Quote:
Originally Posted by Bolts_Tweed
Gday
Ive had the idea for a while and Jases recent postings re AIC in the US have prompted me to put it to you guys amongst others to judge interest
I am a Engineering Lecturer at Griffith University on the Gold Coast and we run between 2 and 4 conferences / workshops per year - my point here is that we have experience running conferences and facilities such as lecture theatres and computer labs for workshops etc.
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Hi Mark,
Thank you for putting forward this proposal and I think you can see from the
initial response that such an event would be enthusiastically received by Australian
imaging enthusiasts.
Though I have never seen any official statistics, it would not surprise me if
Australia had the highest number of astronomy enthusiasts per capita in the
world and some of the major star parties here are the equal to that found
anywhere else in the world.
Based on your experience in hosting conferences and workshops and given the
existing facilities available at Griffith University, it sounds like the perfect venue.
Astroimaging has a large technical component and so the venue of a University
campus compliments that.
Plus as you were the one to put your hand up and I suspect in so doing have
just volunteered to put in a lot of the hard work that goes into making such
events happen, it is fitting that it be on your home turf and hopefully this will
make the logistics a little easier for you.
South East Queensland has a very large number of amateur astronomers and
the amenity of the Gold Coast, its range of accommodation, its ease of access
from most other parts of the country plus the fact it a competitive airline destination
with cut price airfares there now very common - all these combine to make it a
compelling home for such an event.
There are even direct budget flights between the Gold Coast and New Zealand
so we might well attract some of our Kiwi enthusiasts as well as you mentioned.
You also mentioned enthusiasts from Japan and invited/paid for presenters from the
U.S.
In fact, based on first hand experience with helping host visitors from overseas,
if it definitely were to be held at the Gold Coast and the program had some
truly compelling content, it would attract enthusiasts from as far as the U.S.
and Canada.
Every year for the past few years we have helped host up to a couple of dozen
North American enthusiasts at a time. For example, in 2010 we are helping
host groups of visitors in March and in November and possibly a smaller group in July.
What they always do when they fly into Sydney is rather than jumping on another plane
or getting in a train is they have a day or two layover in Sydney. It is not uncommon
for these visitors to bring their spouses and to combine it into a holiday.
Add into the mix the Gold Coast's reputation of sun, sand, surf and fun, then as
you suggest, irrespective of where they are coming from. there may be some who
wish to attend the conference but use it as an opportunity to bring the family along
for a holiday as well.
The Australian astro calender is already very crowded and so one of the
problems is always finding a time when it does not clash with another event.
However, an imaging conference need not correspond to a New Moon period
and in fact the event is more likely to be better attended if it does not correspond
with a New Moon period and is not held during the same week as another star party.
There might be a temptation for some to try and dovetail it with a star party, but to
be honest, though I appreciate the motivations, that might be a "bridge too far".
The logistics become all the more difficult and given that much astroimaging
demonstrations at night can be held from places as humble as a university oval or
car park, though not ideal, will be likely to be sufficient. Many attendees are also
likely to be interested in social dinners and gathering in the evenings rather than
setting up their rigs then and there immediately after the last presentation.
Given what sounds like to be one of Mark's other interests, I would not be surprised
if he recommends dinner at Jupiters.
For those enthusiasts coming from afar but on limited budgets, given the large
number of enthusiasts who are in the Brisbane and Gold Coast region, it would
not surprise me if some volunteered to host fellow enthusiasts with a home
stay program. IceInSpace would make a perfect place to match up those with
a spare room available with those seeking one.
The nice thing is that the Gold Coast offers every type of accommodation from
the Coolangatta YHA to luxury resorts.
Finally, having watched the amount of hard work that people like Mike Salway
and the many people that help volunteer their time and money into hosting events
such as star parties, I wanted to thank you for putting your hand up.
I am sure it will be a huge success and we can certainly assist in helping attract attendees.
Best Regards
Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au