On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 22:31, Alan Walker fastalan@gmail.com wrote:
Delphine, what do you believe are the key elements of executing a successful Wikimania?
lol, that's a _very_ broad question :)
You really want to look at this: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2011/Official_requirements_for_bidd... http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2011/Judging_criteria and read it carefully.
This basically says it all.
On a personal point of view, what makes a successful Wikimania is: - the people (try and get as many scholarships as possible so that you can get as many cool people in as possible) - the venue (a place where people not only "meet", but also "gather", ie. a place where they get together after sessions and deep in the night. Conference venue and accommodation should be as close as possible from one another) - the program (try thinking about topics even if the program committee will have a final say, it mobilizes speakers and attendees around a "theme" - it also helps for sponsors, because it focuses your and their attention).
That's about it.
Also maybe, try and put your money in the right place. Nobody needs super mega fancy accommodation (although a real bed and different "levels" of accommodation in the surroundings are a must have), but they all need working wifi, even when 500 geeks are connected. Nobody needs super duper confortable cushioned conference chairs, but the projectors and sound must work flawlessly
Hope that helps,
Delphine