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

[Paul Cooper <pgc openadvantage org>]

Hi Benjamin,

----- "Benjamin Otte" <otte gnome org> wrote:
> 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.

Thanks for clarifying your objection - I think I understand. The problem is that GUADEC isn't either a party or a conference; it's both. If you want to come to Birmingham between the 14th and 21st of July and hang out with Gnome people and party then you can and we wont ask you for a penny (we hope there will be some sponsored parties, and I'm sure there will be adhoc parties a plenty). If you want to come to the conference parts (which may also include some parties) then we will ask for registration, or an application for sponsorship.

One thing to note is that when the Foundation calls for volunteers to organise GUADEC it's very clear what they want us to organise is a conference - we may have gone wrong with our message this year to emphasize the fun aspects of GUADEC but a conference is definitely what they want. It's also clear that the Foundation expects the conference organisation to return a surplus to the Foundation to cover the costs of other events and initiatives through the year around the world. So I think if you feel very strongly about this you should also make this point directly to the Foundation Board (although some Board members are on this list I don't think they all are?).

Paul

> 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


-- 
Paul Cooper                    |  Tel: 0121 634 1620
Assistant Director             |  Fax: 0121 634 1630
OpenAdvantage                  |  http://www.openadvantage.org