FUDcon LATAM 2011 decision & FAmSCo meeting minutes

[David Nalley]

At today's FAmSCo meeting the primary topic was a decision on the
location for FUDcon LATAM 2011.

This particular FUDcon bid process featured 4 very well qualified
proposals, from Foz do Iguaçu, Porto Alegre, Valparaíso, and Panama.
There were no bad choices in any of the proposals, and in truth any of
the venues would make an ideal venue. It's a sign of a very healthy
community that so many dedicated individuals have stepped up offering
to host FUDcon.  As noted in the bid process, regional ambassador
leadership, and ultimately the budget owner  (CommArch, represented by
Max Spevack, who is also on FAmSCo) is responsible for venue decision.
In the end the decision was for Panama as the location for FUDcon
LATAM 2011.

What follows is a bit of explanation, as a decision did have to be
made. The following issues seemed to be important during the course of
the FAmSCo meeting:

1. Whether we wanted a stand-alone FUDcon or one attached to a F/LOSS event.

and

2. Whether we wanted FUDcon to continue occurring in locations that
have previously held a FUDcon.

On the first point, historically FUDcon LATAM has generally been
attached to a F/LOSS conference. Other regions have noted that this
has been a potential difficulty. While attaching to an existing
conference potentially garners a larger audience, it also adds
distraction to both events. FAmSCo felt that a stand-alone event has
the potential for greater impact.

Despite the fact that we think that FUDcon is best as a standalone
event, we recognize the fact that events such as Latinoware and FISL
are key events in LATAM.  As such, we continue to encourage the
development of FADs at events such as these, and both FAmSCo and
CommArch are committed to ensuring that these can be funded at
appropriate levels.

Secondly, we have held FUDcons in Brazil, and Chile. While we tend to
have a larger contributor community in those regions, we felt it was
important to move FUDcon to a new region of LATAM, in hopes that we
can grow our contributor base in both maturity and number.

In the course of the meeting, there seemed to be repeated concern over
the fact that a large portion of our LATAM contributor base is from
South America, and the cost of travelling outside of that region.
Travel sponsorships are available, and the Fedora Project, via
CommArch is committed to seeing contributors from all over LATAM
attending FUDcon.

David Nalley
on behalf of FAmSCo


Minutes:
http://meetbot.fedoraproject.org/fedora-meeting-1/2010-11-01/fedora-meeti...

Minutes (text):
http://meetbot.fedoraproject.org/fedora-meeting-1/2010-11-01/fedora-meeti...

Log:
http://meetbot.fedoraproject.org/fedora-meeting-1/2010-11-01/fedora-meeti...

[Sven von Brand]

On 11/01/2010 06:03 PM, David Nalley wrote:
>  At today's FAmSCo meeting the primary topic was a decision on
> the
>  location for FUDcon LATAM 2011.
>
>  [...] As noted in the bid process, regional ambassador
>  leadership, and ultimately the budget owner  (CommArch, represented by
>  Max Spevack, who is also on FAmSCo) is responsible for venue decision.
>  In the end the decision was for Panama as the location for FUDcon
>  LATAM 2011.
>      
Congrats to Panamá, hopefully this will help grow the
community in the country and also in Central America.

I peronally have some experience doing 3D animation, and would
like to offer to make a commercial or publicity simple game for the
event.
One of my best pieces of work from last year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACaIyAHem78

>  What follows is a bit of explanation, as a decision did have to be
>  made. The following issues seemed to be important during the course of
>  the FAmSCo meeting:
>
>  1. Whether we wanted a stand-alone FUDcon or one attached to a F/LOSS event.
>
>  and
>
>  2. Whether we wanted FUDcon to continue occurring in locations that
>  have previously held a FUDcon.
>
>  [...]
>     
>  In the course of the meeting, there seemed to be repeated concern over
>  the fact that a large portion of our LATAM contributor base is from
>  South America, and the cost of travelling outside of that region.
>  Travel sponsorships are available, and the Fedora Project, via
>  CommArch is committed to seeing contributors from all over LATAM
>  attending FUDcon.
>      
I read the meeting log and would like to give some opinion:
First, it would have been great to have had someone from
Chile present at the meeting, I didn't attend, because I believed
I wasn't supposed to be present, but I saw that it was an open
meeting. For the next year maybe it would be a good idea to
invite a representative from each bid to the meeting.

Second: I wanted to clarify, that the difference between Panamá and
Brazil, Chile, Argentina and many other countries in South America
is that Central America is actually small compared to South
America, it is expensive to get there and it does not benefit from
countries around it, because it's much like a line of countries.
Actually I recommend seeing this wikipedia article on Peters
projection to really compare sizes:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proyecci%C3%B3n_de_Peters

And last, in my opinion it would be great if the sponsorship could go
to some strong "wanna be" contributors from other countries from
LATAM instead of just bringing the big contributors as I see FUDcon
LATAM not as giving a country a boost, but trying to give LATAM a
boost and help develop a community that goes beyond countries.

