IRC Meeting #5

Minutes

(From an incomplete IRC log - thanks a lot, X-Chat!)

• Promotion:
  • python.org now has an announcement for the Call For Proposals.

  • The EuroPython site now has a more visible "submit a talk" link.

  • Benedikt has spread the word at CERN.
  • The CFP should be sent to europython-announce.

  • Armin and the PyPy people could mention EuroPython at RuPy.

  • Bea suggested contacting ZEA in order to get the word around in the Zope community.
  • David suggested contacting Ron Stephens for the Python411 podcast.

  • Paul reminded everyone about EuroPython2007/ArticleForPythonPapers (and will edit it some more).

  • Aiste will translate the CFP into Russian and try and promote it in the Russian speaking world.

  • Other "channels" have been informed - see EuroPython/2007/PublicRelations for a table and feel free to update it!

• Opening times: Aiste will inform the mailing list about facilities and their opening times/availability.
• Sponsorship:
  • Contact points:
    • The europython-sponsorship mailing list is still active.
    • Michael suggested a sponsorship at europython.org address.
  • Benedikt or Michael will look into Google participation.
  • Commercial concerns:

    • Paul noted that PyCon feedback had been somewhat negative about sponsored talks.

    • Michael said that sponsor lightning talks had been "mildly ridiculed" by some people.

    • Laura noted that some people regard PyCon as being "too commercial" and warned about having too many "talks about what people are doing at work" rather than cool stuff.

    • David mentioned that "more employers are sympathetic to community events", referring to employers' expectations of what their employees are going to be doing at the conference.
  • Packages:
    • Harald mentioned that sponsors are comfortable with "gold/silver/titan" sponsorship levels and it can be a basis for negotiation.
    • It was agreed that by having preset levels (or suggestions), it makes the conference look more marketable.
    • Paul argued that being prepared was critical so that potential sponsors could be handled, but that being flexible (listening to what sponsors are used to) is important.
    • Bea wondered about budget and venue issues.
    • Aiste noted that four booths could be accommodated.
    • Aiste will check with the hotel about sponsor streamers at the entrance (mentioned in the previous packages).
    • The sponsor information template was located in CPS.
  • It was decided that a better idea of budget coverage and facilities was needed for the next meeting, along with more ideas about what sponsors might want.
• A time limit of one hour was suggested for subsequent meetings.
• Next meeting was suggested for Monday 16th April.

Time/Location

The meeting will take place on Monday 2nd of April (2007-04-02) 18:00 CEST (17:00 BST, 16:00 UTC/GMT) in the #europython channel on freenode.net. That's 5pm UK time, 6pm in most of Western Europe.

Agenda

No agenda yet. Suggestions:

• Finishing the theme descriptions in Indico: "education" and "social skills" are missing; "agile" needs reviewing; suggestions welcome about the others.

• Promotion: we're on python.org now, but what other channels should be involved? See EuroPython/2007/PublicRelations for interesting avenues, along with some materials used by the PyCon organisers.

• Sponsorship. Any motion here?

  • EuroPython sponsorship has become fairly unobtrusive: Web site banners, some promotional activity at the conference.

  • In contrast, PyCon has maintained the previous "sophisticated" sponsorship plans: http://us.pycon.org/TX2007/HowToSponsor

  • Some resistance to promotional keynotes and lightning talks is detectable in the PyCon feedback: PyCon2007/Feedback/Comments

  • Perhaps a dialogue with potential sponsors is better than the usual bronze/silver/gold categories.