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</head><body text="#000000">Whoever said life was easy. My
understanding is Kenya requires visas for many African countries so
perhaps ease of obtaining visas etc should go on the list. <br>
<br>
I sympathise with the idea of holding one in Africa or elsewhere I just
naturally look for any problems that might arise.<br>
<br>
Running a successful conference takes expertise, and attention to
details, experience helps so perhaps some central organisation might
help or give guidance. <br>
<br>
HOT held a conference in Ottawa a year or two ago. It was held jointly
with Statistics Canada, but I seem to recall it was held in term time.
There was an open data conference held here some years ago that had a
lot of OpenStreetMap clients and mappers present, including HOT I think
that one was run by External Affairs. A number of attendees stayed at
Ottawa University.<br>
<br>
I think we need to focus on what we'd like to see. For example Ottawa
OpenStreetMap group has probably done the most comprehensive imports of
Open Data into OSM of any city. Is there a tale to tell to other cities
on how to make their data available and what are the advantages? Yes I
understand many mappers feel that real mapping is done with physical
mappers but sometimes getting a complete set of bus stops with the code
to call for bus times has value.<br>
<br>
Has anyone done any financial analysis of Open Data and can we improve
the map in Africa by using it and thus outcomes.<br>
<br>
Ireland might work well, Dublin has good air connections.<br>
<br>
Is there a danger that SotM US or SotM EU might become larger than SotM
so it becomes less relevant?<br>
<br>
I might suggest that alternate years somewhere more exotic is chosen
than the EU.<br>
<br>
Cheerio John<br>
<br>
<span>Frederik Ramm wrote on 8/16/2023 3:43 PM:</span><br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:195a2e0e-ec88-3afd-28e9-af795f47427d@remote.org">Hi,
<br>
<br>
On 8/16/23 20:01, John Whelan wrote:
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">If it was in the EU or the USA a
higher proportion of members would not need a passport or visa.
<br></blockquote>
<br>
... but almost all visitors from Africa would, and more importantly,
many would have a very hard time obtaining it. Whereas the average
"westerner" wanting to go to Nairobi simply fills out an online form and
gets their visa within a couple of days.
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">For future SotMs I might suggest starting with
accommodation, many
universities have halls of residence available during the summer
months.
<br></blockquote>
<br>
These are good ideas but remember that SotM is not centrally organised.
The SotM team puts out a call for location, and local groups can then
apply. An application from a local group who have thought about these
things, and who say "we've talked to our local university and there's
affordable accommodation there" will certainly be looked upon
favourably, but that's about all - the OSMF SotM team will not scout the
world for locations with affordable accommodation, simple visa rules and
cheap travel, all they can do is evaluate the bids that have been
submitted.
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">Ottawa for example has halls with double beds
and ensuites
plus there are lecture halls etc available. Meal plans can be purchased
which means that you're eating in the cafeterias true but many
conversations at SotM will take place outside the conference rooms and
over a meal is a useful place to talk.
<br></blockquote>
<br>
I would love to go to a SotM in Canada, however there has only ever been
one bid from a Canadian team and that was withdrawn over the
announcement of SotM US being at the UN in New York that year! If you
can get a few Canadians to submit a bid for a SotM in one of the coming
years, I'm sure that would be very attractive.
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">The EU might be easier than the UK since
britexit the UK is no longer a
free travel zone for EU citizens and the EU has trains which means a
lower average carbon footprint per attendee.
<br></blockquote>
<br>
The OSMF has been criticized for having run the last three in-person
SotM conferences in Europe (two in Italy, one in Germany) so you can't
blame them for looking elsewhere! Which doesn't rule out future European
SotMs - after all, that's the continent where OSM was invented - but
it's certainly good to go elsewhere once in a while, even if that is
outside of the comfort zone for the average European or American
traveller.
<br>
<br>
Bye
<br>
Frederik
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
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