<div dir="ltr"><div>I am a long time member of the US Chapter. I fully support the long overdue application to be a recognized OSMF Local Chapter. Thanks to Maggie Crawley and the Board members for making this happen. This board and previous board members, especially Ian Dees, have done an outstanding job guiding the membership to be an inclusive organization. They have organized some great State of the Map US events. I've only missed two over the years since becoming a member. The recent decision to adopt a Code of Conduct shows that the Board is forward thinking. I highly recommend others follow this example. </div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 4:47 AM Craig Allan <<a href="mailto:allan@iafrica.com">allan@iafrica.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<div>Hi All.</div>
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<div>Questions: None</div>
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<div>Comments: I support the formation of
the LC for the USA.</div>
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<div>Concerns: <br>
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<div>1) The USA is one really big entity, so
to improve direct engagement with membership (building membership
is my thing) I would not object to formation of regional LCs
operating closer to the members - for example East, Midwest,
West. They will have to decide internally whether to do this, but
from the OSMF point of view I would support pre-emptively adding
to the LC charter the clause discussed earlier for the Pacific LC
to provide for the creation of independent or subordinate regional
LCs if the need arises. <br></div></div></blockquote><div> </div><div>That's an interesting suggestion. I will take that up with the LCCWG, of which I'm a member. </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div>
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<div>2) All but one of the USA directors
seem to be employed in commercial GIS related roles. I know that
this is not an election for directors, but just as idle chatter
I'd just say that maybe most of their board may lean towards
technical and commercial application of OSM and not really worry
about building membership. The best mitigation of the most
serious risks facing OSM lie with expanding membership and not
with building commercially exploitable capabilities.</div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Craig - I've known most of the board members personally for the past many years. While they may have geospatial jobs, those jobs never impact their dedication to OSM. Martijn has been an avid supporter of OSM and is well known for Mapillary. Not as widely known is the many hours he spends in various committees to help OSM-US. Minh Nguyen is one of the most helpful people I know. He is knowledgeable in so many areas, too many to list, and is always willing to help out. I don't know Daniela Waltersdorfer well, but my interactions with her are nothing but positive. Alyssa Wright has been guiding the organization for a number of years. Her dedication to improving gender parity in OSM is inspiring. Jubal Harpster is a corporate flunky :) but has been not only involved with OSM going back many years but OSGeo as well. Lastly Maggie Crawley, our Executive Director, has proven to me that OSMF could use someone just like her. (No - you can't have her) Because of Maggie we now have a newsletter, regular Mappy Hours, support for the various committees as well as planning for SOTM-US, now cancelled, and the upcoming OpenStreetMap US:Connect 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div><div>Clifford</div></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>@osm_washington<br></div><div><a href="https://www.snowandsnow.us" target="_blank">www.snowandsnow.us</a></div><div>OpenStreetMap: Maps with a human touch</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>