[Wikimediaau-l] Wikimania 2010 bid idea: joint-bid with iSummit?

Sun Aug 31 12:48:28 UTC 2008

Thank you, indeed, for your level head, Liam.

Cheers,

Delphine

2008/8/24 Liam Wyatt <liamwyatt at gmail.com>:
> Everyone,
> As disappointing as it is to be considered as inherently disadvantaged I do
> not think it we need to despair.
> The fact is that the the majority of people who travel to Wikimanias (as
> opposed to local attendees) come from North America and Western Europe. This
> does not mean to say that these continents are "home base" for wikimanias or
> the foundation's board (or the selection jury), but the reality of where
> the traveling attendees actually come from. I, and probably many of you,
> have had discussions with my own friends who live "over there" trying to
> convince them to come and stay with me so I know what it is like to be told
> I'm "too far away". I know it seems to be a bias against Australia but this
> is not set irrevocably against us - Taipei and Beunos Aires are both
> locations which are "distant" and have been chosen. But, that these
> locations were chosen so recently is a compelling argument against choosing
> another non-EU/USA location on-the-trot.
> Now, I can't speak for the Brisbane bid last time, but we are not even at
> the stage of making a formal bid so to be speaking as if all our efforts
> have gone to waste is a little premature. Any and all wikimanias have to
> have significant funds set aside for travel scholarships. We would need to
> put good solid work into getting sponsorship and funding for an Australian
> bid but this would be the case no matter where we were located - this would
> not be unique to us.
> Although it is not a foregone conclusion that a non EU/USA bid would fail,
> as might be inferred from Delphine's post, we must remember that other
> locations are readying genuinely strong bids that will do well irrespective
> of whether we contest for the 'prize'. So, if an EU/USA bid wins, it does
> not follow that the process was biased from the start.
> And so, if we put our heads together and get a chapter going smoothly with a
> couple of events on the board - AGM; media briefing; wiki academy; Wikipedia
> takes Melbourne; wiki wednesday; etc (especially if we can bring some
> board/staff out here for one of those events) - and lock-in some sponsors
> then we would have a genuinely compelling bid. But we must work UP to a
> wikimania bid not start from there. Keep our eyes on the prize but come at
> it incrementally...
> Best,
> -Liam Wyatt
> wikipediaweek.org
> Skype - Wittylama
> Wikipedia - [[User:Witty lama]]
>
>
> On 24/08/2008, at 11:00 AM, Michelle Gallaway wrote:
>
> I have to agree as well.  Australia might not be accessible for Europeans,
> but its a lot more accessible to people from Oceania, Asia (especially SE
> Asia), and its borderline for South Africans too.
>
> I think that "more accessible to the majority" is really just code for"more
> accessible to people who live in Western Europe and/or the Eastern United
> States", a group that coincidentally was very well represented on the
> selection jury.  Which is a bit of a let-down and a kick in the teeth for
> everyone that has worked so hard on this.
>
> On Sun, Aug 24, 2008 at 12:23 AM, Gnangarra <gnangarra at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I find such a position disappointing
>>
>> Knowing that such an issue exists is beneficial in that WM-au as priority
>> should be working on addressing the bias within the Foundation, along with
>> realising that any bid must have some component/sponsorship to reduce the
>> travel expenses.
>>
>> There is nothing we can do about the travel time except to ensure that
>> what ever the host location that direct flights/or one stop flights are
>> readily available from both Europe and North America(pacific coast at
>> least).
>>
>> Gn
>>
>> 2008/8/23 Brianna Laugher <brianna.laugher at gmail.com>
>>>
>>> 2008/8/23 Delphine Ménard <notafishz at gmail.com>:
>>> > On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 09:23, Andrew Garrett <andrew at epstone.net>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >> On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 12:11 AM, Angela <beesley at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>> I meant the Wikimania jury (which I'm no longer on btw to avoid any
>>> >>> COI). I shouldn't have said "likely". I don't know how likely it is,
>>> >>> but if you look at this log
>>> >>>
>>> >>> <http://wikimania2008.wikimedia.org/wiki/Post-mortem/meeting_transcripts/2008-08-09>,
>>> >>> there seems to be an underlying assumption that Australia can never
>>> >>> win it.
>>> >>
>>> >> Is Australia much worse than Taiwan?
>>> >
>>> > Yes.
>>> >
>>> > And strictly on a "how easy/cheap it is to get to Australia" kind of
>>> > basis.
>>> > My sister lives in Melbourne, I don't even know her kids, so I don't
>>> > think I can be accused of not *wanting* to go to Australia. But the
>>> > thing is, I *can't*. It's too damn expensive. And I've been gathering
>>> > miles for the past 4 years (through Wikimanias :-)) to finally get one
>>> > ticket for free. I might be able to go next year. :)
>>> >
>>> > Taiwan from Europe, was around 650 euros. Australia at its best is
>>> > around 1200/1500 euros. Not to mention that it's really hard (and
>>> > would be sad) to go to Australia for only 4 days or so, since it takes
>>> > about that time to get tehre and back.
>>> >
>>> > I agree that session may have seemed "discriminating". But I urge you
>>> > not to take it as such. It's not "against" Australia, it's trying to
>>> > "make it more accessible for the majority". It is definitely unfair
>>> > for you guys, but it is a reality.
>>>
>>> Well good to know for sure now that "accessibility" means
>>> "accessibility for Europeans". Why not be explicit? Really, just tell
>>> people that 2010 is for Europeans. I think everyone would appreciate
>>> knowing where they stand.
>>>
>>> Brianna
>>>
>>> --
>>> They've just been waiting in a mountain for the right moment:
>>> http://modernthings.org/
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Wikimediaau-l mailing list
>>> Wikimediaau-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaau-l
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> GN.
>> http://gnangarra.redbubble.com/
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Wikimediaau-l mailing list
>> Wikimediaau-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaau-l
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimediaau-l mailing list
> Wikimediaau-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaau-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimediaau-l mailing list
> Wikimediaau-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaau-l
>
>

-- 
~notafish

NB. This gmail address is used for mailing lists. Your emails will get lost.
Ceci n'est pas une endive - http://blog.notanendive.org