> > We have a number of our own folks that would do just fine. Insofar as > > ESR, Stallman or the like, usually these guys like to have their > > expenses covered don't they?
> If you can get local guys to commit that's great. We had a hard time > filling up the speaking track last year. I just wanted to throw this out > there as we had contemplated it. Yes, some do ask for all expenses paid > including airfare. Some don't. I think we were going to get [the speaker] > on the cheap but something fell through on their end. We had tried last year to have Convergence pay for the expenses of the speaker, which they were willing to do. Due to unforseen changes in the events company presenting and organizing Convergence, this did not happen. As for whether or not the current events coordinators for the show will pay for such a speaker is unknown. Please realize that if there are any hopes for a speaker such as Eric Raymond to appear at Convergence, several months of advance notice need to be given to booth the Convergence staff, and the speaker themself. They lead extremely busy lives and are usually booked sometimes as much as 6 months in advance. I recall hearing these speakers as mentioned above are sometimes willing to accept having their airfare paid, and then staying with a lug member rather then being put up in a hotel. But, this only applies if it's the lug paying for the airfare, and not (as I understood it) if the main event is paying for their appearance. I'm not sure if the members of this years Convergence coordinators are aware and/or familiar with anything within the Open Source Community, therefore I might suggest whomever speaks with the Convergence rep give a brief summary of who this person is, what they have done, how they are represented within the community, and the potential numbers of people who would be interested in attending a lecture by this person. Regards, Mahlah Hansen
