We (the SF group) have actually talked about doing before, we just wanted to have a dry run for it first. That dry run just so happens to be today and is the West Coast Wikiconference [1].
Seeing is how this "little" shindig oversold by 30% or so, and was really done in a month by Phoebe & Eugene, I think we could do a Wikimania
-Jon [1] http://2011.westcoastwikicon.org/wiki/Main_Page
On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 23:36, Joseph Seddon seddonwiki@gmail.com wrote:
Dear Wikimedia California mailing list,
Earlier this month the bidding for Wikimania 2012 opened and I wanted to encourage your community to consider submitting a bid. Failing to win shouldn't stop you since so much can be learnt by bidding anyway nor should the rotation of Wikimania be an issue since there hasn't been a North American wikimania since 2006.
Wikimania provides an excellent opportunity for the local community to come together to work on something big and it may well lead on to other things so please think about it. Creation of bids closes on February 6th so there is plenty of time to create a page and start the work on a bid. California has such a vibrant community and a conference here would be veyr successful. There is the Stanford bid currently but it might be worth looking at it and seeing whether there are better options and if not, go with it and try and make it happen.
If you need any advice please feel free to ask on this list.
Many Thanks
Joseph Seddon Wikimania 2012 Jury Moderator
Wikimedia-california mailing list Wikimedia-california@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-california
I would strongly encourage you guys to think about it. There is a strong community which is a very important point. It gives you lots of man power.
Even if you guys dont win this year, you'll learn a lot to bid for the following year. In fact you may even know your weaknesses better than if you were to hold off from bidding to just go for one strong bid next year.
I dont want to push you guys, just wanting you to keep your minds open to bidding in the future :)
If you guys need any advice about getting underway this or any other year feel free to ask.
Seddon
On Sat, Jan 15, 2011 at 7:53 PM, Jon Davis wiki@konsoletek.com wrote:
We (the SF group) have actually talked about doing before, we just wanted to have a dry run for it first. That dry run just so happens to be today and is the West Coast Wikiconference [1].
Seeing is how this "little" shindig oversold by 30% or so, and was really done in a month by Phoebe & Eugene, I think we could do a Wikimania
-Jon [1] http://2011.westcoastwikicon.org/wiki/Main_Page
On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 23:36, Joseph Seddon seddonwiki@gmail.com wrote:
Dear Wikimedia California mailing list,
Earlier this month the bidding for Wikimania 2012 opened and I wanted to encourage your community to consider submitting a bid. Failing to win shouldn't stop you since so much can be learnt by bidding anyway nor should the rotation of Wikimania be an issue since there hasn't been a North American wikimania since 2006.
Wikimania provides an excellent opportunity for the local community to come together to work on something big and it may well lead on to other things so please think about it. Creation of bids closes on February 6th so there is plenty of time to create a page and start the work on a bid. California has such a vibrant community and a conference here would be veyr successful. There is the Stanford bid currently but it might be worth looking at it and seeing whether there are better options and if not, go with it and try and make it happen.
If you need any advice please feel free to ask on this list.
Many Thanks
Joseph Seddon Wikimania 2012 Jury Moderator
Wikimedia-california mailing list Wikimedia-california@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-california
-- Jon [[User:ShakataGaNai]] / KJ6FNQ http://snowulf.com/ http://ipv6wiki.net/
On Sat, Jan 15, 2011 at 11:53 AM, Jon Davis wiki@konsoletek.com wrote:
We (the SF group) have actually talked about doing before, we just wanted to have a dry run for it first. That dry run just so happens to be today and is the West Coast Wikiconference [1]. Seeing is how this "little" shindig oversold by 30% or so, and was really done in a month by Phoebe & Eugene, I think we could do a Wikimania
Thanks for the confidence, Jon. :-)
I think the conference went really well, and I'm deeply appreciative for everyone who stepped up. There were a few things that worked in our favor, and I think it's important to acknowledge them as we consider doing a Wikimania bid.
We got a lot of free publicity/energy thanks to the 10th anniversary landmark. I think that greatly contributed to the ease with which we oversold. That also enabled us to leverage the great work that the Foundation was already doing for the the anniversary -- schwag, the party, etc. If we do a Wikimania bid, we won't have that.
