Tourists can turn into long term contributing attendees if they like what they
see and think it will be an effective forum to get work done. We need to
collectively do a better job helping new people get acclimated to being
effective at the IETF. The mentoring program, ISOC policy makers, and other
efforts should help to improve this over time.
I do agree that we need to improve materials so that people can better
understand the work happening in each WG. I know people can read the drafts,
but sometimes how the drafts connect or why they matter collectively is not
apparent, or even how/why to use which drafts for what purpose. Drafts and
RFCs are great, but other media would be helpful here I think. The tutorials
is an interesting idea. I think youtube videos may be effective as well
without having to schedule meetings for tutorials.
Thanks,
Kathleen
-----Original Message-----
From: ietf-bounces(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org
[mailto:ietf-bounces(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org] On Behalf Of John C Klensin
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 11:17 AM
To: Phillip Hallam-Baker; Simon Pietro Romano
Cc: Keith Moore; ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org
Subject: Re: IETF registration fee?
--On Thursday, July 11, 2013 10:34 -0400 Phillip Hallam-Baker
<hallam(_at_)gmail(_dot_)com> wrote:
...
Using paid conferences as a profit center is a risky long term
prospect at best. Refusing to adapt the format of the
conferences to protect the profit center worse.
Or adapting the format to attract more paying attendees, such a
what we have sometimes called "tourists", with no real
expectation that they will do work, because it increases the
income.
Still better than building a funding structure based on sale of
publications, however :-(
john