OSMF updates/2020-08/Local Chapters Overview
Local Chapters are country-level or region-level not-for-profit legal entities representing the area's mappers when dealing with local government, business, and media. They have been officially recognised by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF) and can use the OpenStreetMap marks.
News
Local Chapters Template Agreement updated
The Local Chapters template agreement was updated by the OSMF board. The new version was approved in July and is now available to new and existing Local Chapters (LCs).
"Local Chapters Working Group" relaunched as "Local Chapters and Communities Working Group"
The former "Local Chapters Working Group" was relaunched in February as the "Local Chapters and Communities Working Group" (LCCWG). LCCWG is tasked with finding and implementing ways for the Foundation to support the growth of local communities and potentially encourage established communities to further organise themselves and eventually formally affiliate with the Foundation as one of its Local Chapters.
The Local Chapter applications are reviewed by the OSMF board and are voted by board members after membership and local communities consultations. Steps of application process.
Contact
The Local Chapters mailing list is dedicated to the discussion of topics and issues of interest to the Local Chapters of the OpenStreetMap Foundation, as well as those groups interested in becoming a Local Chapter. You can also chat with members of the Local Chapters and Communities Working Group.
For quick chats and light discussions with the LCCWG, there is a channel you can reach via -any- of the following options:
- Riot/matrix
- IRC (#osmcommunity on OFTC)
- Telegram
Local Chapters and Communities Working Group page
New Local Chapters
Czechia
OpenStreetMap Česká republika was approved in February 2020 as the Local Chapter for Czechia.
Argentina and Oceania: First non-European Local Chapters and first supranational Local Chapter
Asociación Civil Geolibres and OSGeo Oceania Limited were approved in August 2020 as the Local Chapters for Argentina and Oceania, respectively.
- They are considered to be the first two non-European Local Chapters.
- OSGEO Oceania is the first supranational Local Chapter.
On supranational Local Chapters
The topic of supranational LCs was discussed by OSMF and board members and the Oceania application was approved with the agreement that OSGEO Oceania will up a page about their Local Chapter status, including a note about how they welcome the formation of more Local Chapters within Oceania; combined with an "official" e-mail to the OSMF board that they will keep that note online.
Swiss Local Chapter: Update of bylaws
The Swiss OpenStreetMap Association updated their bylaws: DE, EN.
German Local Chapter: Position on OSMF hiring staff
FOSSGIS position on OSMF hiring staff.
Status of open applications
| Country | Organisation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| United States | OpenStreetMap United States Inc. | In progress - membership and local community consultation phase. |
| Slovakia | Freemap Slovakia | In progress |
| Kosovo | Free Libre Open Source Software Kosova | In progress |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | OpenStreetMap RDC | Open |
| Uganda | OpenStreetMap Uganda | Open |
| Japan | OpenStreetMap Foundation Japan | Dormant - expression of interest to be restarted |
Current Local Chapters
| Argentina * | Asociación Civil Geolibres | application docs |
| Belgium | OpenStreetMap Belgium | application docs |
| Czechia | OpenStreetMap Česká republika z.s. | application docs |
| France | OpenStreetMap France | application docs |
| Germany | OpenStreetMap Deutschland / FOSSGIS | application docs |
| Iceland | OpenStreetMap á Íslandi | application docs |
| Italy | OpenStreetMap Italia | application docs |
| Ireland | OpenStreetMap Ireland | application docs |
| Oceania * | OSGeo Oceania Limited | application docs |
| Switzerland | Swiss OpenStreetMap Association | application docs |
| United Kingdom | OpenStreetMap United Kingdom | application docs |
* Recently approved, signatures pending.
Local Chapter representative on the Advisory Board
Each formally established Local Chapter can have one representative on the Advisory Board that the OSMF Board of Directors can consult.
More information about Local Chapters
Local Chapters section on the OSMF website.
Becoming a Local Chapter
If you or your organisation are interested in the topic please see the resources below.
Contact
Please see the "Local Chapters and Communities Working Group" section, above.
Next Local Chapters Congress
On 21 November 2020, online. More information will be provided by the LCCWG - stay tuned.