Just to come back to this discussion - which I didn't get around to
replying to the first time ..
With WM2013 being in Hong Kong, I would probably avoid a separate Wikimedia
Asia meeting/conference in 2013, and instead integrate it with Wikimania -
either as a session during the conference, or an additional mini-conference
before or after the main one. Maybe in other years we could have a
separate WM Asia conference.
The problem with that is you may end up with a situation similar to State
of the Map (OpenStreetMap's international conference). For the first three
years it was in Europe. The fourth year (2010), it was again in Europe,
but there was a secondary smaller one held in Atlanta (USA) a month later.
In 2011, the conference was in Denver, but a secondary one was held in
Vienna. In 2012 the main conference was in Tokyo, but secondary ones in
Portland, USA and in Scotland.
For many people/chapters, time and money are both limited, so they may end
up choosing between Wikimania or the Asian conference, which would only
dilute both. Of could the GAC could fund travel for people but we would
need to be very specific as to the benefits to the movement if they are to
approve such a grant.
I think we need to focus on getting as many Asian participants to Wikimania
2013 for now and ensure we have a productive plan for the future :)
Regards,
Charles Gregory
Secretary and WCA Council Representative
Wikimedia Australia