Geoff Wicks wrote: > > > the bill from the venue owners should be addressed to Quanta Treasurer > at > > > the address inside the front cover of Quanta Newsletter.(Or a photocopy > of > > > the receipted bill if it has already been paid). > > > > > This is statement of long standing QUANTA policy on QL workshops that should > be known to most members. What still is not answered is how far QUANTA would > support, financially and otherwise, a QL2000 type show. > > As I understand it, and if I am wrong I am sure one of the "old" QUANTA > committee will correct me, QL2000 was organised directly by QUANTA with > only a minimal contribution from the local group. (If, indeed, there was > still a local group in existence.) > > Realistically I don't think we can reasonably expect QUANTA to do the same > again from both a financial and organisational aspect. It would probably > have to be a joint effort by a local group and QUANTA, and in this respect > Roy's offer seems to be the most practical so far. > > If we are really serious about another QL2000, it has to be more just a > hall, tea and coffee. A two day event with a fancy name, but which otherwise > remains much the same as any other show is New Labour, not QL2000. Apart from wanting to keep politics out of it, I agree completely. (The PM's surname means "messy" or "untidy" in Welsh and anything involving politics gets messy).
If we are going for a 2004 event to celebrate 21 years of Quanta and 20-odd years of the QL, it gives us plenty of time to plan ahead and dream up some ideas to make this an extra special event. As far as I can see, we need to look at the experience of QL 2000 and build on that for this event. To get discussion going, now that we know that Quanta are at least considering the idea, let me list what I think made QL2000 special: * QLers from several countries (USA, Switzerland, France, Germany etc etc) attended - it was the first time I'd met Jon Dent, Al Boehm, Tim Swenson, Arnould Nazarian and several others with whom I have corresponded over the years. * Many discussions and lectures, from digital cameras to soql. * Excellent venue, plenty of space, well located, easy to find, fairly close to air and sea ports * Socialising in the evenings * Almost all the well known traders there for what was a well attended meeting * Several software and hardware designers there to meet members and discuss problems etc with them Now what can we come up with for the next meeting? We need to try to at least equal the above, and think what else will be current at the time: * Marcel Kilgus's work on QPC2, SMSQ/E 3, Aurora "colour drivers", Nasta's latest designs etc * Where will Q60 development be by that time? * Two GUI's for QDOS/SMSQ-E systems available by then * Small exhibition of Quanta's history - photos of past shows, committee members etc, try to get at least one of the founders there (e.g. Leon Heller or Brian Pain) if we can trace them now * Try to persuade well known figures from the QL's past to attend, e.g. Tony Tebby, Freddy Vachha, David (SectorSoftware) Batty * I'm aware Tony T. might be reading this, but I think it's high time his many years of service to the QL was recognised in a very public way, or Quanta+QL Toady could organise a vote on who should be awarded a special prize or momento for service to the QL scene, with the result announced at the show and all efforts made to get that person to attend of course. * Organise a "Way Forward For The QL" discussion - always good fun and arguments even when nothing comes of it! * Ask people to submit ideas for tutorial sessions, lectures etc, that way we get to provide what people actually want, if no ideas submitted we just get the usual workshops anyway! * Social event organised between the two days of the event * Consideration given to practicality of helping sub-groups with travel arrangements and possibly contribution to costs of people travelling as a group (e.g. part of cost of hiring minibus or some such group travel arrangement, i.e. discourage individual travelling by cars over long distance) I hope that, although England is probably the best place to organise such a meeting due to it having th elargest number of QLers, we will be able to get as many visitors as possible from the QLing countries of Europe and North America. Just some ideas, I'm sure there'll be plenty of flaming/more ideas/improvements! -- Dilwyn Jones
