[Osmf-talk] SotM2011: What's next?

[Nick Black]

Good point Andy.  And agree with carefully reviewing the budget.

My point is:

* Is SOTM about making money for the Foundation or providing a forum for people to learn about OSM, share experiences and so on? (the two do not have to be mutually exclusive)
* If its about making money for the Foundation, there's probably better ways to do that than charging attendees (eg long term sponsorship of the project).

--
Nick

On 19 Jul 2010, at 09:05, Andy Robinson (blackadder) wrote:

> Nick Black wrote:
>> Sent: 19 July 2010 8:35 AM
>> To: SteveC
>> Cc: osmf-talk at openstreetmap.org
>> Subject: Re: [Osmf-talk] SotM2011: What's next?
>> 
>> We charge for the conference so that there is no risk of the Foundation
>> losing money if sponsorship does not materialise.  Attendee fees cover
>> venue hire and basic equipment and catering.  Sponsor money covers more
>> exciting catering options, plus the Saturday evening meal.  Most of the
>> sponsor money goes back to the OSM-F.
> 
> That's not quite correct. In reality the attendance fees do not cover the
> cost of venue and food, they did for the first SOTM but then the venue was
> principally free, since then there has been a widening gap between basic
> venue and food costs and the amount returned by delegate registrations. 
> 
> I'd recommend that for next year the budget and outturn cost for this year's
> SOTM be carefully reviewed before setting the budget for 2011. While we will
> have some surplus funds this year it won't be a significant amount despite
> the impressive size of commercial sponsorship.
> 
> 
>> 
>> So if the point of workshops is education and outreach, we could make them
>> free / very low cost.  If the point is to make money for the Foundation,
>> there are probably more effective ways of raising money from NGOs and other
>> organisations  who have indicated that they are willing to donate to OSM-F.
>> 
>> --
>> Nick
>> 
>> On 18 Jul 2010, at 18:04, SteveC wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 7/17/10 7:18 AM, Emilie Laffray wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On 17 July 2010 12:14, Nick Black <nick at blacksworld.net> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Interesting idea - but is the main point to collect revenue or educate
>> people?  It seems that there are lots of opportunities for collecting
>> sponsorship and donations for OSM-F, but less opportunities for education
>> and outreach.  Maybe workshops should be for fee?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> I agree with the fact that charging for workshops would go against the
>> desire to educate people. Charging for asked-for workshops might be
>> something to look at in a different context.
>>>> workshops are also excellent sponsorship opportunities for businesses.
>>> 
>>> er, why do we charge for the conference at all then?
>>> 
>>> Steve
>>> 
>>> stevecoast.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> osmf-talk mailing list
>>> osmf-talk at openstreetmap.org
>>> http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/osmf-talk
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> osmf-talk mailing list
>> osmf-talk at openstreetmap.org
>> http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/osmf-talk
>> 
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 9.0.839 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3014 - Release Date: 07/18/10
>> 19:35:00
> 

--
Nick Black
twitter.com/nick_b
nick at blacksworld.net