[OSGeo-Discuss] West Coast USA Conference

[Alex Mandel]

On 05/07/2013 06:54 PM, Landon Blake wrote:
> I've been tossing around the idea of organizing an open source GIS
> conference on the USA West Coast. I'd thought it would be good to bounce
> that idea by this general discussion list.
>
> I think the organization of a conference could be spearheaded by the
> California Chapter under my lead. I know the PDX chapter is also on the
> West Coast and may be interested.
>
> If we couldn't swing a self-hosted event I think there is a good change I
> could get a day on the program of the California/Nevada land surveyors
> conference, which is usually in Reno every spring. This would greatly
> reduce the cost, and would have the added benefit of bringing in some extra
> revenue to the surveying conference. I have some connections with the
> California surveying organization that puts on the Reno conference and I
> serve on their GIS Committee. I would be able to explore this option with
> them.
>
> Please let me know if you would be interested in helping me organize a one
> or two day event on the West Coast. If there is enough support, I'll open a
> more detailed discussion on the California Chapter mailing list, and will
> try to see if there are enough volunteers to form a West Coast conference
> committee.
>
> My employer might be willing to help sponsor some of the costs for a
> smaller self-hosted event for 50 to 100 people.
>
> I don't want this to take the steam out of a national USA FOSS4G
> conference. But I think there is a good opportunity to capture the interest
> of local folks that won't attend a national conference, especially in the
> Silicon Valley. Perhaps we could coordinate with the USA FOSS4G folks to
> have an event in California every two or three years?
>
> Please share your thoughts.
>
> Landon
>

I think you should try to organize a committee to bring Foss4g NA to the 
west coast. Northern California, Oregon or Washington all have a decent 
number of folks to help with that. Not sure if next years location has 
already been selected yet or not.

Thanks,
Alex