[Linux-aus] Communication and conferences.

Mon Oct 17 11:16:18 AEDT 2022

Hi Marcus

I understand you're unhappy about the way OE was announced. I can't see how
continually questioning the people who are bankrolling OE is going to
achieve anything. What's happened has happened, and can't be undone or
changed. Given the people concerned are volunteers, with a day job and a
life to fit in as well, it's not surprising some members consider
communication lacking. Corporates who pay people to communicate with the
public full time suffer from that problem too.

Perhaps you could explain what you'd like to see happen next? What actions
can be taken to address your concerns?

That question applies to anyone else who is also unhappy. Rather than
obsess about the past, let's work out how to fix this and move on.

Personally, I am sad that LCA 23 is not happening. I hope LCA 24 can
proceed, and that there are some people out there somewhere now in the
early stages of working out how they'd run one - though I realise time is
getting short for that.

I am pleased someone stepped up and volunteered to run an LCA-lookalike.
And that's what I consider OE to be. Yet another conference bankrolled and
supported by LA - not LCA but modelled on it so those of us who enjoy LCA
don't miss out entirely. I don't see how supporting yet another open source
conference changes the direction of LA - it's what LA has been doing
"forever". Will OE "replace" LCA? I don't know, my crystal ball isn't
working. It depends on what the community actively supports. Perhaps 2024
will see a viable proposal for an LCA, and not for another OE. Or perhaps
for another OE and not LCA. Or perhaps proposals for both.

The fact that at least some of the organisers of OE happen to be LA council
members is in one way coincidence. In another it's not - those who run for
council are clearly more willing and able to help our community than
others, so it's not surprising they step up when no one else does. My
thanks to those people.

I look forward to reading what concrete actions could be taken to address
people's concerns. Though I would not be in favour of cancelling OE. ;-)

Cheers,
Anne.

On Mon, 17 Oct 2022 at 09:43, Marcus Herstik via linux-aus <
linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au> wrote:

