[OSGeo-Conf] FOSS4G Discount for Charter Members proposal

[Cameron Shorter]

I'm open to the idea of providing benefits to osgeo charter members, but 
suggest having an early bird discount apply to all ticket categories. 
I'd suggest something like a 5% discount for charter member tickets instead.

Note: conferences organisors need to decide whether they will also give 
such a discount to professional bodies as well (such as professional 
institute of surveyors). Such organisations often aggressively request a 
discount for their members in return for publicising foss4g to their 
membership.

There is a very important reason conferences have a early bird discount. 
It means that conference organisors get an early indication of the 
number of attendees coming to the conference. This helps significantly 
with regards to making financial decisions about the conference. In 
particular, it enables organisors to decide to cancel the conference 
before having to lock into key financial commitments and potentially 
sending OSGeo bankrupt. This was very important for us in FOSS4G 2009, 
the year of the global financial crisis, when registrations were much 
lower than expected. At the early bird deadline, we were aware that we 
had enough people attending that we would loose less money by going 
ahead than if we cancelled, so we went ahead. Without that confidence, 
we likely would have decided to cancel the conference. (In the end more 
people did register, and we were just able to make a modest profit.)

On 14/08/2014 4:56 am, Kate Chapman wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I think the comparison between the SotM model and the FOSS4G model is 
> interesting, but it is important to think about the financial 
> objectives of each conference. My understanding was that FOSS4G 
> provides most of the funding for OSGEO over the year, this isn't the 
> case for SotM. Though successful sponsorship programs could possibly 
> make up the difference between the discounted tickets.
>
> One note, I've worked for a few organizations that have paid my ticket 
> for SotM. I've also paid the mapper price myself previously as well. I 
> would have not been able to get them to pay for FOSS4G though. Some of 
> you may have noticed I have given a workshop every year I've attended 
> FOSS4G. I would not be able to attend otherwise. Not that it is 
> conceivable for everyone to give a workshop to be able to attend.
>
> Best,
>
> -Kate
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 13, 2014 at 11:46 AM, Daniel Kastl <daniel at georepublic.de 
> <mailto:daniel at georepublic.de>> wrote:
>
>
>         SotM finances are based on the expectation that most people
>         attending will be 'mappers' who pay the lower rate, I doubt
>         they make much money from the business tickets.
>
>
>     Hi Steven,
>
>     I agree that SotM is a bit extreme in the price difference. It
>     doesn't need to be that much. But I can speak for SotM Tokyo,
>     where I was involved, and there were more business tickets sold
>     than I expected and they made up a large share of the total
>     revenue through ticket sales.
>
>     My main point is, that for delegates, who get paid the conference
>     by their employer, a slightly higher price doesn't really matter
>     (it's just a fraction of the total cost anyway), because they just
>     pass the costs to the employer. For the employer it has a value,
>     if one can see the company name on the badge.
>     But someone from nearby for example or tries to keep the travel
>     costs low and takes a holiday to attend FOSS4G, such a discounted
>     community ticket makes a difference, whether the person is a
>     charter member or not.
>     I think we should strengthen the value of the community, not the
>     "club" of charter members. ;-)
>
>     Daniel
>     -- 
>     Georepublic UG & Georepublic Japan
>     eMail: daniel.kastl at georepublic.de
>     <mailto:daniel.kastl at georepublic.de>
>     Web: http://georepublic.info
>
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>
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-- 
Cameron Shorter,
Software and Data Solutions Manager
LISAsoft
Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009

P +61 2 9009 5000,  W www.lisasoft.com,  F +61 2 9009 5099

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