On 10/10/07, Ray Saintonge <saintonge(a)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.