[AusNOG] Flooding in Rockhampton - What can AUSNOG do?

[Matthew Moyle-Croft]

We, the organisers, have discussed at length where the meetings should be in the future.   Our focus has been to get a series of meetings which have had good attendance and are financially viable.   The "profits" from earlier meetings have been used to ensure that the annual meeting is self funding and has a float to be able to pay for the deposits etc on the next meetings.  

Sydney has been appealing because it's very convenient for international speakers/visitors as well as a lot of people in Sydney as well as within Australia.   This is important to be able to get the kind of attendance (200 or so people) we're aiming for to justify people like Vijay Gill from Google, Roland Dobbins from Arbor etc coming along.  (Personally, it's easy for me to get to the major cities as I can combine with other work/meetings - a lot of people are the same).

This year (AUSNOG05 meeting in September, as announced at AUSNOG04) will be the last in the initial series in Sydney.   We've already booked the Four Seasons again, announced the dates and location.

We're looking to host 2012 in another major city on the East Coast.   Most likely Melbourne.

We do understand that people have different opinions and desires out of AUSNOG meetings.   But we do want to be able to attract a reasonable cross section of people and that really means major cities and no matter where it's held we'll hear that someone's offended/can't get there etc.   We think the idea of helping out places such as Rockhampton is a good one, but the reality of holding a large conference there (including the extra logistics to organise it and the toll on us as organisers) makes it one we don't think can be pursued.

Matthew
on behalf of the organisers of AUSNOG.