[Libre-graphics-meeting-org] LGM 2017 in Niteroi/Rio de Janeiro ?

[Louis Desjardins]

2015-10-18 4:00 GMT-04:00 Femke Snelting <snelting at collectifs.net>:

> Dear all,
>

Hello all,

>
> Last Thursday we discussed the 2017 location for a second time. Hong Phuc
> (proposing Singapore, Singapore) and Joao (Niteroi/Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
> had provided us with additional information after a first round of
> discussion. While both locations present exciting new territories with many
> new possibilities and challenges, we think that Niteroi/Rio de Janeiro
> presents the best option for LGM 2017.
>

I was unable to attend, unexpectedly. Sorry about that.

>
> To host LGM in Singapore might be a chance to build new relationships with
> Asian user- and developer communities, and to hook into FLOSS-related
> business opportunities in the region. An issue with the proposal is its
> budget: there will be significant costs involved with the rent of locations
> and additional services that can not be fund-raised for locally.


This budget is a crucial issue. Now that it has been raised so clearly, I
think it is reasonable to think that we could focus on the feasibility of
going to Singapore on the long-term (this can mean 3-4 years from now). If
the community is ready to commit strongly in favor of an LGM in this region
of the globe, we can certainly prepare ahead of time, budget wise.


> Niteroi/Rio de Janeiro could be a good option because we might connect to
> a local community that is felt to be genuinely interested in and for LGM
> developers/artists. The problem with this proposal is that for many people
> currently involved in LGM, costs and duration of travel will go up
> significantly. If the current trend for LGM funding continues, it would
> mean only partial reimbursement.
>

The duration of the trip and the cost are in fact two serious concerns.

a) Duration of the trip will turn away a couple people. We only have to be
aware of this. It’s a drawback, but not a show-stopper in my view.
b) Cost can also turn away some people, especially if we cannot be sure of
having the budget to reimburse.

There is no way to solve a) unless we change the destination, which is not
what we want. This will always be true, no matter where we go.
There is a way to improve our capacity of being appealing to the sponsors
and addressing b)

The following could probably go into a thread of its own but while I have
your attention (!) I take the risk of posting it here! :)

"Write for your readers" is the way to go, I think. We must give sponsors
what they need to sponsor us. It goes without saying but it goes even
better saying it.

Provided we can work upstream with the sponsors and get a long-awaited
"report" about LGM — the corporate world has rules we must comply with if
we want them to help us financially (a request transmitted by Bdale back 9
years ago — he was serious) — I am sure raising more money is feasible.
It’s really a matter of doing things the way the corporate world expects
things to be done.

   1. Each project’s leader/communicator involved should be able to provide
   us with a short text explaining why LGM is important in the development of
   their program. If not all, at least the larger projects.
   2. Include a couple good quotes from the audience (dev, speaker,
   participant).
   3. Include the State of LGM or a summary of it.
   4. Include a short text to put all this into perspective — again shortly.
   5. All this in a very nicely designed layout, pdf downloadable file for
   everyone and printed copies for the corporate world.
   6. I offer to print gratis in my shop. The document could have anything
   between 8 and 16 pages, full color, bleed.
   7. I offer to send out the printed stuff from my office, at no cost for
   LGM.
   8. We need a small team to put together a list of contacts to whom send
   our documents and then follow up with the potential sponsors.
   9. We need an introductory letter (1 page) that presents the document
   and state clearly what we are asking for.
   10. We aim at a long term relationship, based on the fact that we are
   planning ahead (2 years at least) and that we have been around for 10 going
   on 11 years now.

All this is feasible. Ideally it should be done as quickly as possible
(let’s keep the momentum). We are really serious about raising funds,
aren’t we? We’ve been talking about this for years. I think we do have all
the material that’s needed at hand, except for the text by projects. So, I
think it’s really a matter of putting this together and insisting on a very
few people to get a report out. We need pics, logos. We’ve been around for
11 years now so I guess it’s not that hard to put together a report that
will definitely help us speak with the big players. There is money, no
doubt about this. In my view, there is no reason why we should not be able
to be sponsored enough to cover 20 to 40K USD (plus or minus) per year to
cover the flight cost of our dev and speakers. We’re not talking heavy
money here.


> Our shared enthusiasm for LGM in Brazil, combined with the issue of
> financial commitment needed beforehand in case we decide for Singapore, led
> us to propose you Niteroi/Rio de Janeiro as location for LGM2017.
>

Please add my voice to the Brazil venue.

>
> We realise that we were just a small group at the meeting so we invite
> those who were missing to respond before *Thursday 22 October 00:00 CET* on
> the LGM-org mailinglist. We particularly like to hear confirmations or
> disagreements from those that are involved in preparing LGM 2016: Nate
> Willis, Louis Desjardins, Antonio Roberts, Phil Langley, ginger coons,
> Julien Deswaef, Liam Quin, Loraine Furter, Manuel Schmalstieg, Camille
> Bissuel, Martin Owens, Dave Crossland and Greg Pittman.
>
> We of course hope to meet your enthusiasm and consensus but if we can't
> agree we will organise a vote and make a decision that way.


+1

>
> All the best,
>

All the best to all too!

>
>
> pippin, Lara, Ale, Femke


Louis
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