AAIC 2013 - update and question

[Bolts_Tweed]

Hello all - just a quick update - I have acceptance from 3 US guest presenters you will al know and I am working on one European.

Everything is pushing ahead - I am targetting July / August 2013 depending on prices from hotels / venue. I am trying to hold it Sydney to give more people a chance to attend but I am getting crazy quotes for the veue. I am looking for feedaback because obviously the attendees will be paying. I can push ahead with Sydney (I am going down in about 2 weeks for some fair dinkum negotiating) and give feedback on the cost to you all then but I have another alternative. I got a quote from the Greek Club in Brisbane (I was there today for a one day thing with Uni - a great venue just near Southbank) and they can do the venue for a grand a day plus meals which is about a tenth to a fifteenth of the prices I am getting quoted in Sydney.

So I will just throw this in the ring for discussion as the airfares from Sydney To Brisbane and the venue costs per head up here will be cheaper than just the venue costs in Sydney.

I have some great serious expressions of interest from some suppliers (Some large US companies are very keen on coming over) as well which will help to smooth costs but Sydney will definately still be the most expensive option. Any comments / ideas?

Thye format will also be different this time (after feedback) - Friday will be workshops all day on processing, capture, equipment optimisation etc etc while Saturday and Sunday will be general conference format -however the program (or the vast majority of it ) will be instructional with only a minimal informative component - the important thing is we all learn from this process.

I know how to do it now so look for something bigger and much better.

All my usual helpers - I will send an email soon as I have finalised venue etc.

Mark Bolton

[Octane]

Wow, fantastic! :)

Will definitely be in attendance (again!).

H

[peter_4059]

Can we do Brisbane this year :D

[Bolts_Tweed]

Sry guys I hit submit before I had finished typing aso aboive is the full post

[Stardrifter_WA]

Just a thought. Sydney is ok for those that live in or near Sydney, however, if you want to encourage members from other states, then it may be worthwhile to consider the costs to those members for accommodation in Sydney.

Sadly, if it is July / August I will not be able to consider it. I will be in the US for a six weeks. I will be going to Stellafane! I can't wait!!!!! Next year will seem like a year of summer, as I will miss most of the aussie winter. How terribly sad :sadeyes: Not!!! :D

[thunderchildobs]

Mark,

I liked having the 2011 conference and accomadation at the same venue. No need to worry about transport / taxis, you have somewhere to store computers / gear with carrying them around all day.


Also watch clashing with the Qld astrofest.

Brendan

[DavidTrap]

Agreed!

I don't need a flashy conference venue - just a comfortable chair and good AV gear!

Also, can I suggest morning "lectures" and afternoon "workshops" everyday - this would be preferable for those who can't attend on the Friday due to work commitments. Also breaks up the monotony of a day of "didactic lectures".

Great to hear this is all happening again Mark!

Ta

DT

[Bolts_Tweed]

G'day guys

Yeah the location is a problem cost vs attendance. The idea was to take it on the road so locals get a chance to attend at least one event without accom costs. Sydney's numbers make it appealing to help me cover costs for this second one at leat but I am hearing you. I am even open to Perth in the future if we could get numbers.

I hear you too Brendan - I agree - getting the lift to the conference is also nice. I still haven't given up on the Sydney hotels but they will have to sharpen their pencil.

G'day Traps - didactic - now there's a word we don't hear at Leyburn too often. I like the split day idea. Will work on that. I won't be there this weekend - the ulcers are doing backflips. If you go out check out in the shed near the mower - I'm just a big kid - new toys

Thx for the feedback

[DavidTrap]

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Last buzzword term I heard for lectures was "fixed resource sessions"!!

Hope your guts improve - I thought you said the chilli was helping?? :screwy:

DT

[trent_julie]

Mark,
Will there be an innovation/imaging comp once more? I am busy working on some sexy new technologies here in preparation.

Trent

[cybereye]

Mark,

I have no problems with Sydney (I'm from there originally) but the Greek Club in Brisbane is fine by me - that's just a short bus ride there and back each day!!!

Wherever you have it I'll be there!

Cheers,
Mario

[Bolts_Tweed]

Trent

Two awards I think - one for innovation / imaging and another biannual award presented by the conference committee from nominations for outstanding achievement over an extended period in Australia.

Dave

Chili was good but well you know the morning side effect of excess chili. Pain went but continual discomfort persuaded me to go the doctor. Just waiting to hear result of endoscope and testing if he needs to cut me or continue medicinally.

[troypiggo]

Do you have data from the 2011 one on how many people came from each state or region? Might be handy in terms of getting a feel for how many will actually be travelling interstate versus driving from local area etc.

Perhaps a poll for those planning on coming to the 2013 one?

In terms of cost, I'd certainly be happy with Greek Club. I can ride a bike there from home :D

[iceman]

While I think it's nice to be accommodated and have function rooms in the same venue/hotel, I don't think it's absolutely necessary.

Plenty of times I've had to travel for work and be in a hotel a short distance from a conference centre/venue. As long as it's within walking distance I think it's ok.

Also in any case, people have the option of choosing to stay in the 'recommended' accommodation venue or any others nearby.

The main thing is the conference venue - good AV, the right size, ability to get dark enough for contrast on screen, catering etc.

