Andy,
I have been involved as local host now for two times (although I
wasn't very local this time ;-)). I agree that it doesn't make sense
to build a network each and every time completely from scratch. It is
an enormous effort to beg potential sponsors for accesspoints (or
spend a lot of money to buy them), to figure out how to build a
terminal room and how to equip it, to buy servers and install
monitoring software that gets wiped out right after the meeting to
mention just a few examples. Luckily, we and the very experienced
group of volunteers that helped us did have some memories
(nightmares?) from previous meetings but it would have been way more
efficient if a lot of the building blocks were simply already in place
before a host even volunteers to be the host (and I think a host would
more easily take on this role if the job was a bit more manageable).
I personally believe that we would be better off if the same
experienced (paid for) group would build the network each and every
time with the same equipment owned by IETF, while the sponsor does
what they are best at, and that is providing funding for the actual
meeting.
David Kessens
PS it will also be easier to deal with complaints: no cookies at the
break ? well, maybe you or employer should have sponsored the
break then.
---
On Thu, Mar 23, 2006 at 07:34:00PM -0800, Andy Bierman wrote:
Dave Crocker wrote:
Michael StJohns wrote:
What I think Jordi is saying is that he wants the US sponsors to
subsidize the cost of the overseas meetings. At least that's what it
works out to be....
This view can be mapped to a classic model that would have significant
benefits for the IETF:
A "host" gets all sorts of marketing leverage out of the role in
producing an IETF.
There is nothing that requires that the event site management effort be
coupled with a particular host's venue.
If we moved to a model of having companies provide sponsorship funds, in
return for which they get appropriate marketing presence, then we could
have meeting venue management move to the sort of predictable and timely
basis -- ie, far enough ahead of time -- that has been a concern for
many years.
Amen! And maybe the meeting fees could actually go down
with enough sponsors. An additional room like the terminal
room (not out in the open) could be used.
Also, the IETF could maintain control of the
network if there were multiple sponsors instead
of a single host. They would not be allowed to ignore
the advice of the NOC team, and let the wireless meltdown
right off the bat.
Andy
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