[FOSS4G-Oceania] [Decision needed] What happens to the 2021 conference?

[Jonah Sullivan]

Thanks for the info Claire. I'm having the same issues with the Canberra
Python User Group. We're trying to differentiate from the plethora of
online engagements by providing a unique offering that leans heavily on in
person interactions (including formal presentation events and informal hack
events).

I think the FOSS4G Oceania conference has a similar perspective. I'm
personally less inclined to attend online only events but I'm probably in
the minority.

The conference series would definitely be more resilient with a digital
first premise.

On Thu, 14 Oct 2021, 13:57 Trenham, Claire (O&A, Black Mountain), <
Claire.Trenham at csiro.au> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>
>
> Apologies, I’m just a casual by-stander, but as someone who’s deeply
> involved with “the future of meetings” (see
> https://thefutureofmeetings.wordpress.com/), I feel like this situation
> has, perhaps not unexpectedly, come about through not planning FOSS4G-2021
> as a “digital-first” conference, but instead been driven by a desire to do
> face-to-face with just some support for online participation via the hybrid
> model. If you plan digital-first from the start (not virtual, but where
> digital support for all attendees is planned to enable broader
> accessibility), then it’s much easier to pivot to hybrid or fully online.
> Hybrid is the toughest to plan and implement and most expensive, so unless
> you’re very confident you can pull off an in-person event, planning for
> virtual options from the start is pragmatic in the current travel
> environment.
>
> I’d note even CarpentriesCon for 2022 have already made the call to be
> online.
>
> Sure, catching up in person is fabulous. But we’re no longer in a world
> where that can be realistically expected, for so many reasons not just
> related to travel restrictions, but also funding availability, inclusivity
> of those with caring responsibilities, and aversion to unnecessary carbon
> emissions.
>
> I’d encourage the FOSS4G-Oceania organising committee to read the TFOM
> report <https://zenodo.org/record/4345562#.YWeVFRpBw2x> and give serious
> consideration to the advantages of a digital-first approach so that
> disappointment doesn’t recur and a broader range of people are able to
> participate.
>
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Claire
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Claire Trenham *
>
> Experimental Scientist
>
> Oceans & Atmosphere | CSIRO
>
> Climate Science Centre | Sea level, waves, and coastal extremes
>
> Claire.Trenham at csiro.au | +61 2 6246 5232
>
> GPO Box 1700, CANBERRA ACT 2601
>
>
>
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>
> *From:* FOSS4G-Oceania <foss4g-oceania-bounces at lists.osgeo.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Edoardo Neerhut
> *Sent:* Thursday, 14 October 2021 12:01 PM
> *To:* foss4g-oceania <foss4g-oceania at lists.osgeo.org>
> *Cc:* Nemaia Koto <nemaia.koto87 at gmail.com>; Elisa Puccioni <
> elisa at kenex.co.nz>; Rateiti Vaimalie <rateitiv at fisheries.gov.ki>; Ms.
> Ueakeia Tofinga <ueakeiatofinga at gmail.com>; Steven Haslemore <
> steven.haslemore at gmail.com>; Adi Luisa Duguivalu <
> s11135909 at student.usp.ac.fj>; Aliti <dweinbeitaki at gmail.com>; Gander
> Wainiqolo <gander.wainiqolo at cookislands.gov.ck>; Ratu Isikeli Sawailau <
> s11175721 at student.usp.ac.fj>; Halva Cenar <Helavacenar at gmail.com>;
> Merelita Lewabete <lewabete.m at gmail.com>; Jeannane Vika <
> jeannanevika at ymail.com>; Mohammed Abdullah Bin Shorab <
> abdullahshorab at hotmail.com>; Tom Czertowicz <tom at kenex.co.nz>; Carrol
> Chan <carrol.mchan at gmail.com>; Tooa Brown <tooa1996 at gmail.com>; Chayn Sun
> <Chayn.sun at rmit.edu.au>; Kristina Duguivalu <kduguivalu at gmail.com>; Dawn
> Hendrick <dawn_hendrick at hotmail.com>; lilian.fierroarcos at utas.edu.au;
> Sebastian S. <mapping at consebt.de>; Luke Ransfield <
> luke.ransfield at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* [FOSS4G-Oceania] [Decision needed] What happens to the 2021
> conference?
>
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
>
> Tl;dr: *We need to make a collective decision about the 2021 conference.*
>
>
>
> The conference is less than a month away and we are at a pretty critical
> juncture. An uncertain COVID situation has caused Auckland to postpone
> until 2022 and some other hubs are in doubt. Perth looks the most likely to
> go ahead successfully, but has stated that they will postpone if the COVID
> situation changes.
>
>
>
> While I would be quite disappointed to postpone, I do not want to put
> together a sub-par conference. I have detailed what I perceive to be our
> options here under COVID contingency planning
> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xcrwLjSF4mlLUv8Rfmt_qBPoZPp2KyKTqXXErN41ydQ/edit>.
> My personal preference is that we put together a simplified online
> conference together and regroup in 2022 for an in-person event.
>
>
>
> *Making a collective decision*
>
> Ultimately each hub is entitled to make their own decisions, but for the
> health of the FOSS4G SotM Oceania brand, I think we should coordinate as
> best as we can. For the hubs that are unable to run in-person events, we
> should decide whether we move the conference online or postpone it to a
> date in 2022. Auckland has already stated that they will postpone.
>
>
>
> How do you feel we should proceed? Should hubs that can't meet in-person
> put together an online format or should we postpone?
>
>
>
> *Tomorrow's meeting*
>
> FOSS4G SotM 2021 Planning
> Friday, 15 October · 12:00 – 13:00 AEST
> Google Meet joining info
> Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rxs-vvpk-rvo
> Or dial: ‪(US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ‪339 595 475 9774#
> More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/rxs-vvpk-rvo?pin=3395954759774
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Ed
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