[dannat]

if Sydney is uber expensive, why not Newcastle or central coast - transport is still easy enough to get, & there are numerous conf. venues

[Bolts_Tweed]

Newcastle !!! Too close to Sidonio - Mike only joking big fella. Yep I might investigate it. Any suggestions if you are from there (ie hotels / venues)? I assume we will get a range of accom options there to cover varying budgets of attendees. Tent in Mikes backyard?

In the back of my mind I was planning on a bus transfer system if we don't have it at a hotel.

If we run it with half day workshops half day conference I would really like to split the workshops so we can cover multi levels of experience amongst imagers. So it will need either a large room that can be split in two after lunch (with two projection systems) or a room for say 200 before lunch and two 100 person rooms after lunch. Also needs a room of suitable size for sponsors and equipment. If anyone has suggestions that aren't going to cost 15 grand a day then I am all ears. I will chase it up if you know of anything suitable

Thanks for the input guys

Mark

[Bolts_Tweed]

Troy NSW came in first with numbers followed by QLD - that is what prompted the NSW venue choice. There were a lot of NSW people not from Sydney as well eg Bathurst, Dubbo etc etc.

[strongmanmike]

At the end of the day everyone, it is hard to organise a conference in Sydney (or anywhere else for that matter) if the organiser/s live in the Gold Coast/Brisbane area :rolleyes:.

Mark I recon you do it in Brissy or Gold Coast again - simple, lovely weather that time of year too. Accomodation of all types and costs everywhere etc Flights are cheap in Australia and it is a National conference after all, what do people expect, it can't be everywhere. As you say it will be cheaper registration too.

It will logistically be much easier for you to manage if you live in the same city. International guests will be perfectly used to going where the conference is regardless.

I am moving back to Canberra in the coming months anyway but I am very happy to fly to Brisbane.

Mike

[Bassnut]

Ditto,well put.

[Bolts_Tweed]

Thanks Mike / Fred

Obviously I prefer having it up here - it gives me more control and is easier.

I am sure the names I have coming will be enough of a draw card to bring attendees but I said I would offer it to other locations. If I don't get bombarded with good price effective suggestions I will have it at the Greek Club with many hotels in very easy walking distance giving attendees a choice in cost options. I will negotiate some bundle deals with the hotels in the area. It is also a 5 minute walk from Southbank which is our version of Darling Harbour. The shuttle also will run if I go this way.

Good to hear from you both and I look forward to catching up. Fred I have checked the venue audio and it is fine - smile. Mike - Canberra ? Really ? You are made of sterner stuff than this pussy northerner.

Mark

[strongmanmike]

Yep! go the Blues :lol:

Cold clear skies ahhhhhhhh :innocent:

[Bolts_Tweed]

No comment - laugh. I have been trying my hardest to tolerate my heartbreak. Right at the start of the telecast Ken Sutcliffe did a short intro by the fence in front of Bletchys Blues. My granddaughter and son in law were standing right beside him in blue wigs and jerseys waving flags - do these people have no pride - I used to be so proud of her too - laugh - it was Jasmine who was my helper at the last AAIC - ill just have to break her heart in a couple of weeks.

[PeterM]

Very well said indeed, ok I live in Brissy so I am biased but I think it worked so well on the Gold Coast.

[Bolts_Tweed]

My only drama with the coast is I wasn't happy with accommodation rates. Those who booked separate to the conf rate actually paid less. They only get one chance to screw me. I like the chance for attendees to chose their own level of accommodation as well. I mean the casino is a short walk over the bride and there are 5 star places at Southbank ranging down to the Melbourne Hotel down the road (you could pitch a tent in mugsrave park over the road - sry all queenslanders know how un pc that is)

[marc4darkskies]

Yeah, definitely +1 for Gold Coast area ... I want to get away from Sydney!!!

I'm looking forward to it already Mark!

Cheers, Marcus

[cventer]

Happy to come to QLD from Melbourne.

Also like the idea of conf venue in same place as accomodation.

Im lazy!!!!

[RobF]

Our professional association (scientists/pathologists) rotates annual scientific meetings up and down the east coast through Brissy/Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne. Almost without fail the Gold Coast is the most popular venue for attendance numbers.

Still, good to give other states a go at it from time to time. Trouble is you don't have luxury of handing off organistion to those in the NSW/VIC really Mark, as Mike said.

[Bolts_Tweed]

I am getting overwhelming requests for it to be on the coast, here and by email. If it ends up here you will pay similar conference fees to last time. I will get quotes from some other hotels but. It is obviously much easier for me if we have it here.

I am thinking about tying it into QLD Astrfest - they run from one weekend to the next now. If we have this on the first weekend anyone from interstate could continue on to Astrofest - the second weekend is the big one. It may even encourage some first timers to Astrofest. Tony Surma you out there? Do you like the idea? It would be like Queensland astronomy week. It would be better than having them 2 or 3 weeks apart again which may discourage people from attending both.

I won't commit for a week or two but early July I will decide to give the internationals time to organize. I suppose it is not a secret that FLI are on board again and several other large camera, scope and accessory manufacturers will probably be there - bigger and better.

Bolton

[RobF]

All we need now is a 4-5 star hotel in the middle of nowhere. AIC by day, AF by night for an entire week..... :)

[DavidTrap]

Big tent at Leyburn - problem solved!

Your new toys could provide valuable revenue to offset costs!

DT

[Bolts_Tweed]

Told you was a 55 year old juvenile delinquent didn't I?