Start OSGeo Travel Grant program
Jody Garnett
Public
Seen by 359
We have a outstanding pattern of setting up travel grants for FOSS4G each year; this get's a bit messy (with funds raised from the event circling back to subsidize event attendance).
There are two motivations for setting up an OSGeo travel grant program at this time:
a) A formal request from the FOSS4G Boston Local Organizing Committee
b) Meeting/email discussion focused on serving more than just foss4g, with a focus on diversity
The goal is to start the process this year and refine over time.
Update:
- Initial proposal (for an osgeo board managed travel grant fund available to event organizers) has been put on hold while we talk to conference committee
- Conference committee is having a vote to decide if they are willing to take on this responsibility
References:
Poll Created Wed 3 May 2017 6:32PM
OSGeo Travel Grant Program Closed Tue 9 May 2017 6:18PM
This motion was withdrawn, conference committee has volunteered to take on this responsibility (rather than the board).
Adopt an OSGeo travel grant program, as outlined in the attached document. Event organizers a responsible for applying to the travel grant program, selecting participants for assistance, with an eye towards OSGeo diversity and community growth.
Reference: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jYDOd87redxMHwT-xURcBrD7xwOeAPdVVLWZtIbM7-w/edit#
Results
| Results | Option | % of points | Voters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Agree | 100.0% | 1 |
|
| Abstain | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Disagree | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Block | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Undecided | 0% | 7 |
|
1 of 8 people have participated (12%)
Anita Graser Wed 3 May 2017 8:18PM
I'd like to discuss the process of applications for the grant program as well as the selection criteria a bit more before voting. Comments in the doc.
Jody Garnett Fri 5 May 2017 3:55AM
No worries, I did set this motion to close next week - is that enough time Anita?
Anita Graser Fri 5 May 2017 10:52AM
It could be enough time since there is a volunteer now. Personally, I'll be quite busy with the AGILE conference travel next week but I don't need to be that involved in this discussion.
Jody Garnett Tue 9 May 2017 6:20PM
I have closed the proposal (as written) as we await feedback from the conference committee. If the conference committee is willing to accept this responsibility we will end up with a proposal updating the conference committee mandate.
The email discussion has gotten a bit side tracked (looking at financial models) - rather than focused on the key question: Is the conference committee willing to accept this responsibility.
Poll Created Mon 15 May 2017 2:13PM
Assign travel grant responsibility to the conference committee Closed Tue 16 May 2017 4:52PM
This motion is passed, thank you to the conference committee for taking on this responsibility.
Please update the wiki and website with your new mandate; and thank you for your service and dedication.
Motion is as follows:
"The conference committee is responsible operation of:
The annual OSGeo worldwide conference (the committee may also at it's discretion choose to provide some degree of support for other OSGeo events).
The committee will aim to make conferences roughly self financing. OSGeo Events share risk/profit with the Foundation allowing us to assist subsequent events.
The conference committee is further asked to setup and administer a travel grant program for OSGeo events."
For reference the original motion is:
"I, Frank Warmerdam, motion to form a OSGeo Conference Committee. The Conference Committee will be initially chaired by Jeff McKenna (OSGeo VP Conferences) who will be responsible for selecting committee members. The Committee will be responsible for operation of the annual OSGeo worldwide conference following the past successful community conferences (MUM, OSGIS, OSG, FOSS4G). The committee may also at it's discretion choose to provide some degree of support for other OSGeo affiliated conferences. The committee will aim to make conferences roughly self financing."
Results
| Results | Option | % of points | Voters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Agree | 100.0% | 5 |
|
| Abstain | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Disagree | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Block | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Undecided | 0% | 4 |
|
5 of 9 people have participated (55%)
Jody Garnett Mon 15 May 2017 2:44PM
Updated motions with member(s) of the conference committee, please respond.
Jody Garnett Wed 17 May 2017 12:42AM
I see it did not record my vote (sigh I made the motion), updating the proposal as passed.
Jody Garnett · Wed 3 May 2017 6:28PM
There is a slight tension between the subject of travel-grants and event costs. Our membership is feeling the pressure as event costs place foss4g attendance out of reach, or out of reach of groups they care about (students, volunteers, committers, etc..).
Travel grants are not intended as a solution to event costs.