[Debconf-team] thoughts on Le Camp contract and budget

[Richard Darst <rkd@zgib.net>]

Hi,

I was going to try to prepare something much more detailed, but I'm
not having time to do that in a short time.

First, "debconf always finds a way" is what we generally accept, and I
think this is true.  However, historically, we usually do this by
cutting costs (or finding someone to sponsor most of the venue/accom
or some such) or removing features.

On the other hand, we historically aren't that good at raising
unbounded sums of money globally.  As past fundraising teams may say
(and if I'm wrong I hope they will correct me): once you get to a
certain point, there aren't enough more places to ask and get positive
replies.

What is big each year and often saves us is local sponsors: but
historically, this has always been something like a university
providing a lot for free, and not simply lots of money.

So... that is why people are worried about this year.  There is a
contract to sign now, before we have established money to pay for it.
But more importantly, signing the contract removes the primary way to
"make things work": the flexibility to move around to a cheaper place
to cut costs, negotiate better contracts, and so on.  In fact, having
a contract means we can't do the usual thing and move to some cheap or
free venue.

This is in addition to the amount of the contract being an entirely
unprecedented amount of money for debconf (in recent history), and in
fact far more than debian could save us.

I know there are supposed to be plans to raise a lot of money from
companies and foundations.  However... I don't think we can count on
that until we have something more solid.


So, above is my general thoughts on the matter of the contract.  I
could back up most of the things from above with examples from recent
years, from dc9 until now.  I will soon reply to this with my own
recommendations regarding the contract.

- Richard

-- 
| Richard Darst  -  rkd@          -  pyke: up 17 days, 1:34
|            http://rkd.zgib.net  -  pgp 0xBD356740
| "Ye shall know the truth and -- the truth shall make you free"