Re: [Debconf-team] Some thoughts: sponsored attendees
On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 09:45:52PM +0200, Wouter Verhelst wrote:
> Hi Marga,
> Just my 2¢, even though I haven't been involved in organizing at all.
> On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 11:20:37AM -0300, Margarita Manterola wrote:
> > So, regarding the sponsored attendees:
> > I feel that the current policy (whoever registers and reconfirms on
> > time gets free food and accom) is wrong. It creates a great deal of
> > uncertainty regarding the budget and the size of the facilities
> > required for these sponsored attendees. Thus, I propose that we use
> > the policy that was used for DC4: there are a fixed number of
> > sponsored places (for example: 250). If less than that number of
> > people register and reconfirm on time, then all of them get sponsored
> > food and accom. But if more than that number register, then the
> > sponsored attendees are selected according to their participation in
> > Debian.
>
> That could work; but I think it's important that the number of sponsored
> attendees is high enough so that people do not feel a restraint to
> perhaps attend if they want to; because I have a feeling that there are
> a number of people out there who may want to attend, but feel that
> they're 'not important enough' or something else similarly silly to
> receive sponsorship, and therefore do not even sign up -- even though
> they're DDs who upload packages every other day or so.
I'm not a DD, yet, and didn't apply for sponsorship for EDI because I
didn't think I was important enough. I didn't go to dc6 at all for
similar reasons. I still don't feel very important, but very much
appreciated being sponsored for dc8 and am more likely to stay involved
if there are good chances of getting sponsored in the future. Given the
story of Holger, for instance, who says he would not have been likely to
get involved at all in debconf if it weren't for the sponsorship, I
think I agree with Wouter.
> > I think that the "Professional" category worked well this year, and
> > next year it might work even better, if the professional attendees get
> > to be in a hotel or so.
>
> Honestly, I think that would suck. I don't mind paying for my stay
> (that's what I did this year, after all), but I would mind being put
> away in some other hotel somewhere, away from everyone else. I'm aware
> that some people prefer sleeping in a hotel, but I'm not one of them.
> When I go to Debconf, I don't go for a staff serving my every needs,
> folding my cloths and putting my pajamas under my pillow (even though
> that *was* very nice, this year); I go to meet other Debian people, in
> the hope of learning some new of them and enjoying my time together, and
> especially so that I can learn some new stuff from what they're doing.
>
> If you're going to put me in a hotel somewhere separate from the venue
> that the sponsored people sleep in, then that's not going to happen in
> the same way.
>
> Like I said, I can understand that some other people may want that, and
> I do think it's a good idea to make a /choice/ available for those who
> want it; but if you're going to make it the default that people who're
> attending as 'professional' get to sleep in a hotel, then I'll probably
> opt for sponsored stay next year.
For myself (and I may be a very corner case here) the amenities of a
hotel room don't matter at all to me. I actually find them more annoying
than nice. What I _do_ need is a private room due to health concerns. I
paid for my room this year so I could have one to myself. There may be
others with a similar need for privacy in order to be able to sleep.
But, I also would not want to be in a seperate building just to get my
own door to close when I need to rest.
Even though I still got sick this year despite having a private room,
knowing my body as I do, I know I would not have recovered by now if I
hadn't had my own room in .ar. And probably, any roommates I would have
had in a sponsored room would have gotten sick or at least been very
annoyed at sharing a room with me.
So, I guess the point is, that there may be a need for some category
between the professionals who pay for and appreciate a hotel room and
the sponsored shared rooms.
-Eric Rz.
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