Re: [Wikimania-l] Discussion Room 2017

[Marc-Andre]

On 2016-08-10 02:48 PM, Sydney Poore wrote:

There are key difference from having a topic interest group hold a 
session to talk informally among themselves, and the way that the 
critical discussions are done.


I'm honestly not sure I see the difference, but I'm happy to accommodate 
what is perceived to be a need by the community.


None of current proportion of presentation vs workshops vs etc. is set 
in stone: they will be adjusted according to the respective number of 
submissions, inter alia.  I'm more than happy to include "discussions" 
explicitly in the CFP if the need is felt.


But just to make this clear: BoF sessions are no more nor less formal 
than any other session, and are first class citizens of the programme.  
The only thing "informal" about them is that there is no committee 
selection process:  so long as it is on-topic, it will be welcome.  (If 
there are more requests than we are able to accommodate[1], slots will 
be allocated on the basis of expected audience with any overflow invited 
to use the unconference spaces).


-- Marc



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Re: [Wikimania-l] Discussion Room 2017

[Marc-Andre]

Hey Leila,


On 2016-08-10 01:08 AM, Leila Zia wrote:
Are we considering to not continue the support for the Discussion 
Rooms idea as suggested 
 
in Wikimania London and explored in London, Mexico City, and Esino 
Lario? If so, can you expand why? Quite a few of the Discussion 
sessions in Esino Lario were very well attended, the participants took 
active role in these sessions, and the general sentiment that I got 
from these sessions was that they were helpful. 


I'm not sure how you get to that conclusion - BoF sessions are a more 
general concept that encompasses discussions neatly; I'm not sure why 
you feel that does not provide support?


Perhaps there is an aspect I didn't understand.  What's missing?

-- Marc

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Re: [Wikimania-l] Wikimania - annually, with South Africa in 2018?

[Marc-Andre]

On 2016-07-12 07:46 AM, Harry Mitchell wrote:
but or future organisers who find that they can't hold down a job, get 
a healthy amount of sleep, *and* organise Wikimania.




My (very new) employer has been made aware of my plans for the next year 
during the hiring process and specific allowances were negotiated for 
that reason - but it's unlikely that many/most people who want to 
organize a Wikimania are in as flexible a position.


I'm al for professional hep, but I'm a little concerned that entirely 
professionalizing the setup and design of a Wikimania would remove its 
soul.  I certainly would not have done things the way they did in Esino 
Lario - but it very much *was* a Wikimania in soul and heart.  Montreal 
is going to have its own flavour - quite distinct from the previous 12 - 
but it is going to be recognizable as a Wikimania because it's 
ultimately the community driving it.


I'm not saying we couldn't do better at organizational memory, or 
logistical support - but farming out Wikimania to contractors would kill 
it I believe.


-- Marc


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Re: [Wikimania-l] Wikimania - annually, with South Africa in 2018?

[Marc-Andre]

Hey Christophe,

On 2016-07-10 02:05 AM, Christophe Henner wrote:


Second, what is Wikimania purposes? Right now I fear there is none 
clearly define.


Is it a community event?
Is it a knowledge sharing event?
Is it an outreaching event?
Is it a way to reward people?
...

One has to be define, a main one.



Why?  It has, historically, been all of the above and much of its value 
derive from the fact that this is the case.  What value is gained from 
restricting its scope?


-- Marc


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Re: [Wikimania-l] Wikimania - annually, with South Africa in 2018?

[Marc-Andre]

On 2016-07-08 10:33 AM, Lodewijk wrote:
There is only one body that can make funding commitments: the WMF 
board of trustees. However, theoretically, Wikimania doesn't have to 
stand or fall with WMF funding.


That is true, although it would certainly require reexamination of the 
scope of the conference.  Hypothetically, the chapters may be able to 
take over some of the burden as well.


I suppose you could read the decision of the committee as "we'll do our 
best to keep one even a year as long as we are able to rather than 
actually attempt to only set one up every other year".


-- Coren / Marc


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Re: [Wikimania-l] Planning for North America track at Wikimania 2017

[Marc-Andre]

On 2016-07-06 04:49 PM, Pine W wrote:
If I'm understanding right, it appears that the pre-conference will be 
Wednesday and Thursday, since the main conference starts on Friday 
(August 11). Is that right?


That is correct.

I'd be willing to help with organizing pre-conference sessions and 
events. The conference committee is welcome to contact me off-list to 
discuss this further. (:


Wikimedia France has agreed to coordinate the programme construction, 
I'm certain they would welcome help!  (Though it may be premature, I 
don't yet know exactly how they will structure their work, you may want 
to make your interest in helping known).


-- Coren / Marc


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Re: [Wikimania-l] Planning for North America track at Wikimania 2017

[Marc-Andre]

Hey Pine,

On 2016-07-06 01:44 AM, Pine W wrote:
Those of us in the US have expressed a hope that WikiConference North 
America 2017 can be united with Wikimania 2017 in Montreal.


Like many others on the list, I'm not entirely clear on what you'd like 
to achieve?


Certainly, any topics that would have been welcome and appropriate at a 
the WikiConference would be welcome at Wikimania, with no need of 
distinct tracks?


Certainly, some meetings will have discussion topic that would be 
generally less interesting to an international audience; but then remain 
suitable for meetups.  (Speaking of which, there will be a lot of 
available space and time for both organized and impromptu meetings in 
Montreal that are self-organized by the participants; both BoF sessions 
that are organized in advance with scheduled time and places as well as 
space set aside for unconferency impromptu meetings).


That said, if you feel the need to avoid division of audience, we do 
have two full days of preconference during which it may be possible to 
make additional meeting space avaliable for a more "distinct" 
WikiConference?


-- Coren / Marc


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