I am uncomfortable with the five star presentation you outline. FOSS4G is a open source tech conference that mixes things up in a great creative melting pot, just like our community. Limiting foss4g to just an industry or academic event would sell it short.
While I recognize Arnulf’s words, I wish we could find another source of funds taking pressure off the conference committee and freeing the organization to use the event more effectively for advocacy. — - Ravi I am going to take your second question as wondering what greater role our charter members can play? In this case I am not sure, and need to listen to others - what would you like to see charter members do? Right now we have an inclusive setup where anyone can join or organization, take part in a local chapter or a committee. By stepping up as a member, our organization is open to anyone willing to take on responsibility with passion and enthusiasm ... with no requirement to be a charter member. While I like the idea of greater charter member involvement, I like the idea of member involvement even more. On Mon, Oct 16, 2017 at 7:16 PM Ravi Kumar <manarajahmundry2...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Vicky and all my OSGeo listers and particularly those who are following > this thread, > +1 .. OSGeo has blossomed since that meeting in Chicago (2006) attended by > some, and Markus Netteler. > You have FOSS4G Choises now.. Pick, that suites your budget, and > philosophy (If you prefer not to see FOSS4G as 5*).. > > We depend on the collective wisdom of the board.. We the charter should > never tire in Nudging the board with our views. > > Another question to Contenders to the Board: > Wish a day will come when the Charter can play a more important role than > breaking it's sleep walk, to vote now and then. > > Cheers > > Ravi Kumar > > > > On Mon, Oct 16, 2017 at 8:38 PM, Vicky Vergara <vi...@georepublic.de> > wrote: > >> Hello Ravi: >> >> I had the opportunity to attend and to make a presentation on FOSS4G >> Korea, afterwards, I also made a protestation on FOSS4G Tokyo. That was on >> 2015, and was the same year I was also elected to be a charter member on >> OSGeo. This trip was very educational for me, as I got to know more about >> OSGeo, with the international event and with the local event. >> >> Next year, 2016, even that it would have been great to go to FOSS4G Bonn, >> given budgets constraints, I opted to go to FOSS4G Asia instead. Lots of >> students from Asia had participated on OSGeo-GSoC program, and I wanted a >> close contact with them. The contact was so close that, Rohith Reddy, >> student from IIIT in Hyderabad and ex-OSGeo-GSoC student, this year acted >> as mentor and went to the GSoC mentor summit representing OSGeo. >> >> This year for FOSS4G Boston, OSGeo, had a travel grant to which I did not >> apply, I preferred to go to FOSS4G Argentina (Starts next week), but I did >> registered and attended the code-sprint (using IRC and jitsi for video). >> About why Argentina, I saw it as an opportunity to communicate the spirit >> of OSGeo on my mother tongue, further more, I arranged my trip tohave a >> 22hr stay in Perú, where they are starting to create a local chapter, and I >> hope to meet some OSGeo member(s). >> >> I also consider FOSS4G as an outreach event, and call it: subconsciously, >> by accident, by preference, I've being going to the small FOSS4G events >> after the first one where I learned so much. If you think about it, by not >> going to the international one, and going to the small FOSS4G, I have been >> spreading the word to the people that can not afford the >> trip-accommodation-registration costs for the main FOSS4G, and maybe >> someone else, will use the travel grant, can go learn more about OSGeo on >> the main international event. >> >> >> Vicky >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, Oct 16, 2017 at 9:15 AM, Steven Feldman <shfeld...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Ravi >>> >>> This could be misinterpreted as some criticism of the volunteers who >>> have staged outstanding FOSS4G events in the last years or even of the >>> attendees who are able to afford to attend. I hope that is not the case? >>> >>> I’m not going to comment further on the challenges of hosting a 1000 >>> person conference and the associated costs, I think Jeff has summed this up >>> well. This discussion has gone round the conference, board and discuss >>> lists for several years. If we want a large event we will have to accept >>> the costs, the ticket price is typically a lot less than the travel, >>> accommodation and meal costs that “out of country” visitors incur. >>> >>> The answer, IMO, is to encourage the growth of regional and national >>> FOSS4G to enable lower cost access and to extend our outreach. I have seen >>> little or no evidence presented to support the idea that local and regional >>> events need funding from the centre but if a case can be made then the >>> board should give that consideration and/or delegate that responsibility to >>> the conference committee >>> >>> Let’s celebrate the success of our global events and their attendees who >>> do a lot more than “hang out”. These events, through their generous >>> sponsors, provide a lot of the funds for the OSGeo board to use in >>> outreach, code sprints and other activities >>> ______ >>> Steven >>> >>> >>> On 16 Oct 2017, at 07:59, Ravi Kumar <manarajahmundry2...