On 31/08/2007, Gary Kirk <gary.kirk@gmail.com> wrote:

Who's who in the department -
http://www.schools.gov.uk/aboutus/whoswho/ministerinfo.shtml

On 8/31/07, Gary Kirk < gary.kirk@gmail.com> wrote:
> Maybe the Department for Culture, Media and Sport could be contacted.
> I believe the DfES was split after Gordon Brown took over as PM and we
> now have a 'schools minister' instead of an education secretary - Jim
> Knight - someone could please look into that and maybe establish
> contact? The previous education secretary, Alan Johnson, said
> Wikipedia was 'a force for good' - point that out.
> Regards
>
> On 8/31/07, Gary Kirk <gary.kirk@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I had a look about funding and perhaps people could take a look at
> > lotteryfunding.org.uk and awardsforall.org.uk
> >
> > On 8/31/07, Cormac Lawler <cormaggio@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On 8/30/07, Majorly <axel9891@googlemail.com> wrote:
> > > > On 30/08/2007, Gary Kirk <gary.kirk@gmail.com > wrote:
> > > > > All very well, but has anybody actually done anything? This is not a
> > > > > dig because that serves no purpose, but - I did bring up the idea of
> > > > > an unofficial bid in October last year - can people actually start
> > > > > cross-checking the 2007 bid with the 2008 bid. I have been told by
> UCL
> > > > > it's likely technical facilities, rooms etc will be available same
> as
> > > > > last year. If we can decide on things like dates, UCL can start
> > > > > putting things in place.
> > > > > Regards,
> > > > > Gary
> > > >
> > > > I *want* to help... but I have no idea whatsoever what I'm doing :S
> > >
> > >
> > > :-)
> > >
> > > I've been involved in a London bid before (two years ago), which
> > > wasn't as good as others at the time - largely due to the perceived
> > > expense of London, and an unresolved question about technical
> > > facilities. If facilities are in place (and they seem to have been
> > > fine from last year), the main cloud over any London bid will be cost.
> > > Money. Sponsorship. If there is not an indication that there will be
> > > significant sponsorship, and if accommodation/travel/food will be a
> > > significant expense to visitors (who, bear in mind, and assuming it
> > > doesn't change so much in the coming year, would be dealing with the
> > > strength of the British pound), then I don't hold out much prospect
> > > for a London bid. That would be my main advice for this bid - identify
> > > full costs (both to Wikimedia, and to individual participants), and
> > > show how/where they can be cut, offset, or minimised.
> > >
> > > On dates, I would keep to the same schedule as previous years, ie
> > > first week of August. The first few days of August 2008 are the
> > > weekend - maybe have the hacking days over these days and start the
> > > conference proper on the Monday, 4th. So, hacking days: 2-3;
> > > conference 4-6 (inclusive).
> > >
> > > To return to my main point - money - I think there would be *plenty*
> > > of interest in Wikimania within the media, educational sector, and
> > > business. Sponsorship would be forthcoming - and plenty of people not
> > > yet committed to this bid will have links that can be milked. So,
> > > consider that whatever funding opportunities could be explored in the
> > > next month would not be the last word in funding - but still I stress
> > > that we would need some indication of interest at this stage. However,
> > > potential funders have to be made aware of the fact that this is still
> > > only a *bid*, and that there is no guarantee that it will be
> > > happening. We are simply wondering about the possibility of their
> > > interest in the event of Wikimania coming to London. :-)
> > >
> > > That's my tuppence worth for the moment,
> > >
> > > Cormac
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Gary Kirk
> >
>
>
> --
> Gary Kirk
>

--
Gary Kirk

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