However, I filled in the application with the information about my personal location, so that he/they can see, that there is need for such events in Europe, too :) (maybe you should do that, too!)
Maybe he can give his plans for this event to some of us and we can organize our own event as a subunit.
Yes, if it turns out there’s a critical mass of people in, say Iceland… well, I probably won’t be able to make it work this year, but it’d be important information for next year.
It’s a continuum, where physical presence is best, then simulcast conferences, then further talks, then video presentations.
The more of a shared event in time and space, the better, but the better shouldn’t preclude the not as good. IMO, having a simulcast conference as part of any physical event would be valuable on both sides.
Suggestion: start a new discussion thread titled something like “European Rationality Solstice Ritual”. That will be a start. I’m based in France, experienced at the logistics of running unconferences and community meetings, willing to help.
It seems to me that every successfully organized event has at least one specific person who is the “soul” of the event. No matter how many additional people promise to help, this one is the one who will do most of the work, because they will take the heroic responsibility to fix all things that can go wrong. Other people will usually do the limited part they agreed to help with, and perhaps something more if they are nagged enough. But there has to be someone who continuously inspects everything, and does the nagging. In other words, a manager who cares.
Raemon is such a person for this event. If we want to have something like this in Europe, we need this kind of a person here. We need a volunteer for this role. Mere group of people willing to help may not be enough.
EDIT: I realise the inconsistency between not wanting to start a new thread about “hey, someone else should do something”, and yet posting a comment here with exactly the same message. Uhm. I just feel like if there is anyone to take the role of the main organizer, they would go ahead and create the thread. (Compared with all other things they will have to do, this one is trivial.) Could be wrong, though.
Note: There was a Solstice in Leipzig, Germany last year. It was had chaosmage as the “soul” of the event, both in the logistical and the artistic sense (As such, it was pretty different from the event I ran—less singing, more dancing and mediation. I’ll be incorporating some of that into my next one)
If there’s to be a big solstice in Europe this year, I suspect that his event is the natural Schelling point.
We’ll do a Secular Solstice in the center of Leipzig on the 19th to 21st of December this year. It’ll be long, rich and intense, so it is worth a long trip from, say, Austria! Not too big though: We have beds for 8 guests, camping mat space for another 10, and a ritual space for about 25 to 30 people.
There’s no admission fee. Everyone is expected to help with the cooking. It’ll feel like the most awesome family gathering you’ve ever attended.
A formal invitation is coming up one of these days. But if you’re already willing to try this, and particularly if you’re from far away and want a bed, message me to beat the crowds...
Or even Britain. It’s irritating that those rationalists in America consistently refuse to fly over to Britain just to include me in everything.
However, I filled in the application with the information about my personal location, so that he/they can see, that there is need for such events in Europe, too :) (maybe you should do that, too!)
Maybe he can give his plans for this event to some of us and we can organize our own event as a subunit.
Yes, if it turns out there’s a critical mass of people in, say Iceland… well, I probably won’t be able to make it work this year, but it’d be important information for next year.
Well, someone needs to fly there and copy all their know-how. Are we rational enough to coordinate at this?
Skype conferences and private talks spreading the know-how in a pyramid scheme should be as effective as flying there—and it’s a lot cheaper!
It’s a continuum, where physical presence is best, then simulcast conferences, then further talks, then video presentations.
The more of a shared event in time and space, the better, but the better shouldn’t preclude the not as good. IMO, having a simulcast conference as part of any physical event would be valuable on both sides.
Suggestion: start a new discussion thread titled something like “European Rationality Solstice Ritual”. That will be a start. I’m based in France, experienced at the logistics of running unconferences and community meetings, willing to help.
It seems to me that every successfully organized event has at least one specific person who is the “soul” of the event. No matter how many additional people promise to help, this one is the one who will do most of the work, because they will take the heroic responsibility to fix all things that can go wrong. Other people will usually do the limited part they agreed to help with, and perhaps something more if they are nagged enough. But there has to be someone who continuously inspects everything, and does the nagging. In other words, a manager who cares.
Raemon is such a person for this event. If we want to have something like this in Europe, we need this kind of a person here. We need a volunteer for this role. Mere group of people willing to help may not be enough.
EDIT: I realise the inconsistency between not wanting to start a new thread about “hey, someone else should do something”, and yet posting a comment here with exactly the same message. Uhm. I just feel like if there is anyone to take the role of the main organizer, they would go ahead and create the thread. (Compared with all other things they will have to do, this one is trivial.) Could be wrong, though.
Note: There was a Solstice in Leipzig, Germany last year. It was had chaosmage as the “soul” of the event, both in the logistical and the artistic sense (As such, it was pretty different from the event I ran—less singing, more dancing and mediation. I’ll be incorporating some of that into my next one)
If there’s to be a big solstice in Europe this year, I suspect that his event is the natural Schelling point.
http://lesswrong.com/lw/j8d/meetup_secular_solstice_celebration_and_the
We’ll do a Secular Solstice in the center of Leipzig on the 19th to 21st of December this year. It’ll be long, rich and intense, so it is worth a long trip from, say, Austria! Not too big though: We have beds for 8 guests, camping mat space for another 10, and a ritual space for about 25 to 30 people.
There’s no admission fee. Everyone is expected to help with the cooking. It’ll feel like the most awesome family gathering you’ve ever attended.
A formal invitation is coming up one of these days. But if you’re already willing to try this, and particularly if you’re from far away and want a bed, message me to beat the crowds...