Re: IETF Meeting Venue Selection Criteria

[Daniel Senie <dts at senie.com>]

At 11:58 AM 10/14/2005, Avri Doria wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I think there needs to be some mention of requirements such as:
>
> - MUST NOT be held in a country whose visa requirements are so
> stringent as to make it impossible or even extremely difficult for
> some participant to attend.
>
> - MUST NOT be held in a country with restrictions on freedom of
> expression, especially if these extend to the blocking of web sites
> or any other censuring of personal communications.
>
> - MUST NOT be held in a country were local participants would be
> under pressure to support national technical policies on threat of
> imprisonment or other punitive actions, for their opinions.
>
> - MUST NOT be held in a country were local participants would need
> government approval to attend.

Reading through this list, it looks to me like Canada would be a good 
choice. For variety, some could be in the east, some in the west, 
some in the center. The USA, at least at present, fails to meet some 
of the criteria listed above and perhaps should no longer be on the 
list of countries in which to host meetings. We certainly have 
friends who refuse to travel here ot the US given present policies.

Of all the north american locales where I've attended IETF or NANOG 
meetings, I have to say Minneapolis was outstanding, as was Montreal. 
Minneapolis in March particularly was ideal. I was surprised to find 
a great city with widely varied food options, great awareness and of 
special diets (vegetarian/vegan), no major tourist draw to turn the 
trip to the meeting into an excuse for a vacation. Montreal in winter 
time similarly discourages the vacation excuse syndrome, while 
providing a good locale with great services.





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