[Chicago] PyCon 2008 Bid

[Ted Pollari]

So I (finally) sat down to write an email to the PyCon organizers  
list about our interest (intent?  can we call it that yet?) to get  
PyCon 2008 to Chicago when I decided that I better google a bit more  
and really think about just what I was asking....


The original message from Brian Ray linked to AM Kuchling's blog post  
"So You Want to Host PyCon 2008...":  <http://pyfound.blogspot.com/ 
2006/04/so-you-want-to-host-pycon-2008.html>  which itself lays out  
the basics of what they want in a proposal and links to this page:   
http://wiki.python.org/moin/PyConPlanning/BidRequirements  Which  
pretty much sums up what we need for a proposal.

Basically, from what I've read there and elsewhere, it comes down to  
finding the meeting venue and laying out all of the information about  
the venue...  "The critical things you need for PyCon are 1) a place  
to talk 2) equipment to talk with 3) an Internet connection, 4)  
optionally, food."


Here's my shortened/slightly altered version of their list of  
requirements -- see the second link above for the full version:


*******************************************
Facilities
------------
Auditorium -- large enough to fit entire group of attendees

Meeting rooms -- total space enough to fit entire group of attendees  
(and then some)

Common area

Sprint rooms

Quiet room

Storage (secure)

All facilities should be accessible by disabled persons, and held in  
controlled temperature environments (air-conditioned or heated as  
needed).

The location should be accessible by public transport. It's a bonus  
if there are interesting attractions nearby (museums, attractions,  
etc.).

When would the conference be scheduled? e.g. the time of year; on the  
weekend or during the week; how late the venue can stay open.




Networking
---------------
All areas of the conference (listed in Facilities above) need  
wireless and wired Internet access, for all attendees simultaneously.





Catering (optional)
-------------------------
Breakfast, snacks, and a light lunch for three days.

If food will not be provided, there should be restaurants or other  
places for lunch within walking distance.



Accommodation
----------------------
Nearby commercial hotels, restaurants, and social venues must be  
available.



A/V Equipment
---------------------
Auditorium and Meeting Rooms: Public address system, data projectors,  
transparency (overhead) projectors. Preferably wireless microphones  
as well as podium mics.


Transportation
--------------------
Nearby access to an airport, preferably a large one.

Parking facilities or arrangements, as appropriate.

How to arrive by public transport and taxi from the airport, or other  
major points.



Finances
-------------
Rough cost information for all the above so that we can estimate the  
required registration price.  The acceptable upper bound on the early- 
bird registration cost is $250; as a first approximation you can  
assume that everyone registers at the early-bird rate.


Volunteers
---------------
Some parts of PyCon organization can be done remotely, but having  
local volunteers is vital to the conference's success.

Does your location have a pool of volunteer labour?

Both for the days of the conference and before/after work in the  
weeks preceding and following?




*******************************************



What else would the group like to know?  I've emailed the organizers  
list asking for their best guess as to attendance figures so we can  
go from there...

Where is everybody else on trying to bring PyCon here in 2008, after  
the last meeting and a few weeks to think?


-Ted

-- 
Ted Pollari
Research Programmer
Department of Health Studies
The University of Chicago
tcp at uchicago.edu
773.834.0559