Call for hosts for Akademy/GUADEC 2011

[Vincent Untz <vuntz gnome org>]

The KDE and GNOME communities are looking for a host for the Desktop
Summit 2011, the combined annual conference featuring KDE's Akademy and
GNOME's GUADEC events. Following up on the successful Gran Canaria
Desktop Summit, the second edition of the combined event in 2011 will be
the premier place to learn about, discuss, and work on free software on
the desktop.

The goal of the desktop summit will be to present and discuss the state
of the art of free software for end users, do community building, enable
cross-community collaboration, and enable partners from industry and
other communities as well as individuals to get informed and involved.

The desktop summit will consist of a joint conference, combining the
Akademy and GUADEC programs, dedicated sub-events about special topics
like free desktop standards or mobile platforms, free-form sessions, and
extended opportunities for common discussions and getting work done.

The preferred format for the event is to start with a three-day
conference over the weekend followed by a week of informal sessions and
coding marathon. Preferred time for the event is summer 2011.

The location should be in Europe and be easily reachable from all over
the world. A major international airport is a requirement.

The event needs a strong local organization team, preferrably with
involvement of local members of both communities. Both communities are
prepared to help do global organization and find sponsors.

Hosts should be prepared for 1000 enthusiatic participants. They will
need to provide conference facilities, space for collaboration, and
enough room for working. Internet should be broadly available and able
to host all 1000 attendees.

A range of accommodation from inexpensive to business class hotels
should be easily available. Food should be easily available and should
include vegeterian and vegan options. There should also be options for
social activities outside of the actual event.

For more details about the requirements look at the
Akademy requirements [1] and the GUADEC requirements [2]. Please keep in
mind that the combined event will be twice as big in size as the
individual events, and the collaborative nature of the desktop summit
might change the details.

If you are interested in hosting the desktop summit, one of the prime
free software events in 2011, please send an application to the boards
of KDE e.V. (kde-ev-board kde ev) and the GNOME Foundation
(board-list gnome org). Please also feel free to contact us in case of
any questions. Send in your proposals no later than May 15th.

We are looking forward for a most excellent event. You can be part as
host. Send your proposal now.

Vincent

[1] http://ev.kde.org/akademy/requirements.php
[2] http://live.gnome.org/GuadecPlanningHowTo/CheckList

-- 
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