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Hi List, >>> happy to note that 'FOSS4G being Costly/Unaffordable', is discussed. >>> To make it fun, spice is added on the TERM HANGOUT.. >>> >>> May be the next board will have FOSS4G for Business, where in 5* >>> comforts that might make business easy for OSGeo. >>> Will also have, 'FOSS4G Developers', where in young students/Reserchers >>> can have a great conference. >>> >>> Some fine tuning may make, Say , 1st 2 days 5 Star.. Next two >>> affordable. >>> But in a world where, 'COST some times means Efficiency', may not, 'play >>> ball', with this Idea. >>> >>> Cheers.. and All the best to the Hopefuls >>> >>> Ravi Kumar >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Oct 16, 2017 at 11:19 AM, Jody Garnett <jody.garn...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Okay I checked that the report is not published yet (sigh). I really >>>> appreciated Jeff's answer, and agree that regional foss4g events are seeing >>>> great success and are much more affordable. >>>> >>>> To answer your question: >>>> >>>> *'Do you agree that FOSS4G is turning out to be a hangout for those who >>>> can afford it'*.. >>>> >>>> I have never agreed that FOSS4G is a hangout - I continue to view it as >>>> our most effective outreach event. >>>> >>>> *costs (of participation) are so high that many might not afford.. * >>>> >>>> I very much agree with this, indeed I was only able to attend >>>> the Lausanne event by the kindness of people letting me sleep on their >>>> hotel floor. I have tried to return the favour each time the event took >>>> place in my home city. >>>> >>>> *If selected to the board HOW do you wish to correct this...* >>>> >>>> This is a tricky one, in part because I do not have to imagine - here >>>> is my own recommendation from the bo...@osgeo.org email list thread: f2f >>>> meeting follow up >>>> <https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/board/2017-August/010526.html>: >>>> >>>> On 21 August 2017 at 11:23, Jody Garnett <jody.garnett at gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> *I saw this thread get into the details of the RFP - for that we have* >>>> *volunteers on the conference committee. My goal as a board member is >>>> to* >>>> *work on strategy, as the conference committee knows best about the RFP* >>>> *wording and process.* >>>> >>>> **Q: *Based on the affordability report, and resulting discussion, did >>>> we as **the board have any direction to ask the conference committee >>>> to steer in?* >>>> >>>> *My own feedback:* >>>> >>>> >>>> *1) I was pleasantly surprised that the ticket cost of foss4g has not >>>> **changed >>>> significantly over the course of the events (indeed our most **expensive >>>> event was Sydney and our cheapest Korea).* >>>> >>>> *I do not see any guidance to provide here (this was surprising to me).* >>>> >>>> *2) Attendance continues to increase limiting appropriate venues* >>>> >>>> *I do not see any guidence to provide here, our community and event is >>>> **growing. >>>> I think once we get around 3000 people we may be forced to settle **down >>>> to consider a fixed location, but at 1000-2000 we can still move it * >>>> *around.* >>>> >>>> *3) regional events are killing it* >>>> >>>> *I do not see any guidence to provide here, our community and events >>>> is **growing. **The hope is this takes some of the strain from the >>>> global event, allowing **it to focus on outreach and advocacy more.* >>>> >>>> *4) hard for students to attend (also journal, etc...)* >>>> >>>> *There was a strong hope that travel grant program could help out a >>>> lot **here, that would make me sad as this was intended to work >>>> towards **diversity.* >>>> >>>> *While there may be guidance here I am not close enough to the >>>> academic **world to provide useful direction.* >>>> >>>> *5) diversity* >>>> >>>> *The original intention of the travel grant was to bring diversity >>>> awareness **to our osgeo events (to apply regional events are asked to >>>> set a diversity **target which travel grant can help towards). During >>>> foss4g I attended a **diversity presentation that advocated creating a >>>> safe space.* >>>> >>>> **Guidance: *Trial the use of providing a safe space in the 2018 bid.