RE: [foss4gna_2013_program] Updates ~ Lightning/Panels etc.

[Michael Terner]

David:
Nice work as usual. Here's my thoughts/status on the three items below:

Item 1: Just added an "MT Top-9" column. Voted based on which talks actually sounded like lightning talks and would fit that format. Also, paid attention to the abstract and personal knowledge of speaker.

Item 2: I'm totally in favor of panels, but completely agree with David that we need a "champion" of the panel who will put it together and moderate. So is it fair to assume that the "dream team panel" on "what is open?" that included Timoney, Andrew and Ramsey has kind of fallen apart? Or, is it just lacking a moderator. Does anyone know if Timoney is coming? If not, I can ping him. This would be great if we could pull it off. Also, the business of GIS panel would be great, but it sounds like we need a moderator/champion once again. Could we recruit someone local - e.g., Will Craig - to take on assembling/moderating a panel (e.g., one of the ones we've already ID'ed as potential)?

Item 3: I'd propose giving Davd Fawcett full "editorial control" to do some last minute tuning, inviting or whatever is needed to fill-in and round-out the program as the date draws nearer and as people cancel and/or beg to be a part of it.

Big +1 to all of our creative efforts to get registration up...I saw a lot of effort coming from OpenGeo's corner on that front (thanks Eddie!). David B: can you let us know if it resulted in new registrations? Have we cracked 200 yet?

MT


________________________________
From: foss4gna_2...@googlegroups.com [foss4gna_2...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of David Fawcett [david....@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 10:05 PM
To: foss4gna_2...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [foss4gna_2013_program] Updates

The conference date is approaching fast! May 22 is a lot closer than it feels, maybe that is because there are still a few piles of snow in my backyard.

We still have decisions to make on lightning talks, panels, and filling in some presentation slots. Here are are my thoughts and recommendations.

1. Lightning Talks - To be fair to our speakers, we need to invite them as soon as possible. If we can do it by Tuesday, that only gives them 3 weeks.

We have 17 candidates in our spreadsheet [1] and we have set aside up to 1.5 hours for the talks. If we do 5 or 6 minute talks, we can realistically do a max of about 9 talks, but we don't have to use all of the time. You all have edit rights on that sheet, please add a column with your name and flag up to 9 talks that you think we should select.

David Bitner (or anyone else with rights to the registration db), please take a quick scan to see if there are any people registered that might be exciting or interesting speakers who we might want to invite to pitch a talk.

2. Panels - Right now, we have one panel on the schedule (Diversity). I created a 60-90 minute slot for a second panel, but at this point, that space isn't assigned. If we want another panel in there, we need someone to sponsor, invite, and arrange one. We can likely squeeze a panel into the last plenary if we want to do that, but we will need someone to sponsor it, pitch it to the committee, and then invite the panel and moderator.

3. We have a handful of slots open in the schedule. If we can hope to get people to fill them, I think that we need to make invites by Monday or Tuesday. I propose that I will look at the number of slots, the topics and presenters that we currently have, and propose a list of new presentations to invite. If anyone has great ideas or strong feelings about a presentation that should be added, please let me know asap.

Finally, aside from the actual program work, we really need to boost attendance. As you know, we actually have a great program to sell. We just need to help potential attendees to see it (and realistically in the next 5 days). Obviously the existing channels haven't produced a bumper crop, so go guerrilla!

David.



1. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsCkQzPtVME8dE9hSjJrR1U3V0dDa2w2MjhSVlc3aEE&usp=sharing

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[David Fawcett]

Thanks Michael. 

I think that a 'prime time' panel would be entertaining and potentially of value, but unless someone volunteers to take responsibility for it, it won't happen.  If any of you feel that one of the proposed panels is important, please consider taking it on.

I will send out more on lightning talks and presentations on Monday. 

We only have three weeks left, let's finish strong.  For the next few days, I think that the most valuable thing that you can do is help bring in more registrations.  Promote the great program that we have, get other people to promote it, blog about it, etc.

David.

[David Fawcett]

I should add, if anyone is considering sponsoring a panel, please let me know as soon as possible.  If we don't add another panel during the concurrent sessions, I would like to fill the 3-session hole that we currently have set aside for a 2nd panel.

David.