[EuroPython] EP 2004 decision rather quickly?

[Denis]

Le Thu, Jul 03, 2003 at 11:59:26PM +0200, Martijn Faassen pianota:
> Martijn Faassen wrote:
> > Just a comment, but I thought we're deciding rather *rapidly* on EuroPython
> > 2004... 
> 
> [...] Anyway, I just wanted to express my displeasure in stronger
> wording.
> [...]
> This really really sucks.

I shouldn't have read my mails just before to go to sleep... now, I feel
I have to answer as soon as possible. I'm tired and the poor English
language will suffer even more than usually.

We had a lot of discussions about this during the conference. We, i.e.
Tom and me, were hesitating when people were asking us to do it again in
Charleroi (while EuroPython is still maturing). The advices were almost
always the same : "Do it again excepted if you don't want to do it 
again".

I even asked Guido's advice (after all, he is the benevolent dictator).
He used the words : "Don't change a winning team...".

So, we asked for a few nights reflexion. And my thought was that if we
work well enough, it will be the last year we can hold EPC in Charleroi.
We will soon saturate the CEME and the hotel possibilities in that small
town. I hesitated to use the word 'apotheosis' because I feel that 2004
could be a last great success in Charleroi, and then EPC will need a
bigger welcoming town.

I took the decision to announce it because two year experiences shows
the same pattern :
1. long silence and inaction
2. long discussion threads when decisions begin to be declared
3. a big frightening silence (yes it's frightening when you're taking
   the financial responsability)
4. a frenetic run to achieve something rather honourable.

I will propose you all to have a look at your archives. Here is what I
was asking on the 19/11/2002 :

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: [EuroPython] Report 2002 - proposal 2003 - 2004
From: Denis Frère <denis@aragne.com>
To: EuroPython main <europython@python.org>
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 04:50:44 +0100

[...]

For the rest, I would like to propose something : the one who wants to
organize the EPC 2004 should work very tightly with us on the 2003
edition so that the relay will be soft.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are two main parts in the conference : the 'theoretical' one
(programs) and the 'practical' one (real world tasks).

For the first part, track chairmen did a good job : I didn't stick my
nose in the program (though I sometimes think I should do). 
But for the second part, no local team candidate showed up. So, I don't
quite understand why there should be any last minute turnaround.


I would like to conclude for today and go to sleep :

I don't want to fight against my friends (and will it or not, Martijn, I
count you among them). 
I just want to fight to make Python "10 times bigger" (TM Paul Everitt)

The biggest obstacle in reaching our goal with both first EPC editions
was that we started far too late. If we don't start now, it will be too
late again in 2004.

I don't want to loose our precious time for 2004 by starting now a call
for candidates, discuss the candidatures, set up a pool, etc. But I
would be glad to do such a thing for 2005. For me, candidates should not
only declare themselves, but work hard on one year edition if they are
volunteering for the next one.

So, again, I propose to candidates for 2005 to declare themselves *now*,
to build a candidature file, and to earn the decision in showing us how
motivated they are : there is plenty of 'real world tasks' that can be
accomplished from anywhere in the world, no need to be in the local team
for most of these.

If you show me that the majority of people who did work on EPC 2002 and
2003 (I say 'work', not 'talk') reject this proposal, I'm ready to drop
the baby right now. But hurry up, I already invited some people to be
our keynote speakers and I almost signed for the CEME (there is a
discount when you book enough in advance).

Gosh, I thought I had understood Francis Glasborough... :-(

Denis

-- 
Denis FRERE
P3B    : Club Python(-Zope) Belge --------- http://www.p3b.org
OS3B   : Club Open-Software(-Linux) Carolo  http://www.os3b.org 
Aragne : Python-Zope Solutions & Formations http://www.aragne.com