> No offence to the people who work hard and do the work of running the LA.
> However it appears to me they have gone a direction some members do not
> approve and have taken the reigns and pushed the organisation in a
> particular direction.
> See notes below.
>
>
> On 17 Oct 2022, at 12:39 am, Joel Addison <joel at addison.net.au> wrote:
>
> 
>
> On 16 Oct 2022, at 22:07, Marcus Herstik via linux-aus <
> linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au> wrote:
>
> Let me see if I can provide the timeline and point out why some people may
> be a little upset with the lack of communication from Linux Australia (LA),
> the lack of a Linux Conference Australia (LCA) and the new EverythingOpen
> (EO) conference.
> While I have looked at the LA mail list archive from December 2021 to now
> to ensure a full grasp and also so that I am not forgetting something I may
> have dismissed in haste there is no guarantee provided. You can check the
> list archive yourself.
>
> On June 12th there was an email asking about what is happening with LCA
> 2023. It was advised that the “LA council  have been discussing this over
> the past few months”. They’ll LA council would have an announcement in the
> next few weeks.
>
> Nothing else material except for the comment by Steven Ellis on June 13
> that he hoped “something is going on elsewhere we don't know about.” Yet
> nothing is said.
>
> Again LA was asked between July 26-30th about LCA for 2023.
> After a brief reply and a pithy response commenting about “so many
> dedicated volunteers helping” and after advising to “submit patches” there
> was a retort that this has been requested for at least a month and it was
> noted that there was no request for assistance and a bit more discussion
> without any information.
>
> I must note that there was a few emails regarding the time and effort
> needed to put on an LCA that people may find enlightening.  (See Paul
> Wayper on June 13 and Kathy Reid on July 30th.)
>
> I might also note that at this time there have been no calls for an LCA
> 2024 so far.
>
> August 3rd we got an update that it was close to resolved and start
> sounding out for speakers.
>
> September 30th - Rip/Vale LCA email starts this type of discussion.
>
> I am happy to be proven wrong but I can  see no official update on LCA
> provided. After the RIP/Vale email then an announcement about EO was
> posted.
>
> It has since been said that the unacceptable bid (if it may be called
> that) was advised. However without access to the committee meeting minutes
> it is difficult to see what happened. (I might note that the Constitution
> allows for asking for these under section 40(1)(a), but don’t take my word
> on it - read it yourself)
>
> So when some members state there is a lack of transparency, it is hard to
> disagree.
> This is because there were multiple requests for information and despite
> assurances to the contrary nothing was provided, at least publicly. I
> certainly can not point to any communication despite others having multiple
> attempts at asking what is happening.
> There was no further requests for help or for people to put a conference
> on, nor does there appear to be advice that an alternative was being
> investigated by the council.
>
> What are the members supposed to think?
> We are told we don’t step up and we need to be grateful for online
> conferences despite the fact that some people want to go back to F2F
> conferences, to the dismay of others.
>
> So it appears either we (the members) were forgotten, lied to or misled
> that information would be forthcoming, or something else happened. The
> question is what happened?
>
> So why are people upset?
> Because what could be perceived as a very similar conference, sponsored by
> LA (whatever that means - could one assume financial assistance?) that has
> some similar categories to the LCA miniconfs and potentially taking the
> place of the LCA.
> The website specifically says “Linux Australia has decided to run this
> event to provide a space for a cross-section of the open technologies
> communities to come together in person.”
> It also says “The presentations cover a broad range of subject areas,
> including Linux, open source software, open hardware, open data, open
> government, open GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums), to name
> a few.”
>
> I’m sorry but it looks darn similar.  It even states it uses the LA code
> of conduct with “All attendees of Everything Open 2023 agree to be bound by
> the Linux Australia Code of Conduct.”
>
> When was it decided that LCA would be dropped in favour of EO?
> Is there a team that has decided they don’t want to do LCA but still want
> the same thing so they made EO?
> I’m very confused by this conference.
> So is this LCA2023 by another name?
>
> If not, why not?
>
> And why has there been no call for 2024?
>
> Just my 2c and an attempt at timeline and sorting out.
>
> Regards,
> Marcus Herstik
>
>
>
> Linux Australia has decided to hold Everything Open in 2023. As you have
> seen, there is much overlap, because it is the natural evolution of what we
> have seen with linux.conf.au.
>
>
> So basically it is LCA by another name.
>
> Everything Open will still cover everything we have seen at LCA, something
> I think you've picked up on given the large overlap with announcement and
> website content. It is designed to be inclusive to all members of the free
> and open source technologies communities, giving people from all of
> the areas that Linux Australia represents an avenue to come together to
> share knowledge. There will still be other conferences auspiced by Linux
> Australia in 2023 and beyond, focusing on specific communities, e.g. PyCon
> AU, DrupalSouth, WordCamps, etc.
>
>
> But no LCA. Got it.
>
> The 3 day duration of EO2023 is the same as the past two online
> conferences, given it is the first event in a few years with an in person
> component,
>
>
> Except for the one that was submitted but rejected.
>
> and that there is still uncertainty around what might be going on in
> the world, how many people are able and willing to travel, etc.
>
>
> Ok. So what? Why was the 2022 bid not suggested earlier to consider moving
> to 2023?
>
>
> There is a longer overview on the base website:
> https://everythingopen.au/news/introducing-everything-open/
> We will also have more to say as we go - we have only done the first
> announcement so far.
>
>
> From this page “ It is with all of this in mind that Linux Australia has
> decided to organise Everything Open 2023, a new conference that embraces
> all facets of open technology”.
>
> Congratulations - it seems you have declared this the new LCA.
> Who made this decision?
> Who is this group that have organised EO?
>
> As is usual, the Call for Volunteers will go out a bit later on. Getting
> ahead of the announcement, we are looking at opening this in November. Feel
> free to mark your calendar to look out for this.
>
> All subcommittees and events that are auspiced by Linux Australia are
> required to have a Code of Conduct in place. Linux Australia has a Code of
> Conduct, and this is the one that most end up adopting. Given Everything
> Open is auspiced by Linux Australia, it shouldn't be a surprised that the
> Code of Conduct is shared.
>
> As for 2024, Council has been occupied with getting the 2023 conference
> announced, because we thought it was more important to get 2023 sorted
> before looking to future years. Of course we haven't forgotten that we also
> need to get the ball rolling for 2024 and beyond, and there will be further
> details sent out once they are ready.
>
> Regards,
>
> Joel Addison
>
>
> So it seems council made a specific and direct decision to create a
> conference different but similar to LCA.
>
> Can I ask why this decision was made?
> Please also answer the in line questions.
>
>
> Regards,
> Marcus Herstik
>
> M: 0405-569-466
> A: P.O. Box 2443, Burleigh Waters, QLD, 4220
>
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