To learn from RubyConf06, I am assuming the role
of “independent third party” to aggregate comments
about what should
a) stop
b) continue
c) start
for next year’s conference. Please try to include
the “why” and bear in mind Kerth’s Prime Directive
for retrospectives,
Regardless of what we discover, we must understand
and truly believe that everyone did the best job
s/he could, given what was known at the time, his
or her skills and abilities, the resources available,
and the situation at hand.
Well … OK … nominations in the Eastern Time Zone for places that are inexpensive to visit!
Toronto, ON.
It is highly unlikely that the Canadian dollar will be at par next
October. So there will be a built in discount, there. Plus, Toronto
can actually handle a high tech conference really well, being the
high tech centre of Canada (currently).
Other than Toronto?which I am campaigning for actively, and planning
on doing a lot of legwork?I’d say Boston, New York City, Atlanta, RDU,
and then Charlotte would be best choices (with RDU, you might even
be able to have it at or near Duke).
Other than Torontoâ??which I am campaigning for actively, and planning
on doing a lot of legworkâ??I’d say Boston, New York City, Atlanta, RDU,
and then Charlotte would be best choices (with RDU, you might even
be able to have it at or near Duke).
-austin
I won’t go to either Boston or New York – they are just too expensive.
Atlanta I’m not sure about – it may be tolerable. RDU is fine; I’d love
to pay a side visit to some of the queuing theory guys at the
universities.
I used to go to SIAM meetings every year. Most of the time, they were in
“major cities” in a hotel. But one year, they held it on the campus of
RPI in Troy, New York, and the housing was also on campus. That was my
favorite SIAM meeting.
Of course, Indiana University is out. First of all, it’s in the Central
Time Zone. Second, it’s the epicenter of a large Scheme community.
I won’t go to either Boston or New York – they are just too expensive.
Atlanta I’m not sure about – it may be tolerable. RDU is fine; I’d love
to pay a side visit to some of the queuing theory guys at the universities.
Where is this “RDU” you speak of? Are you suggesting that RubyConf be
held at an airport? RDU is the code for an airport that serves Durham
and Raleigh, NC. Or are you suggesting that RubyConf be held at JFK or
ATL?
Where is this “RDU” you speak of? Are you suggesting that RubyConf be
held at an airport? RDU is the code for an airport that serves Durham
and Raleigh, NC. Or are you suggesting that RubyConf be held at JFK or ATL?
Nope. I know what it is; I used to live in Greensboro. I’m using it in
this case to represent the region, because I’m not as familiar with
the choices for what’s actually desirable.
I still think that Toronto’s the best choice for next year (mostly
because I know of several resources I can tap for planning and running
a high tech conference in Toronto)?but that’s something that Ruby
Central will decide.
God no. Nothing personal, Trans, but Orlando is less likely to have a
successful high tech conference than anywhere else that’s been named
so far. It’s not their focus; they’re purely focussed on tourism.
Of course, Indiana University is out. First of all, it’s in the Central
Time Zone. Second, it’s the epicenter of a large Scheme community.
hmmm, that might actually be a good reason to hold it there.
Ruby is on it’s way to having as many implmentations as
scheme does, and we can problably learn as much from them
as we will from the USS Ruby’s exploration of planet Smalltalk.
I still think that Toronto’s the best choice for next year (mostly
because I know of several resources I can tap for planning and running
a high tech conference in Toronto)?but that’s something that Ruby
Central will decide.
Can you imagine the field day the DoHS will have collecting laptops
at the border? Nick S. might have to take notes with a pen and
paper – not to mention the number of slideless talks – it’d be a
nightmare!
;^)
(Actually, I’d love to have a RubyConf in Toronto (or Montreal, as long
as we don’t have to do it in French).)
God no. Nothing personal, Trans, but Orlando is less likely to have a
successful high tech conference than anywhere else that’s been named
so far. It’s not their focus; they’re purely focussed on tourism.
Well with all due respect, I have been to many high tech conferences in
tourist destinations like Orlando, LA, and Vegas and they went off
really
well. M$ has thrown quite a few conferences in all of those cities, many
with over 3,000 people. (Not that I am a M$ supporter any more, I have
seen
the errors of my ways :-), but they did throw some good conferences).
One
nice thing about those destinations was that you could add a few days
onto
the trip and make a vacation out of it with some of the travel expenses
already being covered.
I will contend that other cities might be more focussed on providing
high
tech and at more reasonable rates than places like Orlando, but all that
being said I think it still would be a nice destination.