Hopefully in 2012 FUDcon LATAM comes closer to us here in Chile
and Brazil and has the participation of new contributors from
Panamá and contributors from other countries that became
contributors in Panamá!

Regards

-- 
Sven von Brand

[Abdel Gadiel Martínez Lassonde]

I think it's perfect.  I will contact my companion and consider it.  Thank
you all for believing in Panama.

2010/11/1 Sven von Brand Laredo <svbrand(a)alumnos.inf.utfsm.cl&gt;

>  On 11/01/2010 06:03 PM, David Nalley wrote:
>  > At today's FAmSCo meeting the primary topic was a decision on the
>  > location for FUDcon LATAM 2011.
>  >
>  > [...] As noted in the bid process, regional ambassador
>  > leadership, and ultimately the budget owner  (CommArch, represented by
>  > Max Spevack, who is also on FAmSCo) is responsible for venue decision.
>  > In the end the decision was for Panama as the location for FUDcon
>  > LATAM 2011.
>  >
>
>  Congrats to Panamá, hopefully this will help grow the
>  community in the country and also in Central America.
>
>  I peronally have some experience doing 3D animation, and would
>  like to offer to make a commercial or publicity simple game for the
>  event.
>  One of my best pieces of work from last year:
>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACaIyAHem78
>
>  > What follows is a bit of explanation, as a decision did have to be
>  > made. The following issues seemed to be important during the course of
>  > the FAmSCo meeting:
>  >
>  > 1. Whether we wanted a stand-alone FUDcon or one attached to a F/LOSS
>  event.
>  >
>  > and
>  >
>  > 2. Whether we wanted FUDcon to continue occurring in locations that
>  > have previously held a FUDcon.
>  >
>  > [...]
>  >
>  > In the course of the meeting, there seemed to be repeated concern over
>  > the fact that a large portion of our LATAM contributor base is from
>  > South America, and the cost of travelling outside of that region.
>  > Travel sponsorships are available, and the Fedora Project, via
>  > CommArch is committed to seeing contributors from all over LATAM
>  > attending FUDcon.
>  >
>
>  I read the meeting log and would like to give some opinion:
>  First, it would have been great to have had someone from
>  Chile present at the meeting, I didn't attend, because I believed
>  I wasn't supposed to be present, but I saw that it was an open
>  meeting. For the next year maybe it would be a good idea to
>  invite a representative from each bid to the meeting.
>
>  Second: I wanted to clarify, that the difference between Panamá and
>  Brazil, Chile, Argentina and many other countries in South America
>  is that Central America is actually small compared to South
>  America, it is expensive to get there and it does not benefit from
>  countries around it, because it's much like a line of countries.
>  Actually I recommend seeing this wikipedia article on Peters
>  projection to really compare sizes:
>  http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proyecci%C3%B3n_de_Peters
>
>  And last, in my opinion it would be great if the sponsorship could go
>  to some strong "wanna be" contributors from other countries from
>  LATAM instead of just bringing the big contributors as I see FUDcon
>  LATAM not as giving a country a boost, but trying to give LATAM a
>  boost and help develop a community that goes beyond countries.
>
>  Hopefully in 2012 FUDcon LATAM comes closer to us here in Chile
>  and Brazil and has the participation of new contributors from
>  Panamá and contributors from other countries that became
>  contributors in Panamá!
>
>  Regards
>
>  --
>  Sven von Brand
>  _______________________________________________
>  fudcon-planning mailing list
>  fudcon-planning(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/fudcon-planning
>  


-- 
*Abdel G. Martínez L.

Celular:
6125-1563

Correo Electrónico:
abdel.martinez(a)yahoo.com
abdel.martinez(a)utp.ac.pa
abdel.martinez(a)hotmail.es
abdel.g.martinez.l(a)gmail.com*

[Igor Pires Soares]

Em Seg, 2010-11-01 às 19:15 -0300, Sven von Brand Laredo escreveu:
>  I read the meeting log and would like to give some opinion:
>  First, it would have been great to have had someone from
>  Chile present at the meeting, I didn't attend, because I believed
>  I wasn't supposed to be present, but I saw that it was an open
>  meeting. For the next year maybe it would be a good idea to
>  invite a representative from each bid to the meeting. 
I indeed missed someone from Chile in the meeting.

>  Second: I wanted to clarify, that the difference between Panamá and
>  Brazil, Chile, Argentina and many other countries in South America
>  is that Central America is actually small compared to South
>  America, it is expensive to get there and it does not benefit from
>  countries around it, because it's much like a line of countries.
>  Actually I recommend seeing this wikipedia article on Peters
>  projection to really compare sizes:
>  http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proyecci%C3%B3n_de_Peters 
That was one of my main concerns during the bid process. Central America
has a small population if compared to South America and this is one of
the reasons why we don't have many contributors there. Despite that they
indeed deserve to host a FUDCon, it is a good bid. Now we have to plan
the event considering these issues.

