1) Lionel is correct to suggest that some-or-most of the $2800 could disappear, if France rejects visas (every reasonably-priced flight is non-refundable in 2017; these funds would be lost). Not at all an abstract hypothetical: France's visa approval process may require the flight be purchased in advance, and Samson's expenses traveling around Nigeria (flights, hotels etc) just to get a visa potentially be lost as well.
In any case, I cannot count the number of times this has happened to good people with the *Very Best of Intentions*, people I've known to be the purest souls, whose visa AND flight funds completely disappeared as a result of their overseas visas/entry being rejected, based on one mysterious technicality or another. Worse yet: the (presumed, but not quite!) attendee generally has to pay for all lost funds themselves in such situations, as compensation is not possible when the conference/event was not in fact attended. 2) $2800 is far too high of a sum for Sugar Labs to gamble on such an uncertain outcome. Some of the most productive hackers I know in Haiti live on $1000 per year total (or less). I have flown to work with them and similar/such people on other continents over the past year, where the grand total cost was less than $500 (Asia and Europe) in all cases, by staying in other hackers/contributors homes. Conversely, flying to the EU mid-summer in the height of tourist season, is about as expensive as it gets. As such, a more financially judicious gamble might involve a carefully thought-out proposal for one single individual to attend. Likely an individual who has the strongest track record of getting EU visas approved? Or perhaps an individual who has established contacts / diplomatic connections within the French government, a high-level contact who cares about children and free software etc, to guarantee the visa will be approved? 3) Laura Vargas is correct SFC cannot generally provide funds in advance, so the mechanics of this entire proposal remain unclear. Not reassuring when flight prices are already rising less than 2 months before the event. But possibly a (presumed) attendee can arrange a personal loan from a friend, to cover all funds in advance, to be reimbursed by SFC later if nothing goes wrong with the visa? 4) If an improved proposal is indeed appropriate at this late stage, what community deliverables/artifacts will the attendee(s) publish and/or contribute in the end, preferably on the public record for all to share? ASIDE: What is the exact/estimated total that Scratch itself has offered to contribute? On Sat, May 20, 2017 at 12:13 PM, Sameer Verma <[email protected]> wrote: > +1 > > Sameer > > On May 19, 2017 9:01 AM, "Walter Bender" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> +1 >> >> On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 11:56 AM, Sameer Verma <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I second. >>> >>> Sameer >>> >>> On May 19, 2017 5:50 AM, "Walter Bender" <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Perhaps someone can second the motion so we can begin voting? >>> >>> On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 4:28 AM, Samson Goddy <[email protected] >>> > wrote: >>> >>>> Thank you all for the positive comments. But i am little sad that since >>>> wednesday, only one vote has been made. Where we have 7 SLOBs member in >>>> this community. I am pleading to other SLOBs member to come and vote, so >>>> that i and Ibiam can have idea what to do next if this motion passes or >>>> not. Because if this motion pass, we will have to wait for SFC 30 days >>>> policy. >>>> >>>> >>>> Regards >>>> Samson Goddy >>>> >>>> On Thu, May 18, 2017 at 1:49 AM, Ignacio RodrÃguez < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi everyone >>>>> >>>>> It's +1 from me :) >>>>> I've seen some pictures on Facebok and I love what you both are doing, >>>>> awesome work, Samson and Ibiam. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> Ignacio.- >>>>> >>>>> On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 8:27 PM, Avni Khatri <[email protected] >>>>> > wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Same. Not a member of SLOB but agree it's a well written proposal. +1 >>>>>> >>>>>> On May 17, 2017, at 7:23 PM, Caryl Bigenho <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> This is a well thought out proposal for a worthy project. I am not a >>>>>> member of the SLOB so I can't vote. But I do hope it is approved. >>>>>> >>>>>> Caryl >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>> On May 17, 2017, at 11:31 AM, Walter Bender <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Samson and Ibiam are seeking funds to cover part of the cost to >>>>>> attend the Scratch Conference in Bordeaux France in July to promote >>>>>> Sugar. >>>>>> The detailed proposal is here [1]. >>>>>> >>>>>> Motion: Sugar Labs agrees to cover up to US$2800 for expenses related >>>>>> to traveling to the Scratch2017BDX, 17th to 22nd of July, 2017 for Samson >>>>>> Goddy and Ibiam Chihurumnaya. >>>>>> >>>>>> [1] https://docs.google.com/document/d/152VDfUcdcGOHOFBLT3lG >>>>>> 15sUFpzBeuBCGiNAGCSOLj4/edit?usp=sharing >>>>>> >>>>>> regards. >>>>>> >>>>>> -walter >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Walter Bender >>>>>> Sugar Labs >>>>>> http://www.sugarlabs.org >>>>>> <http://www.sugarlabs.org> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> SLOBs mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/slobs >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Walter Bender >>> Sugar Labs >>> http://www.sugarlabs.org >>> <http://www.sugarlabs.org> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) >>> [email protected] >>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Walter Bender >> Sugar Labs >> http://www.sugarlabs.org >> <http://www.sugarlabs.org> >> > > _______________________________________________ > IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) > [email protected] > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep > > -- > Unsung Heroes of OLPC, interviewed live @ http://unleashkids.org ! > <http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep>
_______________________________________________ IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) [email protected] http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep
