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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Landon<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org [mailto:discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Daniel Ames<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, October 07, 2008 10:49
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> OSGeo Discussions<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> conference_dev<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] some
post-FOSS4G thoughts</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Another consideration: my students who attended last week said that the
mix of GISSA with FOSS4g was EXCELLENT. The really liked having the
business GIS users/non-FOSS people there. In fact, doing a joint conference
like this gave the FOSS folks lots of
great proselytizing opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have.
So that was a GREAT idea the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South
Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> group had. Good job.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>One more thing... We should be careful talking about having conferences
"closer". Come on folks, as geo-people you all know that
"closer" is relative to your datum... There is a huge growing
GIS interest in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>
right now. Wouldn't it be cool to have FOSS4g there one year? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>So a public "Thanks" to the SA organizers, and a "Good
luck!" to the Aussies... and as for 2010? Anyone interested in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:City>? How about <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>? :)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>- Dan<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 8:42 AM, Gavin Fleming <<a
href="mailto:GavinF@mintek.co.za">GavinF@mintek.co.za</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>This thread has been doing the rounds on the conference_dev list as
well<br>
<br>
Some of my thoughts in the aftermath of FOSS4G 2008.<br>
<br>
I have heard very positive feedback from all quarters. As Arnulf alluded<br>
to in the AGM, I believe the decision to host in an 'untested' location<br>
WORKED. The mix of FOSS and proprietary worlds WORKED. The mix of the<br>
full-spectrum ecosystem from geek to user to academic to businessperson<br>
to government official WORKED.<br>
<br>
It WORKED on so many levels we'll be seeing positive spin-offs for years<br>
to come.<br>
<br>
Business people loved meeting developers and picking up the sense of<br>
community.<br>
<br>
Developers loved being with other developers and interacting with users<br>
and funders. And we did manage a code sprint of around 40 people.<br>
<a href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G2008_CodeSprint" target="_blank">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G2008_CodeSprint</a><br>
<br>
Cost:<br>
-Registration was well within the limits set by OSGeo of $600. It was<br>
NOT the deciding factor for most people. Academics and students got 50%<br>
discount, but these were a minority.<br>
-Travel was THE deciding factor.<br>
-Accommodation: yes, 'official' hotels where our agents got block<br>
bookings were not exactly budget prices (global tourist destination in<br>
high season) but we advertised and listed many links for organising<br>
one's own cheap accommodation from backpackers to B&Bs. So that should<br>
not have been a factor.<br>
-with more sponsorship we would have loved to support those who could<br>
not afford it. Luckily many who asked made a plan of their own.<br>
<br>
By its nature, a moving conference will be expensive to get to from many<br>
places. But it will be cheap and accessible to regional attendees and<br>
that's the point. That's part of OSGeo's mission.<br>
<br>
The value of bringing FOSS4G to <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region>
(or <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:City> or
other future<br>
global venues) far outweighs the 'cost' to a few who could not make it.<br>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:City> will be
in the same boat next year - far from almost everywhere.<br>
But they're already focussing on Australia/NZ and <st1:place w:st="on">Southeast
Asia</st1:place>. And a<br>
core contingent of OSGeo techies WILL make it to FOSS4G each year. And<br>
there you have the magic mix.<br>
<br>
So, from me:<br>
-keep FOSS4G roaming the globe annually<br>
-stimulate and support local or regional events whenever and wherever<br>
they emerge<br>
-keep the FOSS4G mix as it is - don't split along a perceived<br>
technical-business divide.<br>
-put out RFPs even earlier to allow time to secure cheap venues, big<br>
sponsorships, optimal scheduling, etc. A case in point is<br>
<a href="http://www.igarss09.org/" target="_blank">http://www.igarss09.org/</a>
where the conference was awarded years back<br>
enabling the hosting of thousands at a cheap venue (university).<br>
<br>
Gavin Fleming<br>
<br>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Discuss mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Discuss@lists.osgeo.org">Discuss@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss" target="_blank">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
Daniel P. Ames PhD, PE<br>
Department of Geosciences<br>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Idaho</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> - <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State> Falls<br>
<a href="mailto:amesdani@isu.edu">amesdani@isu.edu</a><br>
<a href="http://www.MapWindow.org">www.MapWindow.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.Hydromap.com">www.Hydromap.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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