OpenStreetMap
Let's Talk Local at the Global State of the Map
Posted by mikelmaron on 21 September 2016 in English.State of the Map attendees are coming to Brussels from (at least) 52 countries! The global State of the Map is a unequaled time to come together in person to share experiences from every corner of the world, find common ground, and plan what’s next for OpenStreetMap.
Many of us, among the over 400 attendees, are local community organizers. We hold mapping parties, organize local SotMs, even register organizations and sign up as official Local Chapters. I’m excited that we have dedicated time to talk as local communities on Sunday – during the panel discussion of State of the Local Map and the open discussion of Local Chapters Congress. There’s call to have a Local Birds of a Feather. The discussions we have in Brussels will continue with local communities gathering next week in Manila for State of the Map Asia.
Folks like Martijn, Joost, and myself have been talking with OpenStreetMap local community organizers over the past few months, to learn more about what they’re doing, motivations, their challenges, and what they need from the global OpenStreetMap community.
What I’ve found is that local communities are seeking to get more organized to engage more officially with government agencies, universities and other institutions. They find they need financial administration beyond borrowing someone’s bank account. While some have seen the value of becoming an official OSM Foundation Local Chapter, there is still lack a clarity to some about the necessity and benefits. Nevertheless, they see a lot of value to learn from others working on similar issues – everything from legal and administrative issues of starting an organization, to sharing community engagement strategies that work, to amplifying the voices of their community in the global OSM conversation especially for non-English speakers. Regional connections are especially valuable, for working with mappers in similar languages, timezones, and to some extent culture.
I think there are straightforward things we could do here – like better communication about and between Local Chapters, develop some simple benefits like schwag and templates of core organizational documents, and more support for regional conferences. Just some ideas.
Really looking forward to hearing more about what local communities are up to and what we think we can do together! See you at State of the Map.
Discussion
Comment from scruss on 21 September 2016 at 23:06
There are chapters? I’ve been an OSMF member for years and didn’t even know!
Then again, it’s probably good that there aren’t any in my country.
Comment from Glassman on 22 September 2016 at 03:39
Mikel, Terminology is getting rather confusing. We have Local Chapters and then we have local groups. The two are worlds apart. Local groups organize to improve their community. I can’t speak for all the local groups, but I suspect very few have any sort of non-profit status. Local Chapters on the other hand would have a non-profit status, by-laws, members, etc. Local Chapters are organized to put on local State of the Map conferences?
The thing is, we really don’t need Local Chapters. We need local groups. Everywhere. Before everyone jumps on me for that statement, consider what we need most. More contributors. Most of those will be the result of local groups.
Let’s start by asking “what do we need to do to promote more local groups.” Hopefully Local Chapters will step up to play strong role in helping answer that question. But Local Chapters are just part of the answer and maybe not even a critical part.
When we talk local, let’s talk local, at the community organizing level.
Like you I really look forward to hearing the outcome of the discussion. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend or would otherwise be happy to participate.
Comment from SimonPoole on 22 September 2016 at 10:27
I nearly fully agree with Glassman: local chapters happen when there is a local community and maybe semi-formal local groups that have come to the conclusion that a formal organisation makes sense and could be sustainable.
There is no indication that doing things the other way around does anything for community development and I would oppose any attempts and any tendencies to require or even just to imply that higher degrees of formal organisation are necessary to participate in OSM. Besides driving away contributors that are specifically not looking for that in OSM, it just makes it too easy to install a Systemé Blatter.
Simon
Comment from Harry Wood on 22 September 2016 at 11:47
I’ll be in Brussels this evening. Look forward to chatting about this stuff.
I think we could work to improve the onramp at various stages. Or smooth over the steps, or whatever the right metaphor is.
In the slowly developing situation that is the UK Group, there has been a widely held conviction that registering as a formal company/organisation (of one sort or another) with companies house is the big thing and the first thing to get done. This goes hand in hand with board-of-director structural requirements, so it is big. But actually I would have thought establishing a clear group identity by establishing a clear web presence is an earlier step, and I think it’s a step the OSMF could offer more clear guidance and assistance with.
For example the OSMF could offer to buy a domain name for any new country group. This is simultaneously a way of helping people and inviting people to get people started, and also at the same time, a way of establishing a small level of control over people who are using the OpenStreetMap name. OSMF retains ownership but points the domain at a webserver of their choice (or at a site hosted by OSMF if they want help with that too) We could then have a sort of Local-Chapter-Agreement-Lite for people who didn’t make a formal organisation yet.
Comment from joost schouppe on 22 September 2016 at 13:14
Great to read all these opinions here.
Mikel is focusing more on formal organization. He will lead a session on what local chapters can mean for communities, and how OSMF can use those as an agent for local community building.
In the State of the Local Map, we will be talking with local community builders, about what works and what doesn’t. Your opinion on that is extremely welcome. You were if course already invited to shape that discussion by responding to this thread: https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk/2016-September/076845.html
Comment from mikelmaron on 22 September 2016 at 13:52
Thanks Glassman, you’re right about terminology. I’m using Local Chapter here loosely (too loosely it seems) .. but I really see it as a spectrum, and don’t think that formalizing is the first step, far from it. Do like Harry’s thinking about building an on ramp.