Board Meeting 2010-01-14

Category: Board
Category:Board Meetings 2009
== Special Fundraising Meeting ==
This board meeting is scheduled for the 14th of January 2010 at 16:00 UTC, on a voice call.
== Agenda ==
* Appoint meeting secretary
* Review agenda
Brainstorming:
* Key industry areas in 2010
* Types of funding organisations - sponsors, grant makers
* Role of FOSS4G
* Events to present at
* Engaging community as fundraisers, donors
* Licensing OSGeo brand - events, certification
* Relationships with sponsors, project, foundation, FOSS4G
* Budget related
* ...
== Minutes ==
This was a special fundraising discussion meeting done via a voice call.
=== Attendees ===
Directors:
* Arnulf Christl (co-chair)
* Christopher Schmit
* Jeff McKenna
* Geoff Zeiss
* Ari Jolma
* Others?
Staff:
* Tyler Mitchell (co-chair)
=== Action Summary ===
# Each director identify 2 contacts for each month and report to board.
# Tyler to set up wiki for capturing contacts, etc. Setup templates for capturing info. (**DONE**)
# Compile list of large governments moving to FOSS. (Tyler emailed OSGeo discuss list and got a few pointers)
# Consider event package idea.
=== Detailed Minutes ===
* Agenda review
# Arnulf: More formal Fundraising Committee needed? 
## Agreed that a regular meeting of this style was more suitable. Best to have special board meetings rather than make new committee.
# Arnulf: Hoping to get board more actively involved in fundraising. Proposed: each director contact 2 sponsorship opportunities per month.
# Jeff: Key job for board members, perhaps clarify the key responsibility for the board
## Need face to face for finalising some bigger ones
# How can we define a product? To what extent is it necessary?
## Some specific examples given, e.g. corps depending on our libraries and need help using them. Others using geodata and have licensing issues we could help with. Leads to the question: what can we 'do' for them to leverage funding?
# General approach discussed: 
## Identify key large sponsors, several follow ups for larger amount
## Several small ones with a more general approach
# Tyler to set up private wiki for collecting contacts and sensitive notes
## capture contacts, potential, history
## template for following up, keeping history
# FOSS4G / Conference is a key product
## Marketing budgets are more accessible than sponsorship budgets in corps. FOSS4G helps to access these funds.
## More events could help raise funding
## What kind of overlaps/opportunities are there with local chapters? Some ways to encourage/help them start events that raise funding.
### This could be done by creating a virtual product package that local groups/companies/members could take and use - e.g. a proactive approach that others can 'buy into' - with requirements for branding, costs/benefit, content ideas. So local folks can take the package and deliver a successful event.
### Key benefits - income, but also coverage/promotion
# Other product ideas, high level meetings or training sessions, maybe following other events
## OSGeo could provide a public list of potential speakers. Promoted as "have OSGeo at your event! contact us... get a speaker, develop a training sessions, host a roundtable", etc.
### e.g. organised by partners, invite people in a region for shorter or longer events
### need a training event for a particular product? we can help provide a presenter or team
## Coupling a board/director meeting with an event, e.g. experts meeting in India. face-to-face but with potential to making money by hosting an event, or meeting with potential sponsors.
### More money available for 'training' than esoteric reasons
### Some increased 'virtual' attendance at events, Autodesk University had 20k attendees at $99/ea
# Various aspects to fundraising opportunities: geographic, industry sectors and corporation/orgs that fund/sponsor via grants. Geoff give several updates.
## US government - 5 key sectors, one is geo and one is open source
## Open source for america - geo is there, is energy/trans?
## Energy/transportation - foss penetration = zero. URISA presentation good place to connect.
## Municipal gov needs - smaller budgets but don't have $ for proprietary stuff. Their own revenue is getting smaller with tax crunch/stretch. Utilities in particular.
## Rural coops? local govs that could use help (NRECA)
## Which other vertical areas? miltary, utilities, gov, each with their own industry association
# Geo perspective - easy to have smaller event in big cities, draw folks from 2-3 hour driving (no flying!)
## What about different regions/countries - where is the biggest need/market
## e.g. some gov't officially moving to FOSS. How can we help them by giving them sponsorship opportunities along with guidance. likely need help implementing their vision (Indonesia: IGOS eg)
### Coupling events along with other foss training/events