PTP support for my attendance at the Community Wireless Summit?

[Russell Senior]

So, a few months ago I started looking into maybe going to the
Community Wireless Summit in Washington DC. It's happening May
28-30. I proposed a panel, got assigned to one and was offered $350
in travel stipend. However, the cost of the airfare is in the
neighborhood of $600 (perhaps a little less) and housing (unless I can
find some alternative but acceptable place to stay) is nominally
$200/night.

Given the substantial expense over-and-above the travel stipend, I am
wobbling over whether to go.

So, two questions:

a) Does anybody have friends/relations in the DC area that could put
me up, or any other reasonable ideas on solving the housing
problem; and

b) Do you think PTP should kick in some funds (say, on the order of
the $350 that the conference is putting up) to help support the
trip? I am a board member, and of course recuse myself from
voting. Technically, the other board members Michael Weinberg
and Troy Jaqua would have to both vote yes to approve such a
thing, but I am interested in the sense of the membership as
well.

The conference organizers are asking me to confirm as of
real-soon-now. What do people think?

--
Russell Senior, Secretary
rus...@personaltelco.net

[Darrin Eden]

On 3-May-08, at 12:01 AM, Russell Senior wrote:

> So, a few months ago I started looking into maybe going to the
> Community Wireless Summit in Washington DC.

<snip>

> b) Do you think PTP should kick in some funds (say, on the order of
> the $350 that the conference is putting up) to help support the
> trip?

> What do people think?

Hi Russell,
I attended the 2004 version of this summit. I very much believe PTP
would gain (and share) much knowledge by your attending this year.
To my knowledge it's the most well organized and topical gathering
in this field. If you were able to bring home even a handful of
current ideas and contacts to share with the local community I believe
it would be of great value in the long run.
If you're able to promote PTP's particular take on networks to the
wider community at the same time - so much the better.

Good luck,
Darrin

[Tyler Booth]

> So, two questions:
>
> a) Does anybody have friends/relations in the DC area that could put
> me up, or any other reasonable ideas on solving the housing
> problem; and

Unfortunately, no...

> b) Do you think PTP should kick in some funds (say, on the order of
> the $350 that the conference is putting up) to help support the
> trip? I am a board member, and of course recuse myself from
> voting. Technically, the other board members Michael Weinberg
> and Troy Jaqua would have to both vote yes to approve such a
> thing, but I am interested in the sense of the membership as
> well.

I would be in support of that. Given Darrin's take on the quality
of the conference, it sounds like a worthwhile use of funds.

[seth shikora]

Seconded. I think it's an awesome idea and you should definitely go.
It sounds like a good use of funds to me as well.

Seth.

[Caleb Phillips]

> a) Does anybody have friends/relations in the DC area that could put
> me up, or any other reasonable ideas on solving the housing
> problem; and

Last I was in DC, I stayed (for several days) at the Hilltop Hostel:

http://www.hosteldc.com/

I had a great experience there. It's run by good folks, is stumbling
distance from the (very reliable) train, and has a fair bit of local flavor.

I had considered going to the wireless summit when it was in IL a year
or two ago and had emailed the organizers asking if there were any
hostels around, or someone who would let me crash on their couch, and
they unsympathetically referred me to a $300/night hotel. So, I wouldn't
bother asking them! Luckily, DC has some options that IL didn't.

Oh, and you should definitely go. I'd say PTP should/could pay for your
lodging, travel, and registration expenses minus the 350 you already
got. I can't think of a better use of the Jason Graham trust ;).

--
Caleb Phillips

[Aaron Baer]

On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:01 AM, Russell Senior <rus...@personaltelco.net> wrote:

The conference organizers are asking me to confirm as of
real-soon-now.  What do people think?

I'm with them .... it's time for you to go.

I have a friend in D.C. that I'll try and contact. Do you know what part of the City you need to be close to?

A-

--
----
Aaron Baer
aa...@slyness.org
http://aaron.slyness.org/

[Russell Senior]

>>>>> "Aaron" == Aaron Baer <aar...@personaltelco.net> writes:

Aaron> I have a friend in D.C. that I'll try and contact. Do you know
Aaron> what part of the City you need to be close to?

AAAS, which is where it's being held, is like two blocks from the
White House. Somewhere convenient to that and National Airport would
be ideal. Looking at nights of May 28, 29, 30, 31. The flight I want
back leaves crack of freaking dawn on Sunday morning.

[Tom Higgins]

On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:01 AM, Russell Senior

The conference organizers are asking me to confirm as of
real-soon-now.  What do people think?

 
It would be money well spent. You are the right man for it and thus I think the group should back the play.

Say hi to Dubya

-tomhiggins

[tja...@efn.org]

Hi all,

I'm just writing to give my endorsement for Russell's planned trip. I
have spoken with Russell, and we agreed that he will spend approximately
$500 of PTP money to fund his trip. Given that Michael has already
provided his endorsement, I believe this makes the board approval official
for this allocation.

I think this is a great conference organized by some of the most active
and pioneering wireless innovators in the country, and PTP should definitely
have a representative there, if only to bring back some fresh ideas to drive
our mission of education.

Thanks to everyone involved in the PTP for keeping the ideas flowing and
the nodes running!

/me goes back to number crunching the PTP's tax filings.

-Troy