[OSGeo-Discuss] some post-FOSS4G thoughts

Tue Oct 7 10:59:26 PDT 2008

I don't think this is really fair on the organizers, if you don't have 
time to do a Google search for accommodation or follow one low traffic 
mailing list (open source people are mostly following or actively 
participating on multiple e-mail lists), then how do you find the time 
to actually attend the full conference week at all.

Every trip needs some preparation, which you need to be prepared to put 
into it.

I do agree that it might have been easier if those options had been 
listed (but on the other hand I also understand the commercial reasons 
behind them not being listed),.

Best regards,
Bart

Laura Toma wrote:
>
> Registration + hotel represent 1/2 of the 
> price of the trip. So together they WERE a deciding factor.    I am 
> always too busy, so browsing the discuss lists and the web for B&B in 
> Cape Town was not an option.   If the conference is not targeted 
> towards business,  then the conference accommodation site should 
> include budget hotels (the 5-star hotels can circulate on the discuss 
> lists for those interested). 
>
> -Laura 
>
>
>
> On Oct 7, 2008, at 10:46 AM, discuss-request at lists.osgeo.org 
> <mailto:discuss-request at lists.osgeo.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> Message: 6
>>
>> Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 16:42:47 +0200
>>
>> From: "Gavin Fleming" <GavinF at mintek.co.za <mailto:GavinF at mintek.co.za>>
>>
>> Subject: RE: [OSGeo-Discuss] some post-FOSS4G thoughts
>>
>> To: <cavallini at faunalia.it <mailto:cavallini at faunalia.it>>, "OSGeo 
>> Discussions"
>>
>> <discuss at lists.osgeo.org <mailto:discuss at lists.osgeo.org>>, 
>> "conference_dev"
>>
>> <conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org <mailto:conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org>>
>>
>> Message-ID:
>>
>> <EFD5295367266842A4FA779F598ED36905817777 at mail.mintek.ac.za 
>> <mailto:EFD5295367266842A4FA779F598ED36905817777 at mail.mintek.ac.za>>
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>>
>> This thread has been doing the rounds on the conference_dev list as well
>>
>>
>> Some of my thoughts in the aftermath of FOSS4G 2008.
>>
>>
>> I have heard very positive feedback from all quarters. As Arnulf alluded
>>
>> to in the AGM, I believe the decision to host in an 'untested' location
>>
>> WORKED. The mix of FOSS and proprietary worlds WORKED. The mix of the
>>
>> full-spectrum ecosystem from geek to user to academic to businessperson
>>
>> to government official WORKED.
>>
>>
>> It WORKED on so many levels we'll be seeing positive spin-offs for years
>>
>> to come. 
>>
>>
>> Business people loved meeting developers and picking up the sense of
>>
>> community.
>>
>>
>> Developers loved being with other developers and interacting with users
>>
>> and funders.  And we did manage a code sprint of around 40 people.
>>
>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G2008_CodeSprint 
>>
>>
>> Cost:
>>
>> -Registration was well within the limits set by OSGeo of $600. It was
>>
>> NOT the deciding factor for most people. Academics and students got 50%
>>
>> discount, but these were a minority. 
>>
>> -Travel was THE deciding factor.
>>
>> -Accommodation: yes, 'official' hotels where our agents got block
>>
>> bookings were not exactly budget prices (global tourist destination in
>>
>> high season) but we advertised and listed many links for organising
>>
>> one's own cheap accommodation from backpackers to B&Bs. So that should
>>
>> not have been a factor.
>>
>> -with more sponsorship we would have loved to support those who could
>>
>> not afford it. Luckily many who asked made a plan of their own.
>>
>>
>> By its nature, a moving conference will be expensive to get to from many
>>
>> places. But it will be cheap and accessible to regional attendees and
>>
>> that's the point. That's part of OSGeo's mission. 
>>
>>
>> The value of bringing FOSS4G to South Africa (or Sydney or other future
>>
>> global venues) far outweighs the 'cost' to a few who could not make it.
>>
>> Sydney will be in the same boat next year - far from almost everywhere.
>>
>> But they're already focussing on Australia/NZ and Southeast Asia. And a
>>
>> core contingent of OSGeo techies WILL make it to FOSS4G each year. And
>>
>> there you have the magic mix.
>>
>>
>> So, from me:
>>
>> -keep FOSS4G roaming the globe annually
>>
>> -stimulate and support local or regional events whenever and wherever
>>
>> they emerge
>>
>> -keep the FOSS4G mix as it is - don't split along a perceived
>>
>> technical-business divide. 
>>
>> -put out RFPs even earlier to allow time to secure cheap venues, big
>>
>> sponsorships, optimal scheduling, etc. A case in point is
>>
>> http://www.igarss09.org/ where the conference was awarded years back
>>
>> enabling the hosting of thousands at a cheap venue (university).  
>>
>>
>> Gavin Fleming 
>>
>>
>>
>
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-- 
Bart van den Eijnden
OSGIS, Open Source GIS
bartvde at osgis.nl
http://www.osgis.nl