<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"
http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Cameron, All<br>
<br>
Please see in-line<br>
<br>
On 09/14/2012 04:41 AM, Cameron Shorter wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:5052EDC3.4040803@gmail.com" type="cite">
<meta content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"
http-equiv="Content-Type">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Andrew,<br>
Thanks for providing some starting ideas to work from. I'll
float a few more discussion points and suggestions.<br>
<br>
The FOSS4G brand is now being applied to multiple location based
events, and we should discuss what level of involvement
LocationTech would want with each.<br>
These are:<br>
1. The International FOSS4G (in Nottingham in 2013) drawing 500
- 900<br>
2. Regional FOSS4G events (such as FOSS4G-NA and FOSS4G-CEE)
drawing 100 - 800<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
It'd be pretty cool to have an annual FOSS4G North America &
FOSS4G Europe IMHO.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:5052EDC3.4040803@gmail.com" type="cite">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"> 3. Local events or steams within
larger events<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
I've organized some of these myself for OSGeo and been involved with
others. In my experience, not a lot of staff support is needed...
maybe a little help promoting them, finding some complementary
sponsors and speakers.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:5052EDC3.4040803@gmail.com" type="cite">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"> <br>
An issue raised in prior FOSS4G analysis' is the loss of
knowledge between conferences. Developing a Cookbook will help
address this, but another very positive contribution would be to
have a paid FOSS4G coordinator position, which would support the
LOC.<br>
I could see such a position being provided by
Eclipse/LocationTech, and being a very valuable role. Would this
be of interest?<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
I can foresee the Foundation employing someone for LocationTech
events as we do for EclipseCon today. If these events are co-hosted
or the same as FOSS4G, then this makes a lot of sense and would add
a strong element of continuity between events.<br>
<br>
They'd be part of a larger team thus have easy access to deep
collective experience. Drawing upon the larger team for the
time/energy peaks for each event may also be possible.<br>
<br>
The event team work closely with the business team for sponsorship,
financial services/accounting, etc. The marketing team for
promotion. And of course the legal team are pulled in as needed for
contracts.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:5052EDC3.4040803@gmail.com" type="cite">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"> <br>
More inline ...<br>
<br>
On 13/09/2012 11:37 AM, Andrew Ross wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAPZBXqnFU_cTs4ErBEdqitrwuP1Vzabzt+pcbJ4sa8jzKtCAjg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Cameron,<br>
<br>
There's a spectrum of possibilities. Here are 3 possible points
that could serve as landmarks for discussion.<br>
<br>
<b>Full Service</b><br>
<br>
For the Eclipse community the Foundation runs 2 big conferences
a year. One in North America and one in Europe. They tend not to
move around as much as FOSS4G has. They tend to be in very
accessible locations thus outreach does not appear to suffer.
Fewer variables changing from year to year (suppliers, venue,
air/train/and other transportation, etc.) help to de-risk the
event and continually enhance it over time.<br>
<br>
This service includes the items you mention and more. The
program committee controls the content and consists of community
members & esteemed guests. The program is strictly detached
from sponsorship or membership. The heavy lifting of running a
good show is done by dedicated staff. "profits" are the return,
"losses" the ever present risk.<br>
<br>
We could do the same for combined FOSS4G + LocationTech events.
Naturally, others would be welcome also.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I expect that FOSS4G events would not gain much by handing over
complete control to Eclipse. It would be desirable to continue to
make use of our OSGeo volunteers who have been doing a great job
running conferences to date, however it would be good to provide a
level of backup from an Eclipse staff.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Can you think of specific items that are important in this regard? <br>
<br>
For example, negotiating venue contracts, A/V contracts, catering,
printing, decorating, etc. etc. I'm guessing the organizing
committee would want to be aware and have input but frankly leave
much of the execution work here to staff.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:5052EDC3.4040803@gmail.com" type="cite"> <br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAPZBXqnFU_cTs4ErBEdqitrwuP1Vzabzt+pcbJ4sa8jzKtCAjg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite"> <br>
<b>Strategic Partner</b><br>
<br>
A more limited role, where we take on a portion of the risk by
guaranteeing a level of sponsorship & registrations from
LocationTech - basically a level larger than any single
organization would bring & possibly growing in time as we
have a benchmark for comparison. We would also promote the
event. This is in exchange for benefits such as discounts for
our members. I had support for this idea.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I think this would be valuable and well worth progressing.<br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAPZBXqnFU_cTs4ErBEdqitrwuP1Vzabzt+pcbJ4sa8jzKtCAjg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite"> <br>
<b>Sponsor</b><br>
<br>
An even more limited role would be if we decide to sponsor.<br>
<br>
<br>
There's no need to talk about LocationTech as a sponsor... we'd
be just another sponsor to FOSS4G and FOSS4G just another event
to LocationTech thus straight forward.<br>
<br>
If the first two options sound interesting, a conference call
might be a suitable next step. <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Yes, lets see where this conversation goes on email, the set
something up in a couple of weeks or so.<br>
(Probably on IRC)<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
+1<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:5052EDC3.4040803@gmail.com" type="cite"> <br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAPZBXqnFU_cTs4ErBEdqitrwuP1Vzabzt+pcbJ4sa8jzKtCAjg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite"> <br>
Andrew<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 12 September 2012 18:35, Cameron
Shorter <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:cameron.shorter@gmail.com" target="_blank">cameron.shorter@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Andrew,<br>
Thank you for your recent suggestions. Selection of
conference website software is very topical. It was one of
the suggestions brought up is discussions following foss4g
2012 analysis.<br>
<br>
I'm keen to expand our conversation between
Eclipse/LocationTech and OSGeo in relation to FOSS4G.<br>
I understand that LocationTech has a strong interest in
being involved in spatial conferences, which I think has the
potential to be very positive.<br>
As we are starting to document our FOSS4G processes, I think
the time is right to start solidifying how LocationTech
would be involved in a FOSS4G series.<br>
For instance, it will be very helpful to know if
LocationTech would wish to provide assistance to conferences
by providing web site support, or maybe a dedicated staff
member, or maybe financial support. If such support were
provided, what would LocationTech be looking for in return?<br>
<br>
Andrew,<br>
How would you like to progress such a conversation?
<div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5"><br>
<br>
On 12/09/2012 11:45 PM, Andrew Ross wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"> Hi
All,<br>
<br>
In case it is helpful:<br>
<br>
Like many others, Eclipse uses the Drupal based
Conference Organizing Distribution (COD) <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.usecod.com/"
target="_blank">http://www.usecod.com/</a> for
EclipseCon and EclipseCon Europe.<br>
<br>
In addition to the many useful features, we find it
helps reduce effort, risk, and speeds up getting
quality/consistent event sites up.<br>
<br>
Andrew<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br>
</body>
</html>