[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Proposing the 2012 Evergreen Hack-A-Way

[Tara Robertson]

This is an awesome idea.

You might want to check out CurateCamp, something that the digital library
folks have been doing for a few years for some inspiration on format and
how to keep costs down: http://curatecamp.org

I think they usually do it at a university over the summer to keep things
really cheap. I recall that participants stay in dorms and the total cost
for everything was about $50 (can't remember if it included basic food
stuff). If someone at a university (with a dorm) in a city that's an
airport hub offered to host, it could be pretty cheap.

Cheers,
Tara

On Wed, Jul 11, 2012 at 11:23 AM, <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
>
>
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