[OSGeo-Discuss] some post-FOSS4G thoughts

[David William Bitner]

Look at the history of the conferences that became FOSS4G.  The original
MapServer Users Conferences in Ottawa and Minneapolis were just planned by
local users groups with no overarching guidance.  One thing to notice is
that in both of these venues, the Universities played a major role which can
help keep costs down for things like labs and the like.
These regional conferences can be run much more on a slim budget and do not
have to have the large sponsors or polish that we have come to expect from
our flagship event.

On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 1:54 PM, Landon Blake <lblake at ksninc.com> wrote:

>  When I think about the possibility of setting up a local or regional
> conference I get a little scared about the unknowns. How do you go about
> locating conference space? Do you approach local hotels and motels about
> discount rooming rates?
>
>
>
> Would it be possible to have a way for the FOSS4G conference folks assist a
> chapter interested in a regional conference?
>
>
>
> Landon
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:
> discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] *On Behalf Of *Chip Taylor
> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 07, 2008 11:20 AM
> *To:* 'OSGeo Discussions'
> *Subject:* RE: [OSGeo-Discuss] some post-FOSS4G thoughts
>
>
>
> I have to agree that something more "local" needs to be offered as well.  I
> attended the Victoria conference and found it to be one of the most useful
> conferences I had attended in many years.  But the cost of an airline ticket
> from Seattle to Capetown was nearly $2,000 US. Flying time to Capetown was
> on the order of 24 hours and returning the flying time was over 31 hours.
> That's 55 hours of grueling travel time, not to mention airport time. Add in
> the hotel/B&B/tent/sleeping on the street, food and the conference fees you
> are talking a good bit of expense here.   In both cash and time, this was
> just too prohibitive.  My company would have rejected it outright and I
> certainly could not have afforded it from my own funds.
>
>
>
> I hope to attend a FOSS4G conference again, but I am afraid with world
> finances the way they are, as well as airline situations, it will be quite a
> few years before I can do that.
>
>
>
> Chip Taylor
>
> Prepared Response, Inc
>
> Tacoma, WA
>
>
>
> *From:* discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:
> discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] *On Behalf Of *Daniel Ames
> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 07, 2008 11:08 AM
> *To:* OSGeo Discussions
> *Subject:* Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] some post-FOSS4G thoughts
>
>
>
> I'll make another plug for Helena's suggestion on the conference list that
> an International FOSS4g be offered every other year. In alternate years
> members would be encouraged to run regional and/or project specific small
> conferences... - Dan
>
> On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 12:04 PM, Landon Blake <lblake at ksninc.com> wrote:
>
> I really think the best solution to this issue would be smaller, regional
> conferences. Perhaps this could be an issue that could be tackled by local
> OSGeo Chapters?
>
>
>
> It would be cool if we could get a point location and radius of acceptable
> travel from each OSGeo member. You could then determine which host cities
> for a local or regional conference would impact the most users.
>
>
>
> Landon
>
>
>
>
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-- 
************************************
David William Bitner
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