[Linux-aus] Questions and suggestions re Linux Australia travel grants (formerly Regional Delegate Programs)

[Joshua Hesketh]

Hi Ian,

On 10/04/14 22:22, Ian wrote:
> Could I please have some clarification on this motion of the
> Face-To-Face Meeting 2014 and how this might work as it leaves me a
> bit more confused than usual:
> "
>
> MOTIONby Christopher Neugebauer that financial assistance programs
> such as the Regional delegates Programme for LCA be moved to the
> budget of the relevant conference to administer
>
> SECONDED Hugh Blemings
>
> CARRIED unanimously
> "
>
> Does this mean the LA will decide on a figure which will then be
> transferred as a budget item for that Year's LCA Committee to then run
> it as a part of their planning and management of the event?
>
> OR
>
> Does the Year's LCA Committee decide how much of their Budget will be
> spent on the program and then run it as a part of their planning and
> management?
>

It mostly means this one. In reality it'll mean balancing how much of
the budget can be put towards programmes such as the RDP vs returning
profit to the administration and activities of LA. For the last few
years it has come out of LA's budget because the conferences have
returned a profit, so moving it into the conference budget and returning
less makes sense. In terms of who decides its level it'll be done in
collaboration between the LCA and LA teams most likely looking at the
large budget of LA.

> OR is it something other than what I might be understanding it to be?
>
>
> In recent years there has been talk about seeking extra funding to
> ensure more people can attend as costs of  travel and accommodation
> have jumped considerably especially when travel to/from countries
> overseas from the candidates are considered. Would this aspect of
> budget amounts be better kept within the capacity of LA to decide on a
> budgetary basis as well as candidate criteria and then when the
> outlines are agreed pass that onto the Year LCA Committee to manage?
>

Having it in the LCA budget doesn't mean it's a requirement for the LCA
to manage the programme. Hopefully the volunteers who have been involved
in the past are happy to continue helping out. The idea is for LA and
LCA to work together to see what kind of programme is
feasible/achievable and then handing that budget to other volunteers who
are able to help run the logistics.

>
> Separate from the above questions but still within the gamut of this
> post is the question of the day-to-day management of the travel grants
> program. Generally previous members tasked with management of the
> selection and evaluation of candidates then the management of the
> travel and accommodation and all the other little tasks have found it
> to be a very full on and complex role and one that has burned out a
> number of people over the years. 
>
>
> Could there be a group of non-Council/non-LCA Committee members set up
> to fulfil these roles as an ongoing sub-Committee of either LA or the
> relevant LCA? Thus expertise and skills would not be learned and lost
> from one year to the next and there would always be a group of people
> with relevant skills able to assist from year to year. Overall
> management and responsibility would always be at the top level but
> with appropriate direction and reporting the sub-Committee could carry
> on with the task set out for them.
>

This is actually more or less what has been happening for the last few
years, albeit not as a formal committee. There is usually an overlap of
expertise from each year or the people involved in running it reach out
to the relative people for advice.

>
> Note: Having been a recipient of this Program in the past I have a
> vested interest in seeing it not only continue but develop to fulfil
> what I believe to be a real need amongst the Linux/OpenSource
> community of this region.
>
Excellent stuff, we're always looking for feedback+input.

I hope this helps!

Cheers,
Josh

>
> -- 
> -- Ian
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> linux-aus mailing list
> linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au
> http://lists.linux.org.au/listinfo/linux-aus

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