Allow me to tell a little story about this thing we do called
      FUDCon.

      

    
FUDCon is the abbreviated term for the Fedora Users and
      Developers Conference, an event in which we gather together users
      and developers to plan the future, share experiences, solve
      problems, hack on stuff, spread the word of free and open source
      software, and let people get to know about this fabulous community
      we know as the Fedora Project.

      

    
Many moons ago (approximately 91 of them), the first FUDCon
      was held, in February, 2005. Legendary tales are now told of the
      event. Some are even true. While I highly recommend you consult
      with Tom "spot" Callaway to hear some of them, you can take a trip
      in the wayback machine and catch a view of what happened, here:
      https://fedoraproject.org/w/uploads/2/2c/FUDCon_FUDCon1Video.mov

      

    
We've had many FUDCons since then, to great success, in
      many locations all over the world. At the same time, the event has
      evolved to one that is community-organized and driven, from the
      selection of location via bidding, and budget management, and
      shirt design, to event content. It is a shining example of what
      makes Fedora so great: much like everything *else* the Fedora
      Project produces, the success of FUDCon depends on the community. 
      We most recently saw these successes at the FUDCon in Blacksburg,
      Virginia, in January[2], and I expect to see it again elsewhere in
      2012 -- in Venezuela, and in EMEA and APAC.

      

    
Okay, I'll stop waxing poetic and get on with the actual
      meat[1] of this email: BIDDING FOR THE LOCATION OF THE NEXT NORTH
      AMERICAN FUDCON IS NOW OPEN. And, incidentally, will close on
      March 23rd, 2012, with a decision in early April.

      

    
What does this mean? For you prospective North American
      FUDCon planners, a few things:

    
1: Make your wiki page, called
      [[FUDCon:Bid_for_<Your_Town>_2013]], with the information
      outlined on the bid process page.
      http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FUDCon_bid_process

      

    
2: Join the fudcon-planning list and let us know that your
      bid page is complete, or ask the list anything you'd like to know
      about bidding.
      http://lists.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/fudcon-planning

      

    
Important to note: FUDCon for North America should occur
      between December 1, 2012 and February 28, 2013, though ideally in
      December or January, as February is the last month of the fiscal
      year, and, well, expense reports need to get in, or Daddy
      Shadowman gets sad. The North American FUDCon has approximately a
      $20k (USD) budget.

      

    
Not sure if you want to bid, or if your location is ideal?
      Here are a few things to consider that are helpful to a bid:

      * Reasonable travel, room, and board costs

      * Free or inexpensive event space

      * Local FOSS or related communities (think: hackerspaces, etc.)
      that might be interested in attending

      * This time of year can be somewhat hairy for travel, weather
      aside; take into consideration timing of academic schedules for
      students, holiday travel, and the like.

      * Nice weather never hurts either. :)

      

      Looking forward to seeing your proposals, and to seeing many of
      you again, a little less than a year from now, at the next FUDCon
      in North America.

      

      -Robyn

      

      [1] You didn't *really* think I could get through an email without
      a Beefy Miracle pun, did you?

      [2] http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FUDCon:Blacksburg_2012