[OPEN-ILS-DEV] ***SPAM*** Re: Proposing the 2012 Evergreen Hack-A-Way

[rogan.hamby at yclibrary.net]

I think we have to see how far interest in one goes before we talk  
about regionals but as Evergreen grows anything is possible.


Quoting Wolf Halton <wolf.halton at gmail.com>:

> On Wed, Jul 11, 2012 at 2:24 PM, <rogan.hamby at yclibrary.net> wrote:
>
>> Proposing the 2012 Evergreen "Hack-A-Way"
>>
>> As we closed out the last Evergreen conference the Oversight Committee
>> discussed looking at new ways to promote the common interests of the
>> community.  As everyone knows, the Evergreen community is fairly young and
>> as it grows the Oversight Committee is finding it's way.  The Oversight
>> Committee began as a way to put Evergreen's assets in the community's hands
>> and facilitate the local hosting of the annual conference.  Today, I would
>> like to introduce a proposal for another task we would like to take upon
>> ourselves and for which I volunteer myself.
>>
>> I call it the Hack-A-Way, both because the goal is to facilitate hacking
>> away at the code and as a pun off a getaway.  In short, the goal is to
>> provide an opportunity, at the midway point each year between conferences,
>> for developers to meet in person and to continue the momentum they develop
>> at the conference.  This goal came directly out of the developer community,
>> who find in person collaboration is extremely useful.
>>
>> And frankly, promoting this labor benefits everyone.  This can not be
>> under stated.  I speak for the Oversight Committee when I say this is a
>> good idea.  I speak for myself when I say this is a wonderful idea.
>>
>> So, how do we make this happen?
>>
>> I'm proposing a combination of use of a host's resources and soliciting
>> funds for this project.  A working group is forming with some from the
>> Oversight Committee and some from the hosting site (once it's selected).
>>
>> So, is this like a developer conference?
>>
>> No.  This will be much more low key, more motel than hotel and more take
>> out than fine dining.  There won't be seminars or classes, unless they
>> spontaneously come out of the developers themselves.  However, I will ask
>> for a local coordinator and ask for proposals from those willing to host
>> it.  Those interested in hosting should send me an email stating their
>> interest and what they can provide (even meeting room space with Internet
>> is valuable) and who from their location can work with us.  The most
>> qualified hosting site will be selected and we will work with them to
>> select dates.
>>
>> How big are we talking?
>>
>> We're talking fairly small at first, though the more developers who can
>> attend on their own dimes and the more grants we can give out will increase
>> it's size I'm sure.  The developer community itself isn't very large.
>>  Really, they do a lot of work relative to their size.  This first year we
>> may be looking at anywhere from half a dozen to two dozen.  Hopefully, in
>> future years with more time to prepare we can grow it a little bit and I'm
>> sure ideas will come out of the developer community to use the event to
>> it's fullest advantage.
>>
>> Isn't this basically a hackfest?
>>
>> Yes.  I'm suggesting a name because as we go for sponsorships having an
>> identifiable name is useful and the term hackfest is used very generically.
>>
>> So, what would funds go to?
>>
>> Everyone able to afford their own expenses would be expected to.  Ideally,
>> otherwise grants would be given out to help cover travel, food and lodging.
>>  How many expenses we can cover will be determined by the number of
>> sponsorships we can gather and the more we have attend the more sponsors we
>> can probably solicit from.  Any excess funds will go the community pool.
>>
>> How would we qualify people?
>>
>> Well, other than requiring that it be developers, we haven't figured that
>> out yet.  But doubling up on rooms is encouraged.
>>
>> What else will money be spent on?
>>
>> Not much, but I do hope to supply them with copious amounts of caffiene so
>> assume a snacks and refreshment budget.  Awake coders are productive coders.
>>
>> Can non-developers attend?
>>
>> This is something we really need feedback from the development community
>> on but the goal at this time is for this to be an event for those who
>> contribute code to Evergreen and perhaps others active in the technical
>> community, not to make it a mini conference.
>>
>> So, where will this money come from?
>>
>> Our goal is to seek sponorships for the event.  Individual donors can
>> certainly give small amounts but we also hope that Evergreen related
>> businesses and large institutions will be willing to buy sponorships since
>> this work directly benefits them.  The hat will get passed around.   We
>> will provide sponsorship levels and we will be working on finding ways to
>> provide exposure for those willing to pay for higher level sponsorships and
>> thus provide an incentive for donors to dig deep.
>>
>>
>> - Rogan Hamby
>>
>>
> Rogan,
> I like this idea.  Would there be any traction for regional-level
> Hack-a-ways?  If we didn't have to travel the budget for attending the
> event would be more available.
>
> Wolf Halton (LYRASIS)
>
> --
> This Apt Has Super Cow Powers - http://sourcefreedom.com
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> Apache Open Office Developer wolfhalton at apache.org
>



----------------------
Rogan Hamby
Manager Rock Hill Library & Reference Services
York County Library System

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's  
too dark
to read." - Groucho Marx