Open Convention
From YearOfTheTeledu
[edit] Open Convention
If a committee runs a convention, all the big decisions (when, where, how much) and the programme are decided by the committee. This is a very limited pool of people to come up with ideas and get things done. An open convention relies on the entire membership to come up with ideas and to do them.
Open Conventions are based on collaboratively run projects such as wikipedia and open-source software such as Linux. The internet and tools such as Wiki's allow collaboration and consensus to happen in ways that were impossible five years ago. Teledu is trying using these ideas to create the most eclectic, imaginative and above all fun convention possible.
[edit] How will it work?
[edit] "All members are equal but some are more equal than others"
With other people's money and safety at stake, there has to be a level of legal responsibilty. This job is fulfilled by the Officers and the buck stops with them. These three people sign the contracts with the hotel, open bank accounts and the like. Because they have legal obligations they also have final veto on anything and everything but that veto will only be used when safety, legal or financial issues are at stake.
[edit] "Decisions are made by those who turn up"
We need a hotel and the decision of which hotel to use will be made by those people who go out and find possible hotels, post their details on this wiki and discuss them on Live Journal. At some point a consensus will arise and the officers will then act on the members' behalf in organising the legal and financial side. A non-office holder will need to be hotel liaison and that will be whoever volunteers for the role.
[edit] "A programme of the people, by the people, for the people"
If you want a programme item to happen you need to get off your arse and do it. Want a disco on Saturday night? Set up a page on the wiki with your ideas on what sort of music and what theme it will take. Other people will comment, change things and bring in new ideas but it won't actually happen unless you organise the music, the lights, the DJ. Want the convention to pay for it? Argue your case on Live Journal for the money until the treasurer confirms the funds are available. Now book that DJ and on the Saturday night make sure the DJ arrives and gets set up in time. There will be no Ops organising this. It's all down to you and anyone you can get to help you.
[edit] FAQ
[edit] What happens if there isn't a consensus?
On most things there is room to compromise. If two programme items both want the main room at 3pm on Saturday then there may be no reason why one can't be at 4pm or 2pm or at 3pm on the Sunday. If there is no room for a compromise then there will be a semi-formal vote. If that doesn't work the Officers will decide.
[edit] What happens if someone plans to run lots of programme items no one is interested in?
As the convention approaches, people can add their names to the wiki page for each programme item to indicate that they would like to go to it. The ones which are most popular will go into the final programme.
[edit] I want to run a programme item on an unpopular topic (filk / fifties fanzines / etc)
If there is more than one of you interested then make a bid for an unpopular time in the programme. Not many people will be interested in using the second programme stream at 10am on Sunday. Alternatively why not hold it in the bar, outside or in your room? The convention doesn't have to be limited to the formal programme streams listed in the programme book. With the wiki, Live Journal and email you can let everybody know about your programme item.
[edit] Will there be progress reports and a programme book
There will be no PRs. What is the point when all the latest news is on the wiki? Programme books are different because only some people will have net access at the convention. Maybe we will have a laser printer in reception and you print out the latest version of the programme every morning.
[edit] What about members who have no or limited net access?
Bad luck. Teledu is a convention that can only happen using the internet. There is nothing to stop net-free people buying a membership but that is up to them. There is nothing to stop a member printing the Wiki out for someone else either. (There is a new option on the left to see a "Printable Version" of each Wiki page if you do want to print out some of the Wiki.
