\title{German}
\subtitle{German-speaking Language Local Chapter}
\maketitle

The main focus of the vocal bits of the German language OSGeo community has been to spread word and promote GIS and WebGIS solutions with Free Software. 

\section*{ Key Accomplishments }

The most appropriate way to accomplish this over the last years was to organize and take part in events. In 2007 we had various of them: 

\begin{description}
	\item  \href{http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSSGIS_Konferenzen}{FOSSGIS Konferenzen}
	
The German language Open Source GIS community meets at the FOSSGIS conference. It is the largest annual conference focusing on FOSSGIS and sees growing numbers of attendees every year. \\

	\item OSGeo Park at the \href{http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Intergeo}{Intergeo}

The Intergeo is the largest recurring GIS event, trade show and congress in Europe attracting more than 10k people. The OSGeo Park hosts a presentation forum for users, free-of-cost booths for OSGeo projects and is funded by FOSSGIS companies exhibiting. It is a perfect example of \href{http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Coopetition}{Coopetition}. Get some impressions from the \href{http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Intergeo_2006_Report}{Intergeo 2006 Report}.
	\begin{itemize}

		\item OSGeo operated the Open Source Park of the Intergeo together with the Hinte-Messe GmbH, organizer of the exhibition and conference. 
		\item With an exhibition area of 30 by 20 meters the OSGeo Open Source Park was one of the largest booths at the fair. 
		\item Focus of the Intergeo trade show is clearly business and end customer oriented. 
		\item Of the 16,000 Intergeo visitors several thousand made it to the OSGeo sector to pick up info sheets and listen to presentations. 
		\item Those who wanted to get more detailed information talked to the booth staff of about 30 people from all areas of IT and FOSS GIS business. 
	\end{itemize}

	\item The Open Source-Day at \href{http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/AGIT}{AGIT}
	\begin{itemize}
		\item This event is focused more on scientific attendees and has a strong academic foundation. 
		\item The recurring special seminar focusing on Free and Open Source Software methodologies in the spatial context is in its fifth year now. 
	\end{itemize}

	\item OSGeo presence at the \href{http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LinuxTag}{LinuxTag}
	\begin{itemize}
		\item 2006 was the first public appearance of OSGeo in Germany 
		\item 2007 saw the joint effort together with the GAV eV. 
		\item OpenStreetmap presented on the OSGeo booth 
	\end{itemize}
	
\end{description}


What else did we do? 

\begin{itemize}
	\item Create info sheets for OSGeo projects and translate them to English 
	\item Start translation of the OSGeo Homepage to German 
	\item Lots of presentations and articles focusing on FOSSGIS and business models 
	\begin{itemize}
		\item publishing articles like \href{http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/Intern:_Entwurf_Artikel_GIS_BUSINESS}{OSGeo at GIS BUSINESS} - \href{http://www.geopoint.de/geobit/}{GIS Business Magazin}\\ 
	\end{itemize}
\end{itemize}

\section*{ Areas for Improvement }

The FOSSGIS community in Germany is quite heterogeneous and reaching consensus is a long process with frequently more or less fruitful discussions on various topics. One reason may be, that the history of Free Software in Germany goes back quite a long time - well before OSGeo came into existence. Some initiatives still have sensitivities and face problems in sharing the role of Free Software promoters with others. 

\section*{ Outlook for 2008 }

Events, conferences (\href{http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSSGIS_2008}{FOSSGIS 2008}, AGIT 2008, LinuxTag 2008, Intergeo OSGeo-Park 2008). Eventually we would like to have an organization that is well embedded into OSGeo but also has a local focus to be able to collect funding from European grant programs and the public administration. Currently it is not possible for the public administration to fund OSGeo directly. Whether ``OSGeo Local Chapter'' is an appropriate terminology is one of the ongoing sensitivities. 
