I think it's a terrible idea, unless we really consider geography to
be the true organizing principle behind OSGeo. Why not project-based
board seats? Or language? Ethnicity? How about all three! We can
have a matrix board.
First, is there a problem: is our board representation bad relative
to our membership and goals?
If you can clearly articulate a problem, perhaps we can discuss
solutions, but slaving board representation to geography is a Big
Hammer, so it better be the Most Important Thing we care about.
P.
On 13-Aug-07, at 11:06 AM, P Kishor wrote:
Hi all,
I would love hear from others about what they think of geography-based
Board seats. Please weigh in.
PS: If anyone is CDG tomorrow morning at 8.20a local time, page me,
but make sure to wear your OSGeo swag so I can recognize you... I'll
be there for two hours waiting for my flight to DEL.
On 8/11/07, P Kishor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
On 8/10/07, Steve Lime <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi all: Perhaps this has been discussed before, but... Given the
apparent desire to maintain geographic diversity amongst OSgeo
leadership perhaps in the future we might consider regionally
based board seats.
This is absolutely the most wonderful, workable, and simplest idea to
this problem.
When I was casting my vote, I had little to go on. One vote went to
someone who I have met personally, if only briefly (that person won
the election). One vote went to someone from a geographic area other
than Europe/NA (that person did not win). The other votes were based
on my recollection of their contribution to the mailing lists,
software, activism, and somewhat on the nomination write-ups. It is
hard to compare someone who writes code (I don't as much... at least,
not basic code) to someone who evangelizes (I do a lot of that... I
just spent the entire morning yesterday giving a presentation on open
geospatial at the World Bank... it was received with a lot of
enthusiasm and interest).
Having regionally allocated board seats would cut down on some of
this
comparison problem, and it would also ensure representation from
around the world, from regions that are different levels in diffusion
and adoption, and hence, need different kinds of work and
involvement.
Thanks Steve, for suggesting this... I wholeheartedly second this.
That is, you have representatives from:
North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, South/Central America and
Oceania
If the bulk of activity is in North America and Europe then given
them two seats. Then you have nominations within a region and so
on... Every other year different geographic regions would be up
for re-election. As a voting member you'd vote for candidates in
each region.
If organizational affiliation diversity is more important
(government vs. higher education vs. private sector vs. hobbyist)
than geographic diversity then the same idea would apply. We do
that here in Minnesota for our state GIS/LIS consortium board.
That board also has an at-large seat open to anyone.
Just a thought...
Steve
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Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/
Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/
Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/education/
S&T Policy Fellow, National Academy of Sciences http://www.nas.edu/
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collaborate, communicate, compete
=====================================================================
--
Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/
Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/
Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/education/
S&T Policy Fellow, National Academy of Sciences http://www.nas.edu/
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collaborate, communicate, compete
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