DebConf13/Switzerland/Bid/PriorityList

DebConf PriorityList

Taken and expanded from PriorityList.

"affordable" for both sponsors and attendees

This obviously depends on the definition of "affordable", but we are inclined to think that `Le Camp` is amongst the most affordable proposals we can make in Switzerland. Sleeping in bunkers as will probably happen for most attendees in the Zürich and Geneva fallback plans is cheaper though. We decided to favor `Le Camp` for its environment and overall facilities. The Swiss team thinks that bunkers are only an option of last resort and they rather prefer to not have DebConf13 in Switzerland than to sleep in these bunkers.

Things we might do to make DebConf 13 as affordable as possible:

• The economic crisis has not yet hit Switzerland as hard as other European countries. We don't think that it has a big impact on the sponsoring behavior yet. The high level of prices in Switzerland also means that possible local sponsors might give more money. We already prepared a list of companies to apporach for sponsorship.

• There are many charitable trusts in Switzerland we could approach for sponsorship.

• We are well aware that fundrising in Switzerland would be one of our top priorites during 2012 if we are going to organize Debconf in Switzerland.

• We are considering options to reduce the costs of the catering. See Note 5 in our budget.

strong, mature, experienced local team

Previously in the bid page.

The preparations of this bid were done under the umbrella of debian.ch. Debian.ch is an association under Swiss law open to Debian members, contributors and sympathizers living in Switzerland. It has currently 14 official members and a mailinglist with about 80 subscribers.

Prospective core team members

People active in the preparation of this bid (present at several meetings or done some major work):

• Luca Capello / gismo (DD, participant at various previous DebConfs)
• Gaudenz Steinlin (DD, participant at DebConf9-11)
• Didier Raboud / OdyX (DD, participant at DebConf11)
• Giacomo Catenazzi / cate (DD, participant at DebConf7,8,9,10)
• Kevin Mueller / kevinmoilar
• Michele Cane / Heiserhorn

Additional local team members

Other people that showed interest in helping on the local team and were active in dicussions around having a DebConf in Switzerland:

• Martin Krafft / madduck (DD, DebConf team member, participant at various previous DebConfs)
• Axel Beckert / XTaran (DD, participant at DebConf 9 and 11, LUG-Camp Orga Team member 2007 and 2011)
• Sylvain Fankhauser
• Michael Germini
• Alain Schröder (DD, participant in Debconf 11)
• Salvatore Bonaccorso (DD, participant in Debconf 11)
• Philipp Hug (DD, participant in Debconf 7, 9 and 11)
• Eva Ramon (participant in Debconf 9 and 11)
• Marcus Moeller (member of the FrOSCamp 2010 Orga Team)
• Xavier Oswald
• Thomas Koch
• Giacomo Tenaglia
• Michael Germini
• Gerold Rupprecht
• Marc Schaefer, Cernier (NE), representative from linux-neuchatel and possibly HE-Arc ISIC, currently also part of the local authorities in Cernier. Oh, and member of a local video group where we have wireless microphones, video cameras, and maybe even a team to help.

Also the people subscribed to the mailinglist represent a reservoir of people we could approach for help with the conference organization, especially during the event.

Moreover, Swisslinux.org supports individual members' engagements. They will be very useful, given that they are already involved in organizing the next RMLL 2012 in Geneva.

Experience in organizing DebConfs

While only madduck has been part of the DebConf team so far, at least Gaudenz, Didier and gismo are willing to join the team for DebConf 12 if Switzerland wins the bid. In addition several of the team members have experience in organizing other larger events outside of Debian.

Willingness to work on Debconf 12 stuff

While some of the team members are willing to join the DebConf (global) team for DebConf 12, we don't think it's the task of the next DebConf team to finish the work left behind by the previous team :-) Therefore we're only willing to do work that also benefits DebConf 13. But we are commited to not leave behind unfinished work after Debconf 13 for the next Debconf team either.

Team work

We tend to think that we have been pretty good at team work:

• regular meetings were decided in advance, announced, then held and minutes written down for them,
• contributions were not those of a single men, but workload (contacts and visits with potential venues, wiki editing, etc) has been distributed (hence avoiding the bus factor),
• our mailing list has seen a reasonable traffic.

good working spaces

`Le Camp` provides a wide diversity of working places, both outside and inside. Most bungalow provide a living room with electricity, a small kitchen, big terraces, etc. For big and small teams, finding a place to get together and work will not be an issue.

excellent network connectivity

As mentionned in the Vaumarcus Location CheckList, while this is not currently the case, we are confident that this will get solved in a timely manner. `Le Camp` confirmed us that a fibre connection is planned, but they are investigating other providers. The LocalTeam also has contacts to eventually organize backup options (Point-to-Point Wireless Links, etc) if needed.

quality and quantity of food and drink in close proximity

3 meals per day are included in `Le Camp` offering. Quality is unknown, but we expect rather high standards, with no problem for specificities (vegan, vegetarian, various allergies).

