[Talk-in] OSM Local Chapters are coming. Looking for feedback.

[PlaneMad]

Good initiative no doubt, but i have always been of the opinion that these
local chapters are a nice excuse to meet for petty stuff, drink beer, play
politics and not get much actual work done :P

But it should definitely help in spreading the OSM project in a more
organised manner. In the Indian context, it could help OSM mappers clear a
few hurdles while obtaining information from govt agencies, but only if we
convince the govt itself of OSM first. At the moment i can forsee quite a
few raised eyebrows at a community mapping effort like this. With everyone
on alert after whats been happening in the country, im sure being caught
cycling around with a gps device and a notepad could land you in quite a
soup. With a local chapter, it might be easier for a mapper to identify
himself as a bonafide part of a credible international project rather than
just 'some internet mapping project' that has people collecting detailed
information throughout the city.

This is an important step for the growth of OSM in India without a doubt.

-arun ganesh
On Sat, Dec 13, 2008 at 11:41 PM, Mikel Maron <mikel_maron at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Greetings.
>
> The OpenStreetMap Foundation is currently drawing up an agreement to set up
> local OSMF chapters. There has been call in several countries for official
> status, to represent OSMF to government and business in that particular
> locality. Local chapters would be expected to organize membership (though
> not exclusively all membership in a country) and generally promote OSM
> locally. More info is on Nick's blog.
>
>
> http://www.blacksworld.net/blog/2008/12/11/osm-f-update-local-chapters-are-coming/
>
> I'm looking for general feedback on the proposal. There's no expectation at
> this time that India or any other place will start a chapter (though it
> would be great). But in the future, we want to insure that the terms of the
> agreement and general idea are good frameworks.
>
> Best
> Mikel
>
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>


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