OSGeo proposal for Francophone Local Chapter

OSGeo-fr | Section Organisation libre = Proposal for the creation of the Francophone Local Chapter (OSGeo-fr)= Reference links:
 * Local Chapter Guidelines
 * OSGeo Memberships
 * India Local Chapter

Introduction
The purpose of the formation of a Francophone Local Chapter (OSGeo-fr) is to join French speaking users in a Francophone geospatial community. This community aims to promote OSGeo and its missions, promote geospatial software, promote open geodata, provide internationalized software and documentation to help people using geospatial software, etc. These purposes are only few example, OSGeo-fr missions are detailled hereinafter. Promoted OSGeo projects have to be close enough to local problems : language barrier, francophone specificity (character encoding, local coordinate systems, etc.), and will allow to promote open source software at the local level.

Language barrier
English is the most used language in development projects and it is not always well spoken. That's why it is so important to enable non native English-speaking people to contribute and use free and open source geospatial software. Share informations, documentations in French is one of the main purpose for a Francophone Local Chapter. Of course, a lot of other projects could be managed, as open data promotion, local development, etc.

Francophone specificity
Character encoding and local coordinate systems are the best examples to demonstrate local specificity. The local chapter will link local users to international developers in order to improve technical implementations of local specificities and issues.

Promoting OS software at local level
GFOSS are more and more used in professional environments. They are not always well-known and demonstrations, documentation or software comparisons are always welcome. Proprietary softwares benefit from a better marketing and they are taught in University. Only local presence could change this situation, first by teaching lectures about GFOSS : GFOSS comparison, workshop, explaining why and when GFOSS are better than proprietary software. This will be one of the main missions of the local chapter: propose educational material with the Educating Committee from OSGeo. Secondly by demoing GFOSS in trade shows.

Structure and Legal status
OSGeo Francophone Chapter is, presently, like OSGeo India Chapter, a voluntary organization, and has not been registered as a legal body. This could be changed if needed, as it would help to manage funds and financial supports from companies.

The Local Chapter welcome all french-speaking people wanting to share information about GFOSS. The Francophone Local Chapter is open to all french-speaking geospatial community members. We do not discriminate based on age, gender, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

Organization
Organization of the Local Chapter is similar to its missions. The Local Chapter president's role is to keep the link between the OSGeo and the Local Community, and to report annually about projects and missions of the Local Chapter. Other missions could be added by the Local Chapter Community. For each group of missions, there is a committee with a Committee Leader. Inside each Committee, a project is defined by an objective with a Project Leader. This allow Committee Leader to delegate tasks.

Here are the three Committees to create:
 * 1) Organization Committee
 * 2) Free Data Committee
 * 3) Free & OS Software Committee

Everybody can contribute to one or more project, but one person cannot manage more than one committee (for reasons of availability, diversity, etc.) except if there is a lack of candidates for the elections.

RFCs will determine more precisely how OSGeo-fr will organize itself and could be changed if needed. For example, a RFC will describe how election will be managed.

To contact and share ideas and information, the Local Chapter is using the [Francophone] mailing list. The wiki will archive all information and will be the formal and official reference for any question.

Members of the Local Chapter are organized based on OSGeo's model, with Participants, Members, Board. Companies have a special role. They will be allowed to support the Local Chapter by financial supports/Sponshorship using the OSGeo Sponsorship System.

Missions
Missions are listed below. For each of them, a few projects are defined. This list of projects is not exhaustive and can be modified, especially to add projects if enough people are interesting in participating.


 * 1) Organization Committee
 * 2) * project 1: manage portals and wiki.
 * 3) * project 2: manage meeting and trade show.
 * 4) * project 3: promote OSGeo.
 * 5) Free Data Committee
 * 6) * project 1: promote free License.
 * 7) * project 2: host, share and publish free data.
 * 8) * project 3: help liberating data.
 * 9) Free & OS Software committee
 * 10) * project 1: promote and demonstrate GFOS software.
 * 11) * project 2: localize, translate, customize GFOS software.
 * 12) * project 3: promote writing and translating documentation
 * 13) * project 4: support in French on mailing list and forum.

