At 12:10 +0100 31/8/07, Cormac Lawler wrote:
>On 8/30/07, Majorly <axel9891@googlemail.com> wrote:
>>  On 30/08/2007, Gary Kirk < gary.kirk@gmail.com> wrote:
>>  > All very well, but has anybody actually done anything? This is not a
>>  > dig because that serves no purpose, but - I did bring up the idea of
>>  > an unofficial bid in October last year - can people actually start
>>  > cross-checking the 2007 bid with the 2008 bid. I have been told by UCL
>>  > it's likely technical facilities, rooms etc will be available same as
>>  > last year. If we can decide on things like dates, UCL can start
>>  > putting things in place.
>>  > Regards,
>>  > Gary
>>
>>  I *want* to help... but I have no idea whatsoever what I'm doing :S
>
>
>:-)
>
>I've been involved in a London bid before (two years ago), which
>wasn't as good as others at the time - largely due to the perceived
>expense of London, and an unresolved question about technical
>facilities. If facilities are in place (and they seem to have been
>fine from last year), the main cloud over any London bid will be cost.
>Money. Sponsorship. If there is not an indication that there will be
>significant sponsorship, and if accommodation/travel/food will be a
>significant expense to visitors (who, bear in mind, and assuming it
>doesn't change so much in the coming year, would be dealing with the
>strength of the British pound), then I don't hold out much prospect
>for a London bid. That would be my main advice for this bid - identify
>full costs (both to Wikimedia, and to individual participants), and
>show how/where they can be cut, offset, or minimised.
>
>On dates, I would keep to the same schedule as previous years, ie
>first week of August. The first few days of August 2008 are the
>weekend - maybe have the hacking days over these days and start the
>conference proper on the Monday, 4th. So, hacking days: 2-3;
>conference 4-6 (inclusive).

An excellent choice. And makes so much sense.

Does UCL have these dates free?

>
>To return to my main point - money - I think there would be *plenty*
>of interest in Wikimania within the media, educational sector, and
>business. Sponsorship would be forthcoming - and plenty of people not
>yet committed to this bid will have links that can be milked. So,
>consider that whatever funding opportunities could be explored in the
>next month would not be the last word in funding - but still I stress
>that we would need some indication of interest at this stage. However,
>potential funders have to be made aware of the fact that this is still
>only a *bid*, and that there is no guarantee that it will be
>happening. We are simply wondering about the possibility of their
>interest in the event of Wikimania coming to London. :-)
>
>That's my tuppence worth for the moment,
>
>Cormac

Or Manchester?

:-)

Gordo

--
"Think Feynman"/////////
http://pobox.com/~gordo/
gordon.joly@pobox.com///

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