Hi Risker,

I broadly agree - there are a lot of benefits from in-person meetings,
mostly from spontaneous meetings, but not so much for the actual program!

Different people also work in very different ways. With your second
point, internet connectivity problems, interface challenges, and finding
it difficult to socalize --- but in person --- are also relevant for
some (including myself ;-) ).

Perhaps the reverse approach would be better then? Really focus on those
who have never had the opportunities, to solve their problems, and mix
with others at the conference - and for most regular attendees, get them
to attend online and not take up so much of the meeting resources?

"it is critical that we don't consider the presence of those who face
greater challenges in attending in-person as non-essential." - I
completely agree with this, but on the flip side, don't consider it
essential that you have to attend in-person to participate equally.
Particularly if you can't attend in-person for any reason (family
commitments, travel restrictions, funding, medical issues, etc...).

Thanks,
Mike

On 16/8/22 19:41:31, Risker wrote:
> I see where you are coming from, Mike.  At the same time, there is
> something fundamentally different about an in-person event. From my own
> experience, some of the most valuable learnings I have taken from
> in-person events have been completely unplanned; in particular,
> developing personal relationships with people from other parts of the
> world or from other projects. We should be doing our best to ensure that
> people from all over the world have the opportunity to have these
> experiences, as they have been fundamental to our growth as a movement. 
> A lunchtime walk, a random encounter at breakfast, or a casual
> introduction has often turned into an action plan to collaborate.  These
> things don't really happen during online meetings and conferences.
>
> There are also plenty of issues with online meetings, too.  Connectivity
> problems, software challenges, and the fact that it's much more
> difficult to socialize online are just the beginning.
>
> Hybrid, yes.  But it is critical that we don't consider the presence of
> those who face greater challenges in attending in-person as
> non-essential. Their ability to participate in the same way as someone
> from a country with easy access is, in some ways, even more important.
>
> Risker/Anne
>
> On Tue, 16 Aug 2022 at 13:51, Mike Peel <email@mikepeel.net
> <mailto:email@mikepeel.net>> wrote:
>
>     Hi,
>
>     Rather than worrying about visa problems, why not use the experiences
>     we've learnt over the last few years with virtual meetings? Make sure
>     that the meeting is fully hybrid - with remote attendees being able to
>     participate equally with those in person? Wouldn't that be a fairer
>     approach to make sure that all who need to attend can do so?
>
>     Thanks,
>     Mike
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/CVRMU46EBKY7W24OAUBJBGQDE7GYPDVC/
> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org
_______________________________________________
Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/A5L4TLWLZYUMJIZGLDLBO23K4EMDAOTC/
To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org