Francophone OSGeo Chapter Officers
Here are the persons who were elected:
 * President : Yves Jacolin
 * Organization Committee leader: Gwenael Bachelot
 * Data Committee leader: François Van Der Biest
 * Software Committee leader: Vincent Picavet

You can contact each of us by sending a mail to the francophone mailing list.

Initial Membership

 * 1) Gérald Fenoy (Balaruc les Bains, France)
 * 2) François Van Der Biest - (Paris-Chambéry, France)
 * 3) Yves Jacolin (Suresnes, France)
 * 4) Frédéric Pouget
 * 5) Daniel Morissette - (Chicoutimi, Québec)
 * 6) Laurent Jégou - (Toulouse, France)
 * 7) Eve Rousseau - (Paris, France)
 * 8) Thierry Badard - (Québec, Qc, Canada)
 * 9) Gwenael Bachelot - (Paris, France)
 * 10) Ludovic Lestrat (Orléans, France)
 * 11) René-Luc D'Hont - (Montpellier, France)
 * 12) François Prunayre - (Limoges, France)
 * 13) David Jonglez - (Chambéry, France)
 * 14) Emmanuel Belo - (Lausanne, Suisse)
 * 15) Damien Corpataux - (Lausanne, Suisse)
 * 16) Arnaud Saint Léger - (Chambéry, France)
 * 17) Pierre Giraud - (Chambéry, France)
 * 18) Alexandre Saunier - (Lausanne, Suisse)
 * 19) Mathieu Coudert - (Chambéry, France)
 * 20) Vincent Picavet - (Paris, France).
 * 21) Christophe Tuffery - (Paris, France)
 * 22) Sidonie Christophe - (Paris, France)
 * 23) Julien-Samuel Lacroix - (Chicoutimi, Québec)
 * 24) Pierre-André Le Ny - (Paris, France)
 * 25) Olivier Travaglini - (Genève, Suisse)
 * 26) Alexandre Leroux - (Montréal, Québec)
 * 27)  Martin Fafard - (Laval, Québec)
 * 28)  Nicolas KLEIN - (La Rochelle, France)
 * 29)  Grégory BOURBON - (St Etienne, France)
 * 30)  Robin PREST - (Laon, France)
 * 31)  Marie Silvestre - (Paris, France).
 * 32)  Xavier Guipon - (Vanves, France)
 * 33)  Frédéric BARNAY - (Aix-en-Provence, France)
 * 34)  Thierry GONON - (Lagnieu, France)
 * 35)  Sylvain Théry - (Paris, France).
 * 36)  Jérome Gasperi - (Toulouse, France).
 * 37)  Chris HERMANSEN - (Grenoble, France).
 * 38)  Michel MAINGUENAUD - (Rouen, France).
 * 39)  Alain Bouju (Université de La Rochelle, France).
 * 40)  Mauro Gaio - (Pau, France).
 * 41)  Julien Lesbegueries - (Pau, France).
 * 42)  Pierre Loustau - (Pau, France).
 * 43)  Gilles Taladoire - (Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie).
 * 44)  Touraïvane - (Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie).
 * 45)  Hervé Halbout - (Caen, France).
 * 46)  Robert Jeansoulin - (Marne-la-Vallée, France).
 * 47)  Olivier Ertz.
 * 48)  Nicolas Gignac - (Ville de Québec, Québec).
 * 49)  Edouard Legoupil - (Accra, Ghana).
 * 50)  Denis Helfer - (Strasbourg, France)
 * 51)  Benoit Véler - (Grenoble, France)
 * 52)  Ludovic Granjon - (Barcelonnette, France)
 * 53)  Thomas Gratier - (Allanche, France)
 * 54)  Vincent Heurteaux - (Montpellier, France)
 * 55)  Souleymane Ousmane - (Niamey, NIGER)
 * 56)  Christophe Bredel - (St Jean d'angely, France)
 * 57)  Eric Lemoine - (Chambéry, France)
 * 58)  Jean-Michel Follin - (Le Mans, France)
 * 59)  Pierre Lagarde - (Orléans, France)