On Jan 14, 2006, at 11:24 AM, Paul Ramsey wrote:
Puneet,
..Autodesk wants a strong, independent foundation with a broad
membership to put their product. We also want a strong independent
foundation with a broad membership. We all have the same destination
in mind, and are motives for getting there are the same too. Let's
go.
Cool. See y'all on Feb 4. I hate driving, but for love and the
foundation...
On Jan 14, 2006, at 6:43 AM, Puneet Kishor wrote:
On Jan 13, 2006, at 11:32 AM, Paul Ramsey wrote:
In order to help move along the process of starting an "open source
geospatial foundation" there will be a face-to-face meeting in
Chicago, Westin O'Hare, on February 4, 2006, hosted by Autodesk. In
conceiving of this meeting, we have tried (and will continue to try)
to follow these principles:
- Inclusion. Members from a number of different open source projects
have been invited (see the list so far below) and Autodesk has
offered to pay the travel costs of some of these invitees in order
to ensure they can attend if they cannot afford it otherwise. Anyone
else is also welcome to attend physically or virtually (see below).
Thanks to everyone for making this possible. There is a potential
problem with the above (note: I have said "potential," hence, it is
entirely possible that there may be no problem at all).
The meeting is hosted by Autodesk, and Autodesk will also pay for
some of the attendees to attend the meeting. Most of the negative
reaction to the initial announcement stemmed from a feeling of a
free/open source project and its name and goodwill being usurped by a
for-profit, closed source, publicly held corporation. Most everyone
welcomed Autodesk, but most everyone did not want to have the
MapServer Enterprise name applied to their product.
I hope Autodesk's financial underwriting of the above event will not
create a conflict of interest of any sort. Would it be worthwhile
publicly announcing the event so other private corporations have an
equal opportunity to attend/sponsor/represent at the event?
Personally, I am happy that the meeting is at a place that I can
attend. Well, it is 150 miles from here, but I can drive there on my
own steam without feeling obligated to anyone. But, it would have
been nicer to have the meeting at a "neutral" location and perhaps
even at a neutral event. For example, the meeting could be held at
UMN, or even at a "rented" meeting room at O'Hare -- I would be happy
to chip in toward the cost from my pocket if the expense is
reasonable.
In any case, I believe this is an important and concrete step
forward, and I welcome and support it. As long as we come to the
meeting with an open and constructive mind, there shouldn't be any
issue. Thanks again, to all those who made it possible (and that
includes Autodesk).
--
Puneet Kishor
--
Puneet Kishor
