Re: [guadec-list] Registration Fees for GUADEC 2007

["Benjamin Otte" <otte gnome org>]

On 5/16/07, Paul Cooper <pgc openadvantage org> wrote:
> Well to play along with the party metaphor just a little longer - when I'm invited to a
> party I generally like to bring along a token of appreciation for the host(s) for the effort
> of organising and hosting the party.
>
> Anyway back to the real world. If after thinking about it you're still not happy with the
> registration fee then please fill in a sponsorship application just for the registration fee.
It's not about the money. It's about my feelings towards GUADEC. I
always thought it's more of a get-together of all the hackers
sponsored by people that appreciate the work we are doing. Everybody
working on GNOME was invited. Do you feel invited when you have to pay
a fee? (The same goes for applying for sponsorship btw: Do you feel
invited when you have to beg for the money?)

For me this is the fundamental question if this is more like a party
where the host invites people he appreciates or if this is more like a
conference where interested people are asked to pay a fee? The Guadec
homepage seems to emphasize the word "party". The mandatory fee
doesn't.

Let me be crystal-clear about this again: It's not about the money.
It's certainly worth even 140 pounds to meet everyone. But it wouldn't
feel the same to me when it wants a fee from me. Even if that fee is
just 1 penny.

Benjamin