"A few days ago, everyone read about this year's WalterCon being canceled, which left people with non-refundable, non-transferable [airplane] tickets (you can read Mikesum32's reaction here) in their hands. Fortunately for them, an alternative has now been set up, and they will be able to still meet, in San Francisco, on August 11th. The venue? Picnix 16, a Linux gathering. The name? FalterCon 2007. Read on for my thoughts on this."
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Member since:2005-07-27
"Luposian - you sound like you are proposing a somewhat-totalitarian approach to dealing with this issue."
With an Announce-Open-Cancelled (AOC) event timeline of less than 30 days, that goes into entirely new realms of bad event management!
It was so sad (pathetic), I was actually laughing about it! But, then again, I hadn't just spent a few hundred dollars towards getting to WalterCon.
Events like WalterCon should be held at the same time every year. Same month, same days. That way, "planning ahead" is a no-brainer. either you CAN go or you CAN'T go. This way, nothing like FalterCon *ever* has to be held, to make up... for the screwup!
I propose there be TWO WalterCons... maybe more, if needed. Each one run to a very specific timeframe (month/days), as determined by a vote of the best time(s) members of that area (country) can most likely attend. When the vote is ended, the month/days are calculated to the absolute most balanced date possible. If the majority of people state the same month they're available to attend, then THAT month is set as THE month WalterCon is held. If the days are kinda mixed around, between the users, then you set as close to the absolute middle of all those days.
It then gets set in stone... "THIS" month on "THESE" days. Either you can or you can't attend. Those that CAN attend MUST give at least X# of days advance notice that they WILL be coming, barring an absolute emergency. All people are responsible for their own expenses getting to WalterCon and such-n-such expenses, as necessary are stated.
Everything is set in stone. No questions. No waffling. No wasted tickets. No (!!!)ing "FalterCon" to make up for the screwup!
Now, about possibly more than one WalterCon...
People that live in America are fairly close together. People in Canada and Mexico are close enough to America as well... (why do you think G.W. Bush is trying to make all three into one happy North American Union?), so for WalterCon 1, call it WalterCon NA (North America), which covers all three countries (USA, Canada, and Mexico).
For WalterCon 2, let's assume there are a bunch of users/developers living in Europe. Do those people really want to hop a long plane ride to go all the way to WalterCon NA? I know I sure wouldn't. for them, you have WalterCon Europe.
And, if there be enough users/developers in countries and areas too far from either of those two locations, then set up a Waltercon there!
Phipps should be (though someone else could take the position) the leader of the NA branch. Bruno or Axel could be the leader of the European branch. Each one is run to the exact same, strict standards.
This prevents long flights, jetlag, higher plane ticket prices, etc. You could set up a big screen hooked up to a bunch of Macs w/ iSights, running iChat and have a big ol' video conference party or somesuch.
Well... seems like a good idea to me, at least...
Member since:
2006-01-26
Luposian - you sound like you are proposing a somewhat-totalitarian approach to dealing with this issue.
"They mock us, so they must die!"
"Let's pay to make this problem disappear!"
Haiku, Inc. could have continue to run the event even if it meant losing money, but they chose not to. As I said previously, what's done is done - and we're going to do something else instead.
Here, how bout this: FalterCon is an event where Haiku community members get together and visit Linux gatherings in order to demonstrate Haiku and gain the favor of some Linux users/developers who may not otherwise have even heard of Haiku.
Now is it acceptable? Are you just stuck on the name?