Hi Siska (and all),

I'd say it should be in HK or Singapore as they're the "hub" cities of transport in South East Asia, whereas everyone has a minimum 4 hour flying time if it was held in Perth, or 7 hours if east coast. (I'd love to say "bring it to Perth!" but I am the only active chapter member in this city and that's not likely to change soon... plus I know an objective comparison of costs would make any major Asian city better value for money.) As Singapore doesn't have a chapter it makes more sense to host it where there is local support.

Re personal funds - I can see the argument you're making, although it's sometimes the case that a chapter might have different (i.e. local) priorities for its cash and its board members, while free to go to an event, have to find their own cash to do so. When we (Australians) went to Berlin we each booked a few extra days on our own time (additionally to what was granted to us) so we could see the sights after the conclusion of the meeting. I believe other board members have on other occasions paid their own way to events attended on behalf of the chapter.

kindest regards
Andrew

On 9 August 2010 20:45, Siska Doviana <siska.doviana@wikimedia.or.id> wrote:
Hi Andrew,

> What sometimes works in Australia (I don't know how this works in other countries) is that sometimes if you can persuade some government body (usually at state level) that there is a benefit to them in the country hosting the international conference, their tourism department may come up with a grant which may cover part or all of the expenses. This was factored into the Brisbane bid for Wikimania

I think this kind of meeting not exactly "international" or big enough
to become beneficial for other outside sponsoring party. I say, it's
more like Johnson & Johnson regional meeting - instead of global
meeting. I also remember somewhere in your email you said personal
funding to came to this meeting? Well, err.., I don't know how it
worked in other countries but Indonesian are not exactly a "pot luck"
kind - let say - just hypothetically - we held it in Hong Kong (I
don't care if it is held in Australia, btw, but I assume Visa will be
a pain for Indonesian) - and you came with personal funding - and I
came with personal funding, I would (guarantee) I dash off to
Disneyland the minute I had the chance, even if I have to attend
something, my mind probably wonder off to some Chinese restaurant I
haven't tried on "that" street. If someone come up to me and say: Yo
Siska, pay attention will ya? I would say: Hey, I came with my own
money, I'd think I reserve the right to do things.

So just to clear things out, please don't came to the Asian chapter's
meeting with your own money. The spirit behind it is: we want you to
be there, we want your time, we value your attention, and ideas, we
DON'T want your money. Because if this is the case, only the CAN
attend, and not the SHOULD.

Personal view though.

--
Siska Doviana | Pendiri (Co-Founder) | Wikimedia Indonesia
Ph. +62 816 484 5052
~~~~
Dukung upaya kami membebaskan pengetahuan:
http://wikimedia.or.id/wiki/Wikimedia_Indonesia:Donasi


On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 7:25 PM, Andrew Owens <orderinchaos78@gmail.com> wrote:
> Agreed - it would need to be an agreement between the participating chapters
> as Wikimedia Asia is more trademark than entity. Each chapter would then
> contribute and participate only to the extent to which it could justify
> agreeing in terms of its national priorities / funds and people available /
> etc.
>
> What sometimes works in Australia (I don't know how this works in other
> countries) is that sometimes if you can persuade some government body
> (usually at state level) that there is a benefit to them in the country
> hosting the international conference, their tourism department may come up
> with a grant which may cover part or all of the expenses. This was factored
> into the Brisbane bid for Wikimania a couple of years ago, as well as
> prospective bids from other cities which never progressed beyond the idea
> stage.
>
> kindest regards
> Andrew

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