[Linux-aus] LCA 2023 ?

[Andrew Donnellan]

Hi Kathy,

On Sat, 30 Jul 2022 at 20:32, Kathy Reid via linux-aus <
linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au> wrote:

> My point is this - LCA, PyConAU and similar events simply don't run if we
> don't have volunteers to run them. And if the events weren't fun, or
> worthwhile, or high value, we wouldn't have people missing them. In a
> perverse way, it's a good thing that we're missing LCA and PyConAU -
> because it's highlighted the invisible labour, the taken-for-granted
> volunteers and the thousands of hours of time and passion that go into
> these events. We've gotten comfortable expecting an LCA every January or a
> PyConAU every September. Because the work of delivering them has been
> hidden - behind maturity, behind dedicated people, behind better processes
> and systems and technology and communications.
>
> Without that passion, that time, that labour, these events don't happen.
> So, if you want an open source event to happen in 2023, you know what to
> do. Patches welcome.
>
I absolutely appreciate all of these points, as someone who personally saw
through a series of fully volunteer-run conferences from 2013-16 from
initial conception through to making the final call to dissolve our
association and archive the website - for precisely the reason you
described: we determined that we had no sustainable pipeline of volunteers.
I spent many, many hours doing just about everything - running a CFP,
calling insurance brokers, filling out tax paperwork, handling travel
bookings for speakers, packing bags with conference shirts... (and so I
also understand why people *don't* volunteer!) I have seen just the tiniest
glimpse into the enormous effort that is organising an LCA after running a
miniconf for 6 years - I would personally love to help out LCA more, but
unfortunately being a miniconf organiser is currently the upper bound of my
ability to contribute to LCA given my role on the committees of two other
non-profits (that, just like LA, are struggling immensely to recruit
volunteers).

The specific motivation behind my question was to get a bit of clarity as
to whether I might end up running a miniconf again at LCA2023, whether I
should start sounding out some contacts who may be interested in submitting
miniconf talks, and a potential sponsorship opportunity I'm looking at. I
appreciate your point that Joel is also very busy and has a lot to do, and
with the benefit of hindsight my last email should have been less curt and
a bit more respectful. Joel's last email did suggest that some decisions
and announcements are in the pipeline and I'm eager to hear what they are -
whether it be a regular LCA, an online event, or a decision to take a break
and reset ourselves for 2024 (a very reasonable choice!).


Andrew

-- 
Andrew Donnellan
http://andrew.donnellan.id.au         andrew at donnellan.id.au
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