* >>>> >>>> *Similar recommendations online include:* >>>> *- make female speakers a priority (not just in selection, but before >>>> hand* >>>> *in promotion, one-on-one mentoring etc...).* >>>> *- providing child care (this helps families attend)* >>>> >>>> *Since these haver not been advocated by members of our community I am >>>> only **comfortable providing guidance on providing a safe space. >>>> Perhaps some of **these ideas can be tried out at regional conferences >>>> first.* >>>> >>>> *6) time of year* >>>> >>>> *The events have moved from September/October to August placing it in >>>> the **way of European holidays. With the bulk of our contributors in >>>> Europe this **has affected how many of our contributors can attend.* >>>> >>>> **Guidance: *Request September / October event (to maximize >>>> contributors who **can attend).* >>>> >>>> *I understand next years event has plans to turn this into a holiday >>>> for **families which is a cunning plan.* >>>> >>>> *7) travel / accommodation* >>>> >>>> *I would like to avoid prime tourist season to avoid asking attendees >>>> pay **high airfair and accommodation costs. We did not have the number >>>> in the **affordability report to back this up (but Michael Smith was >>>> going to look **things up).* >>>> >>>> **Guidance: *Request September / October event (to avoid peak tourist * >>>> *season).* >>>> >>>> >>>> Followed by: >>>> >>>> *> 5) diversity* >>>> >>>> *On reflection I am a bit uncomfortable offering guidance here - >>>> lacking the **needed perspective. I would ask that the conference >>>> committee consider **diversity as a selection criteria, but would hold >>>> off on providing specific **advice listed above. I recognize that the >>>> board as a whole is a diverse **body and may be in position to offer >>>> guidance.* >>>> >>>> *I just don't think it is my place either as a board member (need to >>>> trust **the marketing committee) or as a white male (can offer only >>>> concern, not **perspective).* >>>> >>>> *Aside: This whole discussion has increased my respect for the >>>> conference **committee, this is tough stuff. I thank those who >>>> contribute positively as **part of the conference committee.* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> The thing to note is that as a board member we can offer guidance, or >>>> in extreme cases provide a mandate to a group that wishes to act. I you >>>> asked me "*HOW do you wish to correct this" * the answer would be to >>>> join the conference committe and help out, an ability each of us has as a >>>> volunteer. >>>> >>>> The conference committee has my trust, and as I understand they are >>>> deeply aware and concerned about this issue. >>>> -- >>>> Jody Garnett >>>> >>>> On 15 October 2017 at 16:56, Jody Garnett <jody.garn...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> We actually have solid numbers for this, a report was provided at the >>>>> Boston meeting that kind of answers this to my satisfaction. >>>>> >>>>> I was waiting for it to be shared with the membership, since your >>>>> question was one I have been asked repeatedly over the last six months, >>>>> especially at foss4ge. >>>>> >>>>> I would really like you to be able to read the report and reach your >>>>> own conclusion. >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Oct 15, 2017 at 4:45 PM Ravi Kumar < >>>>> manarajahmundry2...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Question (would be Board). 'Do you agree that FOSS4G is turning out >>>>>> to be a hangout for those who can afford it'.. costs (of participation) >>>>>> are >>>>>> so high that many might not afford.. If selected to the board HOW do >>>>>> you wish to correct this.. >>>>>> >>>>>> Ravi Kumar >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Discuss mailing list >>>>>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >>>>>> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> -- >>>>> Jody Garnett >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Discuss mailing list >>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >>> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Discuss mailing list >>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >>> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Georepublic UG (haftungsbeschränkt) >> Salzmannstraße 44, >> 81739 München, Germany >> >> Vicky Vergara >> Operations Research >> >> eMail: vi...@georepublic.de >> Web: https://georepublic.info >> >> Tel: +49 (089) 4161 7698-1 >> Fax: +49 (089) 4161 7698-9 >> >> Commercial register: Amtsgericht München, HRB 181428 >> CEO: Daniel Kastl >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Discuss mailing list >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- -- Jody Garnett
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