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Some initial thoughts on this request;<br>
<br>
1. Having been involved in organising technical events, sponsorship
is one of the hardest things to secure. High quality venues are
difficult to find, and catering and drinks are expensive. PHP falls
within the scope of Linux Australia's remit to provide promotion of
free and open source technologies.<br>
<br>
2. As a not for profit venture, there is limited potential for Linux
Australia to capitalise on a significant monetary outlay. Is it
intended that PHPconfAU return a profit? If so, should it be run as
a subcommittee of Linux Australia, and the profits returned to Linux
Australia? I doubt this is the case however, with an ASIC search
showing PHP Conferences registered as business <span
class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;
line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform:
none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;
font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:
13px;">NSW BN98565475. <br>
<br>
3. If what is sought here is seed funding to start the
conference, with the presumption of it generating a profit,
which would then be used to run future conferences, then there
is some merit in a request to Linux Australia.<br>
<br>
4. As a sponsor, I can foresee the following benefits to Linux
Australia;<br>
* Promotion of Linux conf AU in Ballarat</span></span><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;
line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform:
none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;
font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:
13px;">, which may provide indirect financial gain</span></span><br>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;
color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style:
normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing:
normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:
Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">* Formation of a
strong PHP community in Australia <br>
* Promotion of the Linux Australia values and ethos<br>
* Strengthening of business models which support free and open
source software<br>
<br>
5. The conference does not appear to have a stated diversity and
equity policy<br>
<br>
6. The conference does not appear to have a risk management plan
in place as yet<br>
<br>
In summary, this proposal has merit but carries with it some
significant risks. Linux Australia's position (IMHO - Council
please don't think I'm overstepping the mark here) should be to
provide support while mitigating some of the risks that such
support carries. <br>
<br>
As a community member I would recommend the following;<br>
<br>
(a) that Linux Australia provide sponsorship, subject to our
financial position, of Bronze or Silver level. The delegate
ticket(s) that come with this sponsorship should be offered to
the community member who provides the strongest case for the
ticket and who undertakes to provide written report or blog post
for Linux Australia or other deliverables as specified by
Council<br>
<br>
(b) that as a condition of sponsorship Linux Australia require
the conference to adopt a stated diversity and equity policy,
similar to those recently discussed on this list, thus helping
to facilitate a welcoming environment for *all* delegates<br>
<br>
(c) that as a condition of sponsorship Linux Australia require
the conference to produce a conference report no later than two
calendar months after the conference detailing full financials,
attendance, results of any delegate survey and an analysis of
continuous improvement activities for any future iteration of
the event. This won't just help Linux Australia be assured of a
sound investment, it's actually very good practice in running
conferences and ensuring ongoing improvement. <br>
<br>
Kind regards,<br>
Kathy<br>
<br>
</span></span>
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