Loomio
Sun 12 Mar 2017 8:00PM

Update sponsorship instructions to restrict search engine optimization companies

JG Jody Garnett Public Seen by 346

Sponsorship is as much about promoting the open source organizations that participate in our community as about raising money.

We have set a very low bar of $500 USD for bronze sponsorship (this was done to support "small business" consulting companies that would normally be priced out of sponsorship promotions.

One aspect we did not for see was the attraction this low price point had for organization that are not part of our open source spatial target we wish to promote: 2016 sponsors in this category include search engine optimization companies ChameleonJohn and Dealslands; and sharepoint/exchange/desktop hosting Apps4Rent (hard to tell if they do open source).

Aside: We need to do a better job promoting small business and single-person consulting companies; if bronze sponsorship at $500 is not the answer we should seek out a conversation with these members.

JG

Jody Garnett Sun 12 Mar 2017 8:02PM

From Anita:

Acceptance of sponsorship offers is at the discretion of the QGIS PSC. We reserve the right to decline offers of sponsorship if the sponsoring organisation or party seems to be at odds with the ethos of our project. For example offers from marketing companies that have nothing to do with GIS / spatial services, or offers where we have reason to believe the presence of the sponsors logo and marketing materials on our site and other materials will degrade the experience of our users will be declined.​
(http://qgis.org/en/site/getinvolved/governance/sponsorship/sponsorship.html#qgis-sponsorship-program​)

JG

Jody Garnett Sun 12 Mar 2017 8:07PM

I would really like some text (such as Anita provided) before we can have a motion - since I am not sure how to handle this one.

The page http://www.osgeo.org/sponsorship already lists "why sponsor osgeo":

  • Your Organization Depends on OSGeo Software
  • You represent a Community of Practice that has Adopted OSGeo Software
  • Your Goals are aligned with OSGeo's Support for Open Standards and Other Prioritie
  • Demonstrate Your Leadership in Open Source Geospatial Technologies
  • Benefit from Sponsor Networking Opportunities

Perhaps can use the above list when saying no (at our discretion) to explain why some organizations are off topic?

SS

Sanghee Shin Mon 13 Mar 2017 2:14AM

+1 I believe we've already had great sponsorship condition like above. We can apply that principles to those who wants to be a OSGeo sponsor.

JG

Jody Garnett Mon 13 Mar 2017 3:56AM

So let's try a variation on Anita's text:

Acceptance of sponsorship offers is at the discretion of the OSGeo board. We reserve the right to decline offers of sponsorship if the sponsoring organisation or party seems to be at odds "why sponsor OSGeo" section above.

We could go with a negative example:

For example offers from marketing companies that have nothing to do with GIS / spatial services, or offers where we have reason to believe the presence of the sponsors logo and marketing materials on our site will degrade the experience of our users will be declined.​

Or a positive example:

Sponsorship is an opportunity to promote gis consultants, spatial service vendors, educational institutions, government departments, and non-government organizations that make benefit from our work. Organizations that have nothing to do with GIS and spatial services will be declined.

The above was hard to write as I would like to extend sponsorship to more then just spatial service vendors as shown in the QGIS example.

JG

Poll Created Tue 14 Mar 2017 3:41AM

Clarification on why off-topic sponsorship will be declined Closed Sun 19 Mar 2017 3:01AM

Outcome
by Jody Garnett Tue 25 Apr 2017 5:50AM

Sponsors page updated: http://www.osgeo.org/sponsorship

Based on the discussion please approve the following clarification:

> Why sponsor OSGeo
>
> * Your Organization Depends on OSGeo Software: ...
> * You represent a Community of Practice that has Adopted OSGeo Software: ...
> * Your Goals are aligned with OSGeo's Support for Open Standards and Other Priorities: ...
> * Demonstrate Your Leadership in Open Source Geospatial Technologies: ...
> * Benefit from Sponsor Networking Opportunities: ...
>
> Sponsorship is an opportunity for OSGeo promote gis consultants, spatial service vendors, educational institutions, government departments, and non-government organizations that make benefit from our work. Organizations that have nothing to do with GIS and spatial services will be declined.

Results

Results Option % of points Voters
Agree 100.0% 8 AG MS JG SS V HM AT MAB
Abstain 0.0% 0  
Disagree 0.0% 0  
Block 0.0% 0  
Undecided 0% 1 VC

8 of 9 people have participated (88%)

JG

Jody Garnett
Agree
Tue 14 Mar 2017 3:44AM

initial proposal, if you want to suggest a wording change please add to the discussion on the left.

MS

Michael Smith Tue 14 Mar 2017 11:08AM

I like the variant on Anita's text. It remains our discretion.

JG

Jody Garnett Fri 17 Mar 2017 7:34PM

@vasilecraciunescu if you have a moment I would like to write this up (having to update the pages anyways due to inconsistencies).