<div dir="ltr">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.<div>
<br></div><div>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? </div>
<div><br></div><div>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? :)</div><div><br></div><div>- Dan</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 8:42 AM, Gavin Fleming <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:GavinF@mintek.co.za">GavinF@mintek.co.za</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
This thread has been doing the rounds on the conference_dev list as well<br>
<br>
Some of my thoughts in the aftermath of FOSS4G 2008.<br>
<br>
I have heard very positive feedback from all quarters. As Arnulf alluded<br>
to in the AGM, I believe the decision to host in an 'untested' location<br>
WORKED. The mix of FOSS and proprietary worlds WORKED. The mix of the<br>
full-spectrum ecosystem from geek to user to academic to businessperson<br>
to government official WORKED.<br>
<br>
It WORKED on so many levels we'll be seeing positive spin-offs for years<br>
to come.<br>
<br>
Business people loved meeting developers and picking up the sense of<br>
community.<br>
<br>
Developers loved being with other developers and interacting with users<br>
and funders. And we did manage a code sprint of around 40 people.<br>
<a href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G2008_CodeSprint" target="_blank">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G2008_CodeSprint</a><br>
<br>
Cost:<br>
-Registration was well within the limits set by OSGeo of $600. It was<br>
NOT the deciding factor for most people. Academics and students got 50%<br>
discount, but these were a minority.<br>
-Travel was THE deciding factor.<br>
-Accommodation: yes, 'official' hotels where our agents got block<br>
bookings were not exactly budget prices (global tourist destination in<br>
high season) but we advertised and listed many links for organising<br>
one's own cheap accommodation from backpackers to B&Bs. So that should<br>
not have been a factor.<br>
-with more sponsorship we would have loved to support those who could<br>
not afford it. Luckily many who asked made a plan of their own.<br>
<br>
By its nature, a moving conference will be expensive to get to from many<br>
places. But it will be cheap and accessible to regional attendees and<br>
that's the point. That's part of OSGeo's mission.<br>
<br>
The value of bringing FOSS4G to South Africa (or Sydney or other future<br>
global venues) far outweighs the 'cost' to a few who could not make it.<br>
Sydney will be in the same boat next year - far from almost everywhere.<br>
But they're already focussing on Australia/NZ and Southeast Asia. And a<br>
core contingent of OSGeo techies WILL make it to FOSS4G each year. And<br>
there you have the magic mix.<br>
<br>
So, from me:<br>
-keep FOSS4G roaming the globe annually<br>
-stimulate and support local or regional events whenever and wherever<br>
they emerge<br>
-keep the FOSS4G mix as it is - don't split along a perceived<br>
technical-business divide.<br>
-put out RFPs even earlier to allow time to secure cheap venues, big<br>
sponsorships, optimal scheduling, etc. A case in point is<br>
<a href="http://www.igarss09.org/" target="_blank">http://www.igarss09.org/</a> where the conference was awarded years back<br>
enabling the hosting of thousands at a cheap venue (university).<br>
<br>
Gavin Fleming<br>
<br>
<br>
This message is intended for the addressee only.<br>
Information and attachments in this e-mail may contain confidential, proprietary, or legally privileged information.<br>
If you are not the intended recipient, or responsible for delivery of the message to the intended recipient,<br>
any disclosure, copying, distribution, or any action taken is prohibited and may be unlawful,<br>
and could result in a claim against you.<br>
<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Discuss mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Discuss@lists.osgeo.org">Discuss@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss" target="_blank">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss</a><br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Daniel P. Ames PhD, PE<br>Department of Geosciences<br>Idaho State University - Idaho Falls<br><a href="mailto:amesdani@isu.edu">amesdani@isu.edu</a><br><a href="http://www.MapWindow.org">www.MapWindow.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.Hydromap.com">www.Hydromap.com</a><br>
</div></div>