As for drinks, there are no bars close to `Le Camp` and therefor the LocalTeam plans to organize a DebConf-specific bar within `Le Camp`.

suitable accommodation in close proximity

`Le Camp` provides most of the needed beds. We expect most of the attendees to stay at Le Camp.

There are two options for those who want a higer standard or don't want / can't stay at Le Camp for other reasons:

• http://www.larouvraie.ch/ is quite close but only reachable by private transport. The have a cooperation with Le Camp. Attendees staying there would either need their own car or we would have to arrange transportation.

• Staying in a hotel in Yverdon. There are hourly connections by bus from 5:00 to 24:00. The trip takes a bit more than 30 minutes. There are several hotel options in Yverdon up to 4 stars. The same goes for Neuchatel but the trip there is not as convenient. Traveling by car to either city takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

presentation facilities

See Vaumarcus' LocationChecklist - Conference Facilities. In short: rooms are available although the big one might be slightly limiting; screens are probably available but projectors and conferencing tools (mics, loudpseakers) would probably be provided by us.

travel logistics

The main Swiss airports (ZRH[1], GVA[2], BSL[3]) are well-connected to airlines (from intercontinental flight to cheap European airlines) and are indeed train stations, well-connected in the Swiss trains network (usually one train per hour to DebConf).

The Swiss Trains network [4] is one of the most reliable train networks in the world; trains leave and arrive on time: you can trust the timetable and the platform indications. It is possible to buy a single ticket for the train and bus. During daytime (approx 6am to 8pm) you have hourly connections between any two points in Switzerland. Between major cities you have trains every half hour.

Going from any of the two (ZRH, GVA) airports to `Le Camp` is only a matter of:

• take the correct train at the Airport station;
• enjoy the ride;
• go out of the train at the correct station (announced in multiple languages within the trains and timely precise) and take the correct bus (although that last step will probably be accompanied by LocalTeam, either by specific instructions or by providing personel).

Note: From the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg there is an additional shuttle bus between Airport and the Swiss train station.

accessibility

For travelling, train stations are equipped for blind people if warned in advance, will provide everything needed (including train station "help" personal) for people on wheelchairs (see [5]). The LocalTeam will assist anyone needing coordination with the train+bus transporters, and for the last station to the camp.

`Le Camp` is suitable for wheelchairs : all main conference and catering facilities are equipped for wheelchairs, main paths are steps-less. People in wheelchairs will not be able to access all bungalows though.

weak points of the Swiss bid

Previously in the bid page.

Venue might be too small or not suit everyone

Camping is possible, fields and forest beside the camp belong to the foundation. The caretaker of Le Camp informally told us that camping wouldn't be a problem if

Fiesch as alternative is bigger, but we think it's not so nice (too big, not for us alone).

For alternative more luxurious hosting options see our Mail to debconf-team:

>
> Normally we have other attendees who would like to pay for their own
> accommodation, and prefer a higher standard than the sponsored
> accommodation. What options would be available for them in your bid,
> either as superior rooms in the same place, or other hotel options
> nearby?

There is no option for this on Le Camp itself.

I mainly see two options for this:

• http://www.larouvraie.ch/ is quite close but only reachable by private transport. The have a cooperation with Le Camp. Attendees staying there would either need their own car or we would have to arrange transportation.
• Staying in a hotel in Yverdon. There are hourly connections by bus from 5:00 to 24:00. The trip takes a bit more than 30 minutes. There are several hotel options in Yverdon up to 4 stars. The same goes for Neuchatel but the trip there is not as convenient. Traveling by car to either city takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
• And the Castle of Vaumarcus (about 400m from the Camp) seems to have a very limited amount of beds. Information about this is a bit uncertain.

Switzerland is very expensive

This also means more sponsoring money.

Participants won't have many expenses as we will have our own bar.

We need to work harder to get as many sponsors as possible.

We'll be working on getting group discounts for the train travel (which is standard as soon as groups travel), for food and for accommodation.

Network connectivity of the venue is not good enough yet

A fibre connection done by UPC/Cablecom is planned. We'll know more by the end of the year.

`Le Camp` confirmed us that a fibre connection is planned, but they are investigating other providers. The LocalTeam also has contacts to eventually organize backup options (Point-to-Point Wireless Links, etc) if needed.

No local restaurants, bars, etc. close by

A conference set-up bar is pointed out, but the nearby village is specifically described at not having restaurants, bars, etc. In Banja Luka, it was very nice to be able to just walk around the city and try out food places in small nooks, often without having a common language to use but always with good results. This will be very isolated.

We discussed this issue when deciding if to bid a city or a camp location. We decided to try something different (not the usual city), thus to push the social side of DebConf with a single hosting place (venue, accommodation, free-time, etc.).

strong points of the Latvian bid

• Touristic city, with lots of "night-life", etc
• Luxurious accomodation and hosting facilities
• More "traditional" conference venue in a university building. Lecture halls and networking are already set-up.
• Globally cheaper than the Swiss bid

  Although travel sponsorship will have a great impact too.

• DebConf in central Riga might boost FLOSS adaption in Latvia
• Looks like a well prepared bid overall