[kwlug-disc] Software Freedom Day

Sun Jul 19 19:31:27 EDT 2015

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Last year we had four simultaneous streams of events (see last year's
schedule at
http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2014/Canada/Kitchener/TWC#Schedule )

Going by the attendance at last year's presentations a small room for
20 people would be sufficient. That same size room would work for a
workshop with maybe 8 participants (four cafeteria tables). An
installfest tends to be big and messy and long, so a room that seats
50 people theatre-style might work for an 8 station installfest (eight
cafeteria tables).

But SFD can scale up or down depending on the venue available.  For
example, we could have only presentations in the morning, and a
workshop in the afternoon, or maybe an installfest in the afternoon.
Something we haven't done is lightning talks, which are only five
minutes long each. That gets in more talks, but not so in-depth as a
presentation with Q&A.

Once a venue is available we can figure out the format.

I'd put out a call for presentations, workshops and lightning talks
now, but if there's no venue there will be no SFD.

- --Bob.

On 19/07/15 06:37 PM, Ken Hermanson wrote:
> *O.k., I'm a rookie at this. Your info. is detailed but not
> detailed enough. It sounds like you need one largish room for the
> main presentation. The projector and screen are no problem. Are the
> events sequential or simultaneous? I'm assuming that you need
> smaller side rooms for the other activities? I'm not familiar with
> the other venues that you've mentioned. Maybe I should take a look
> at them. No promises, but I'll sniff around.*
> 
> On Sun, Jul 19, 2015 at 2:57 PM, Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>
> wrote:
> 
> On 19/07/15 10:45 AM, Ken Hermanson wrote:
>>>> Roughly how many people attend SFD? Do you need screen,
>>>> projector, etc.?
> 
> In the past we've had up to 100 people come in to see some (or all)
> of the presentations at SFD. It's been held at either Kwartzlab
> (both old and new locations), or the Queen Street Commons Cafe
> along with an installfest at Computer Recycling, across the road
> from QSC.
> 
> Last year's attendance at SFD was down considerably because of the
> many other activities that take place on the actual SFD date (19
> Sept this year). Last year was also the first time we had workshops
> and a Free Culture film festival at The Working Centre, also across
> the street from QSC. It was especially disappointing because of the
> extra effort we put into getting presenters, the workshops, and the
> film festival, only to have what was probably the lowest attendance
> at SFD ever.
> 
> 
> Here's what's needed: The presentations require a projector and
> screen, with seating either formally theatre-style, or informally
> coffee-shop style (I like coffee-shop style).  Workshops (if we're
> doing that) require desk- or table-space with power and WiFi for
> people to work on laptops; the installfest (if we're doing that)
> needs table space, power, wired connection, and maybe the prep of a
> distribution repository server. A Free Culture film festival (if
> we're doing that) needs theatre-style seating and a projector &
> screen.
> 
> --Bob.
> 
> Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>          Phone: +1-519-635-9413 
> SOBAC Microcomputer Services             http://sobac.com/sobac/ 
> Software   ---   Office & Business Automation   ---   Consulting 
> GnuPG Fngrprnt:04F7 742B 8F54 C40A E115 26C2 B912 89B0 D2CC E5EA
> 
> 
> On 19/07/15 10:45 AM, Ken Hermanson wrote:
>>>> *Roughly how many people attend SFD? Do you need screen,
>>>> projector, etc.?*
>>>> 
>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 11:24 PM, Bob Jonkman
>>>> <bjonkman at sobac.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Thanx Paul. I did think you had made it perfectly clear.  I
>>>> was less clear about my willingness to participate the
>>>> organization of SFD this year.
>>>> 
>>>> Having a venue is the most important part of SFD that's
>>>> missing. As an organization even less than "non-profit", but
>>>> rather "no-money", a Free-As-In-Gratis venue is important.
>>>> So, is there anyone on the list who is able to offer a venue?
>>>> I'd really like to share with the Linux Conference, if
>>>> possible.
>>>> 
>>>> I expect we can scratch up some SFD presentations once a
>>>> venue is established. But if Colin is only looking for one
>>>> more presentation I can do the "What is Software Freedom"
>>>> presentation and my best RMS impression.
>>>> 
>>>> --Bob.
>>>> 
>>>> On 18/07/15 03:23 PM, Paul Nijjar wrote:
>>>>>>> I have been dropping hints about this in earlier
>>>>>>> threads, but now it is official: The Working Centre is
>>>>>>> not intending to organize Software Freedom Day stuff
>>>>>>> this year, and I am not going to be organizing anything
>>>>>>> personally. That should not prohibit anybody else from
>>>>>>> putting together a team and organizing an event.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Personally I think that joining forces with Colin's
>>>>>>> Linux Conference makes a lot of sense.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Having said that, if a team organizes something and is 
>>>>>>> looking for a space to run the event, then The Working
>>>>>>> Centre might be able to make something available (no
>>>>>>> promises, though, and I think our preference is not to
>>>>>>> host). If you are planning to do this then we would
>>>>>>> need to know at least a month in advance, however.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> - Paul
>>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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