The other thing we'll need for a Wikimania bid is for others to step up early. We had a lot of help the day-of, which was absolutely critical, but that won't be enough for a Wikimania bid, Phoebe and I won't be able to shoulder the load. It's too much work, and frankly, we're too busy. I think I speak for both of us when I say that we can absolutely support a bid and help make it the best Wikimania _ever_, bar none. But other folks need to step up early and assume leadership roles.
I hope people will do so. Wikimania is one of the best things since sliced bread. It's super great, and it would be wonderful to bring it here. And despite what I said earlier, we also have some built-in advantages that other places don't have. For example, even though this needs to be a volunteer event, having the Foundation close by makes a world of difference.
I think the biggest advantage is that we have a whole lot of experienced, connected people here who know how to pull this off: logistics, fundraising, programs, facilitation, etc. And I know these folks would gladly lend a hand and share their wisdom. So not only would it be amazingly gratifying to bring Wikimania here -- a feather in your cap, as it were -- it would also be an amazing learning opportunity.
I would love it if some folks would step up and take this on as a challenge! And I will gladly lend a hand.
=Eugene
On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 8:37 PM, Eugene Eric Kim eekim@blueoxen.com wrote:
On Sat, Jan 15, 2011 at 11:53 AM, Jon Davis wiki@konsoletek.com wrote:
We (the SF group) have actually talked about doing before, we just wanted to have a dry run for it first. That dry run just so happens to be today and is the West Coast Wikiconference [1]. Seeing is how this "little" shindig oversold by 30% or so, and was really done in a month by Phoebe & Eugene, I think we could do a Wikimania
Thanks for the confidence, Jon. :-)
I think the conference went really well, and I'm deeply appreciative for everyone who stepped up. There were a few things that worked in our favor, and I think it's important to acknowledge them as we consider doing a Wikimania bid.
We got a lot of free publicity/energy thanks to the 10th anniversary landmark. I think that greatly contributed to the ease with which we oversold. That also enabled us to leverage the great work that the Foundation was already doing for the the anniversary -- schwag, the party, etc. If we do a Wikimania bid, we won't have that.
The other thing we'll need for a Wikimania bid is for others to step up early. We had a lot of help the day-of, which was absolutely critical, but that won't be enough for a Wikimania bid, Phoebe and I won't be able to shoulder the load. It's too much work, and frankly, we're too busy. I think I speak for both of us when I say that we can absolutely support a bid and help make it the best Wikimania _ever_, bar none. But other folks need to step up early and assume leadership roles.
I hope people will do so. Wikimania is one of the best things since sliced bread. It's super great, and it would be wonderful to bring it here. And despite what I said earlier, we also have some built-in advantages that other places don't have. For example, even though this needs to be a volunteer event, having the Foundation close by makes a world of difference.
I think the biggest advantage is that we have a whole lot of experienced, connected people here who know how to pull this off: logistics, fundraising, programs, facilitation, etc. And I know these folks would gladly lend a hand and share their wisdom. So not only would it be amazingly gratifying to bring Wikimania here -- a feather in your cap, as it were -- it would also be an amazing learning opportunity.
I would love it if some folks would step up and take this on as a challenge! And I will gladly lend a hand.
=Eugene
I agree totally with what Eugene said. Wikimania is amazing, but it takes lots of people. As I said last year (and still firmly believe) the team is by far the most important part of Wikimania bidding -- much more than having a great venue or elaborate plans. The conference requires a cohesive group of people willing to do the work and follow through. But that team can be built!
If folks are interested in exploring the possibilities, my suggestion would be to call a meetup relatively soon (and ideally start having regular meetups again in the new year!) Anyone can plan a meetup; the wiki page is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/San_Francisco. A possible agenda might be to look at the bidding requirements, look at local venues, and brainstorm about conference possibilities. Alternatively we might start a conference discussion on the wiki so more people can participate. I hope that someone will volunteer to do this.
That said, I am super grateful to everyone who helped out with and participated in the West Coast WikiConference -- it was a blast, and it got a lot of praise from all the attendees I talked to. Thanks!
Now I am off on another trip, which will include participating in D.C.'s Wikipedia10 event next weekend :)
cheers, Phoebe
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