and give them the >> spotlight they deserve, for choosing to operate their business around OSGeo >> projects. Focus will not only be placed on the larger businesses, but for >> the first time ever, small businesses will be given the spotlight from >> OSGeo. >> >> (in my travels, I estimate that 90% of OSGeo's service providers have <10 >> employees, yet we are not giving these businesses any spotlight) >> >> FOSS4G >> ------ >> >> OSGeo's hugely successful yearly event, the global FOSS4G, will continue >> to travel around the world each year. The goal of OSGeo's global FOSS4G >> event over the next 5 to 10 years will be to expand to new areas, plant the >> OSGeo seed locally, learn, share, and have fun. The goal will be to share >> this passion as much as possible, by having low-cost FOSS4G events. >> Regional FOSS4G events will satisfy local needs, in however the local >> chapters desire. >> >> Code Sprints >> ------------ >> >> OSGeo will actively promote its ability to support all code sprints of >> any size, no matter if there is only one project being enhanced. >> >> Working with other organizations >> -------------------------------- >> >> Working closely with other organizations will continue to be important >> for OSGeo. MoUs with organizations encourage communication, and usually >> have the 2 leaders of the parties sit down face to face once a year and >> talk (which is really priceless in the long-term for the commmunity) and >> review the agreement. Admittedly these agreements are not liked by the >> business-types, for not offering any firm details up front (like financial >> benefits), but in the long term these agreements help change opinions, give >> momentum to both parties, and end up creating jobs in the industry. >> >> Standards >> --------- >> >> Standards in geospatial software and data will continue to be one of the >> core parts of every OSGeo project. >> >> Financial Focus >> --------------- >> >> OSGeo has never been about generating revenue. OSGeo is and will be >> about being the Open Source geospatial community, sharing, learning, and >> having fun. OSGeo will continue to be lean, earning enough funding to help >> its annual FOSS4G and other events, maintain OSGeo's infrastructure, and >> other critical needs. The OSGeo foundation will continue to be volunteer >> driven. >> >> Discussion >> ========== >> >> In terms of what I would do to foster working with LocationTech, I would >> work with Andrea directly to develop an MoU agreement draft, and then take >> that draft to each of our Boards. To formalize this agreement, I would >> call for a "Summit" to be held around March of this year between the >> LocationTech Steering Committee members, and the OSGeo Board of Directors. >> This would be a one day meeting, in person, and not related to any other >> existing event (not added to an existing program/event). This would allow >> the OSGeo Board to meet in January, establish their goals, and then to sit >> down prepared with LocationTech Steering Committee in March. >> >> I do feel that the LocationTech/OSGeo relationship needs to be examined >> slowly, and this is why I made a stand here this/last week. I apologize to >> Andrea if I have offended her, or disrespected her in any way. >> >> About the above vision, I am aware that this was likely asked of me now, >> so that some can point out faults in my thinking, how I am wrong etc. That >> is ok, I accept that, and I also accept that I most likely made mistakes in >> writing this vision today, and I am sure the other OSGeo board members will >> help clarify this in January. I feel the process of creating a vision, and >> following through with that, should involve each and every OSGeo member, so >> I feel that I have nothing to hide and everything to gain. >> >> I would like to thank everyone, for again, being you, sharing the OSGeo >> passion, doing what you can, whether it is by teaching, writing, developing >> code, managing a business, learning something new, or just following along, >> your help and smile is what gets me through these challenging times. >> >> I would also like to deeply thank those who reached out to me this week, >> during this hard time on me, I will tell you that twice I was brought to >> tears sitting at my computer here reading the small thanks for representing >> them, sent from some far away country by a local leader. I do this for you >> all. >> >> Yours, >> >> -jeff >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Charlie Schweik Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Dept of Environmental Conservation and Center for Public Policy and Administration Personal website: http://people.umass.edu/cschweik Publications: http://works.bepress.com/charles_schweik/ Author, Internet Success: A Study of Open Source Software (MIT Press, 2012) - see http://tinyurl.com/d3e4545 -------------------------------------------- Q: Why do I try my best to keep my emails to five sentences or less? A: http://five.sentenc.es
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