Towards Carfree Cities IX alternatives

Hi all.
 
Thanks for your contributions to this discussion.
 
After further meetings last week, we have developed two outline proposals:
 
1. A 3-4-day workshop and Annual General Meeting (AGM) event to be held in the Czech Republic sometime between June and August 2009.
 
Advantages: networking in an informal atmosphere; programme flexibility; more time for training workshops; simpler organisation and lower up-front costs; can use previous experience from Tabor, 2006; potential sources of funding have been identified; summer weather.
 
Disadvantages: little time to organise; no keynote/headline presentations; no public day; will not attract policymakers and other professionals; will not generate much-needed additional funds for WCN, and it could indeed make a loss.
 
2. A mini-conference in Prague between October and December, to be organised primarily by the ICC. This could be for 3-5 days, including AGM.
 
Advantages: more time for planning and fundraising; maintains the recent tradition of an annual conference; attractive to external speakers; higher profile with greater outreach potential; attendance fee to provide financial assistance to members who need it, with net surplus ploughed back into WCN activities; up to 11 months still available for organisation.
 
Disadvantages: organisation is more complex and must begin immediately; it is relatively late to isue a call for papers for an event in 2009; possibly less time for training/brainstorming workshops; reduced programme flexibility.
 
At this stage, I would like to think that the possible third option of no face-to-face event (a 'virtual/electronic AGM' only) will not happen.

Please send your thoughts - format preferred, date, location, general themes - to the list by Sunday 1st February. We are also interested in your views on the AGM - should this be at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the conference or workshop? How else could it be improved? Our AGM reform working group would be grateful for your input.
 
The ICC is dependent on the Network's assistance, whichever option we decide to go for, but we're optimistic that we can organise a successful event together.
 
Regarding the 2010 TCC conference, I can confirm that we have received no proposals so far. Of course this is extremely important, but please let's focus on 2009 for the next week or so.
 
I look forward to hearing from you all soon,
 
Regards,
 
Simon.
WCN Steering Committee.
 


      
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