I reinforce that we have to think the FUDCon LATAM not as a big set of
talks but as a balanced amount of talks along with technical activities.
Even having a higher number of technical people in the regions where
last FUDCons in LATAM were held the organizers weren't able to treat
technical sessions and hackfests appropriately. This is something we
really should pay attention this time by forehand. And since most
technical contributors are from other parts of the continent we will
spend a lot of money with travel subsidies. Fortunately, CommArch is
committed in supporting the community on that so we can attenuate the
problem.  

Now it is a good time to join our friends from Panama and help them to
make the best FUDCon ever!

Regards,
-- 
Igor Pires Soares
Fedora I18N/L10N QA
Fedora Ambassador (Brazil)
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/User:Igor

[Alejandro Perez]

Excellent if you can collaborate with this will be a great help.

Thanks.

On Mon, 2010-11-01 at 19:15 -0300, Sven von Brand Laredo wrote:
>  On 11/01/2010 06:03 PM, David Nalley wrote:
>  > At today's FAmSCo meeting the primary topic was a decision on the
>  > location for FUDcon LATAM 2011.
>  >
>  > [...] As noted in the bid process, regional ambassador
>  > leadership, and ultimately the budget owner  (CommArch, represented by
>  > Max Spevack, who is also on FAmSCo) is responsible for venue decision.
>  > In the end the decision was for Panama as the location for FUDcon
>  > LATAM 2011.
>  >    
>  
>  Congrats to Panamá, hopefully this will help grow the
>  community in the country and also in Central America.
>  
>  I peronally have some experience doing 3D animation, and would
>  like to offer to make a commercial or publicity simple game for the
>  event.
>  One of my best pieces of work from last year:
>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACaIyAHem78
>  
>  > What follows is a bit of explanation, as a decision did have to be
>  > made. The following issues seemed to be important during the course of
>  > the FAmSCo meeting:
>  >
>  > 1. Whether we wanted a stand-alone FUDcon or one attached to a F/LOSS event.
>  >
>  > and
>  >
>  > 2. Whether we wanted FUDcon to continue occurring in locations that
>  > have previously held a FUDcon.
>  >
>  > [...]
>  >    
>  > In the course of the meeting, there seemed to be repeated concern over
>  > the fact that a large portion of our LATAM contributor base is from
>  > South America, and the cost of travelling outside of that region.
>  > Travel sponsorships are available, and the Fedora Project, via
>  > CommArch is committed to seeing contributors from all over LATAM
>  > attending FUDcon.
>  >    
>  
>  I read the meeting log and would like to give some opinion:
>  First, it would have been great to have had someone from
>  Chile present at the meeting, I didn't attend, because I believed
>  I wasn't supposed to be present, but I saw that it was an open
>  meeting. For the next year maybe it would be a good idea to
>  invite a representative from each bid to the meeting.
>  
>  Second: I wanted to clarify, that the difference between Panamá and
>  Brazil, Chile, Argentina and many other countries in South America
>  is that Central America is actually small compared to South
>  America, it is expensive to get there and it does not benefit from
>  countries around it, because it's much like a line of countries.
>  Actually I recommend seeing this wikipedia article on Peters
>  projection to really compare sizes:
>  http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proyecci%C3%B3n_de_Peters
>  
>  And last, in my opinion it would be great if the sponsorship could go
>  to some strong "wanna be" contributors from other countries from
>  LATAM instead of just bringing the big contributors as I see FUDcon
>  LATAM not as giving a country a boost, but trying to give LATAM a
>  boost and help develop a community that goes beyond countries.
>  
>  Hopefully in 2012 FUDcon LATAM comes closer to us here in Chile
>  and Brazil and has the participation of new contributors from
>  Panamá and contributors from other countries that became
>  contributors in Panamá!
>  
>  Regards
>

[María Leandro]

This is an excellent oportunity for Central America to grow.

Even if the largest amount of Contributors lives in the south part of LATAM,
there is a great group of people that I'm sure; will do an excellent work
this year representing CEAM.

We ALL help Panamá to be an excellent event and is our responsability as
team, as group and as community to provide all our support to the groups
that need to grow.

This wasn't a competition about who is the biggest community, neither a
debate about who deserve to have the FUDcon. This even is an oportunity that
year after year gives the chance to new people learn how to contribute to
our distro... new people.

I'm really glad that Panamá has this chance and that they will run an
excellent organization with our support. Is time for to CEAM to shine :)





-- 
tatica
Maria Gracia Leandro
http://www.tatica.org
http://www.fedora-ve.org
http://proyectofedora.org
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/MariaLeandro
LinuxUser= 440285
GPG Public Key: E1CDCC56
"Be yourself... Don't be anyone else"