Thanks Andrea, You are quite right, unfortunately. Sharing and discussing experiences and insights on this could come across as negative.
The same happened when I read an earlier discussion on a Code of Conduct for conferences. Frankly I was abhorred that such code was deemed necessary. Until I realised that I was perhaps ignorant (living in Amsterdam is such a privilege). Can I invite you to share your list-of-thoughts regarding potential pitfalls for a Conference at least with me (marcvloemans1[at]gmail.com)? It would be such a shame if we unintentionally overlook the obvious! Cheers, Marc Vloemans > Op 30 mei 2016 om 03:49 heeft Andrea Ross <andrea.r...@eclipse.org> het > volgende geschreven: > > Marc, > > I started to write a whole bunch of thoughts related to this but instead > decided against as I felt it was stating the obvious and I didn't want the > thoughts to be perceived as negative. > > The essence was that these things you have listed are great, and they help > keep things from being screwed up, but they're not the hard work that it > takes to really make a difference. So good, but so much more is needed. > > Kind regards, > > Andrea > >> On 28/05/16 11:26, Marc Vloemans wrote: >> Dear all, >> >> To build upon the positive results as mentioned in the thread below, I >> invite anyone to supply any suggestion that may support the LOC FOSS4G 2016 >> in Bonn Germany, regarding diversity related policies during the actual >> Conference. Either directly to me or via this list. >> >> As LOC we strive to be aware that public policies and personal experiences >> vary per continent, region, country and/or province. However, living in >> Western-Europe we sometimes are unaware how fortunate we are! That could >> hinder us in anticipating potential fears, uncertainties and doubts that >> visitors to Bonn may have. >> >> For starters, please note the following from >> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Germany : >> >> "Germany has become the first country in Europe to enact a law that allows >> German citizens to choose to neither identify as male or female on their >> birth certificate, which has been said to specifically benefit >> hermaphrodites and intersex persons." >> >> Unfortunately same sex marriage is still 'under construction', but that does >> not reflect negatively on a number of laws protecting the rights of the >> LGBTI community (including registered partnership). >> >> Best regards and hopefully we meet in Bonn, >> Marc Vloemans >> >> >> >> >> Vriendelijke groet, >> Marc Vloemans >> >> Op 28 mei 2016 om 03:04 heeft Andrea Ross <andrea.r...@eclipse.org> het >> volgende geschreven: >> >>> Dear Kristin, Everyone >>> >>> The sex/gender split was similar for FOSS4G NA 2016 as FOSS4G NA 2015. In >>> the range of 25 to 30 percent women for both speakers and attendees. We >>> don't ask people their gender as part of submitting or registering, so this >>> is obviously a best effort from having met a number of folks, and >>> discretely Google-stalking them just a little. >>> >>> We probably had a record high number of trans people participate, despite >>> North Carolina's HB2. Also because of HB2, many LGBT people reached out to >>> me before the conference to understand what was being done, and to help >>> decide whether to boycott or not. We are so grateful that so many did not >>> boycott, and came anyway. It was a moving experience for me to learn how >>> big the LGBT part of the community is and get a bit of the sense of how >>> important the work they're doing is. >>> >>> Also, I want to call out the exemplary work of the Raleigh Convention >>> Center. They really went above and beyond to ensure our attendees were safe >>> and comfortable. So far as I know, there were zero instances of harassment >>> of LGBT people. Laurie Okun from the Convention Center in particular was a >>> superstar and so impressive & professional from our first contact when >>> trying to assess Raleigh, through the chaos that HB2 inflicted, and to the >>> post-conference follow-up. We are grateful. >>> >>> So many good things to note. I also want to note that it is still a mostly >>> white conference. So the job is not done, and there's still much more >>> important work to be done. >>> >>> Kind regards, >>> >>> Andrea >>> >>>> On 27/05/16 17:28, Kristin Bott wrote: >>>> Thanks for sharing the synopsis; I'm especially encouraged by (1) gender >>>> (identity) parity in the planning committee (2) strong presence of >>>> female-identifying folk at the conference and (3) continued financial >>>> support for attendees. >>>> >>>> I'd be curious what the gender split was across attendees v. speakers -- >>>> possibly something worth tracking across years of conferences to get a >>>> sense of any shifts in attendee demographics. >>>> >>>> cheers - >>>> -k.bott >>>> >>>> >>>>> On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 7:09 AM, Mark Lucas <mluca...