On 10/10/07, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Anthony wrote:
What's the goal of Wikimania? Depending on the answer to that, a location away from the larger user clusters might even be seen as a good thing.
It's an opportunity to see the human side of the ogres that you meet on line. It cements relationships among active people. It can draw significant people to a world event when they might not otherwise attend. It gives global exposure to otherwise local ideas. It's good publicity about our world-wide scope.
You really should try to attend one.
Unless it's held within Florida (and close enough that I don't have to take any time off work), I can think of way too many other things I'd rather do with my money and vacation time. Maybe if I can one day justify it as part of my business, or if I'm one day rich enough to have gobbles of free time, but otherwise, not happening.
As someone else suggested, hosting local Wikimanias is a good option. Why not get behind Atlanta (I assume you live in the US as you agree with Greg's comments) and organise a US Wikimania maybe a couple of weeks before or after the official one.
Honestly, if we fork the conference with a US version (and potentially an offset European version) there is a substantial risk that the popularity of these events will endanger the success of Wikimania proper.
As long as "Wikimania proper" gets first dibs on the speakers, and is the one that the board attends, I don't see that happening.
I don't see that there needs to be a fork at all. Wikimania would continue as an annual event, but there are 11 other months in the calendar.
True, but I think it comes down to how useful you think such global get togethers are. Personally I'd put them in the "fun, but not very useful more than once a year" category.