[Foundation-l] Where we are headed. (was Wikimedia main office)

Mon May 29 00:09:36 UTC 2006

Daniel Mayer wrote:

>--- Gregory Maxwell <gmaxwell at gmail.com> wrote:
>  
>
>>Being in NYC, DC, or varrious other locations would being us closer to
>>some subset of interesting orginizations...  But being near a solid
>>airport places us near all of them.  This really is the way a lot of
>>business is done today.
>>
>>Whenever we have a critical mass of people in a spot we should
>>consider opening an office, but lets not let the tail wag the dog.
>>The increased cost of travel doesn't justify the cost of an additional
>>office in a prime location and if the location is non-prime, what did
>>you save on travel?
>>    
>>
>That is not the same at all. I live a 20 minute metro ride from the busiest airport in the world
>and that is not AT ALL the same as being a 20 minute metro ride to various contacts we would want
>to be in close communication with. There is added cost and time needed for air travel and that
>leads to fewer opportunities to meet. Proximity is very important. 
>
Proximity for whom and to whom?  We are an online organization with a 
global perspective.  We depend on online communications.  Wherever the 
headquarters happens to be will involve travel by some people if they 
want to meet in person.  If all you're trying to do is improve meetup 
opportunities for the select few you just end up promoting the idea that 
Wikimedia is a much less broadly based organization than it really is.

Ec