@mac.com> wrote: >>>>> I had the pleasure of serving as the OSGeo representative for the 2016 >>>>> FOSS4G NA conference selection and planning. I thought the team did an >>>>> excellent job in selecting, planning and running the conference. The >>>>> team made the decision to not pursue a 2017 NA conference so as not to >>>>> compete for resources with the OSGeo international conference. Our >>>>> efforts will focus on 2018 planning and selection for the next NA >>>>> regional conference. >>>>> >>>>> On a personal note I was initially concerned about how the relationship >>>>> with Location Tech and OSGeo would evolve. Our teaming has resulted in >>>>> yet another successful conference that I believe plays to the strengths >>>>> of both organizations. I was very pleased with the openness and >>>>> collaboration that I witnessed. >>>>> — Mark >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The synopsis from Andrea Ross is included below: >>>>> >>>>> FOSS4G >>>>> >>>>> NA 2016 Synopsis (please feel free to >>>>> re-use this data) >>>>> >>>>> The >>>>> >>>>> conference ran from May 2-5, at >>>>> the Raleigh Convention Center, in >>>>> Raleigh North Carolina. The code >>>>> sprint & unconference ran May >>>>> 6 & 7 at Red Hat’s >>>>> headquarters, a few blocks from >>>>> the convention center. A Tour of >>>>> the NCSU OSGeo Research and >>>>> Education lab took place on May >>>>> 6th. >>>>> The >>>>> >>>>> conference featured 1 day of >>>>> workshops, 3 days of sessions, a >>>>> code sprint, an unconference, and >>>>> social events every night. There >>>>> were 93 full length (35 minute) >>>>> sessions, 36 short length (15 >>>>> minute) sessions, 10 workshops, >>>>> and 3 keynotes. This represented >>>>> an increase in full length. The >>>>> rooms were generally always near >>>>> full or slightly overflowing for >>>>> particularly popular talks, >>>>> despite them being big rooms. >>>>> The >>>>> >>>>> conference grew by 33% . There >>>>> were 558 attendees. This level of >>>>> increase is very positive, when so >>>>> many other conferences are in >>>>> decline. >>>>> Like >>>>> >>>>> 2015’s team, 50% of the 2016 >>>>> committee were women. Also like >>>>> 2015, a significant proportion of >>>>> speakers and attendees were women >>>>> (in the 30% range), which is great >>>>> to see. >>>>> 23 >>>>> >>>>> people were at the conference who >>>>> wouldn't have otherwise been >>>>> without the financial support we >>>>> gave them. >>>>> From >>>>> >>>>> the attendee survey, people were >>>>> clearly thrilled about the >>>>> conference... 99% positive >>>>> feedback. (n=102). The one >>>>> negative response said they were >>>>> disappointed there was no lunch >>>>> served. We’re not sure how they >>>>> missed it! The venue, the strong >>>>> program, and the positive & >>>>> supportive atmosphere were the >>>>> things people commented >>>>> (positively) on most. >>>>> People >>>>> >>>>> loved the keynotes, and especially >>>>> Tamar Cohen's entitled Extreme >>>>> Mapping. >>>>> The >>>>> >>>>> video recordings of sessions are >>>>> being uploaded to Youtube, with >>>>> dozens up, and more each day. >>>>> 90% >>>>> >>>>> of sponsors rated the value >>>>> excellent. 10% rated it very good. >>>>> The layout of the conference was >>>>> especially appreciated as it meant >>>>> plenty of traffic for sponsors at >>>>> all times. >>>>> >>>>> This >>>>> >>>>> year’s conference was produced by >>>>> Andrea Ross and the team at the >>>>> Eclipse Foundation, the same as 2015. >>>>> Sarah Cordivano served as Community >>>>> Chair. Rob Emanuele was Program >>>>> Committee Chair, repeating the same >>>>> role he performed in 2015. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Discuss mailing list >>>>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Discuss mailing list >>>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Discuss mailing list >>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > >
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