I'll make another plug for Helena's suggestion on the conference list that an International FOSS4g be offered every other year. In alternate years members would be encouraged to run regional and/or project specific small conferences... - Dan
On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 12:04 PM, Landon Blake <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I really think the best solution to this issue would be smaller, regional > conferences. Perhaps this could be an issue that could be tackled by local > OSGeo Chapters? > > > > It would be cool if we could get a point location and radius of acceptable > travel from each OSGeo member. You could then determine which host cities > for a local or regional conference would impact the most users. > > > > Landon > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] *On Behalf Of *Daniel Ames > *Sent:* Tuesday, October 07, 2008 10:49 AM > *To:* OSGeo Discussions > *Cc:* conference_dev > *Subject:* Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] some post-FOSS4G thoughts > > > > Another consideration: my students who attended last week said that the mix > of GISSA with FOSS4g was EXCELLENT. The really liked having the business > GIS users/non-FOSS people there. In fact, doing a joint conference like this > gave the FOSS folks lots of great proselytizing opportunities that they > wouldn't otherwise have. So that was a GREAT idea the South Africa group > had. Good job. > > > > One more thing... We should be careful talking about having conferences > "closer". Come on folks, as geo-people you all know that "closer" is > relative to your datum... There is a huge growing GIS interest in China > right now. Wouldn't it be cool to have FOSS4g there one year? > > > > So a public "Thanks" to the SA organizers, and a "Good luck!" to the > Aussies... and as for 2010? Anyone interested in Beijing? How about Idaho? > :) > > > > - Dan > > > > > > > > On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 8:42 AM, Gavin Fleming <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This thread has been doing the rounds on the conference_dev list as well > > Some of my thoughts in the aftermath of FOSS4G 2008. > > I have heard very positive feedback from all quarters. As Arnulf alluded > to in the AGM, I believe the decision to host in an 'untested' location > WORKED. The mix of FOSS and proprietary worlds WORKED. The mix of the > full-spectrum ecosystem from geek to user to academic to businessperson > to government official WORKED. > > It WORKED on so many levels we'll be seeing positive spin-offs for years > to come. > > Business people loved meeting developers and picking up the sense of > community. > > Developers loved being with other developers and interacting with users > and funders. And we did manage a code sprint of around 40 people. > http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G2008_CodeSprint > > Cost: > -Registration was well within the limits set by OSGeo of $600. It was > NOT the deciding factor for most people. Academics and students got 50% > discount, but these were a minority. > -Travel was THE deciding factor. > -Accommodation: yes, 'official' hotels where our agents got block > bookings were not exactly budget prices (global tourist destination in > high season) but we advertised and listed many links for organising > one's own cheap accommodation from backpackers to B&Bs. So that should > not have been a factor. > -with more sponsorship we would have loved to support those who could > not afford it. Luckily many who asked made a plan of their own. > > By its nature, a moving conference will be expensive to get to from many > places. But it will be cheap and accessible to regional attendees and > that's the point. That's part of OSGeo's mission. > > The value of bringing FOSS4G to South Africa (or Sydney or other future > global venues) far outweighs the 'cost' to a few who could not make it. > Sydney will be in the same boat next year - far from almost everywhere. > But they're already focussing on Australia/NZ and Southeast Asia. And a > core contingent of OSGeo techies WILL make it to FOSS4G each year. And > there you have the magic mix. > > So, from me: > -keep FOSS4G roaming the globe annually > -stimulate and support local or regional events whenever and wherever > they emerge > -keep the FOSS4G mix as it is - don't split along a perceived > technical-business divide. > -put out RFPs even earlier to allow time to secure cheap venues, big > sponsorships, optimal scheduling, etc. A case in point is > http://www.igarss09.org/ where the conference was awarded years back > enabling the hosting of thousands at a cheap venue (university). > > Gavin Fleming > > > This message is intended for the addressee only. > Information and attachments in this e-mail may contain confidential, > proprietary, or legally privileged information. > If you are not the intended recipient, or responsible for delivery of the > message to the intended recipient, > any disclosure, copying, distribution, or any action taken is prohibited > and may be unlawful, > and could result in a claim against you. > > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > -- > Daniel P. Ames PhD, PE > Department of Geosciences > Idaho State University - Idaho Falls > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.MapWindow.org > www.Hydromap.com > > > *Warning: > *Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against > defects including translation and transmission errors. If the reader is not > the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, > distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If > you have received this information in error, please notify the sender > immediately. > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > -- Daniel P. Ames PhD, PE Department of Geosciences Idaho State University - Idaho Falls [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.MapWindow.org www.Hydromap.com
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