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RIPE 49 - Newcomers FAQ

1. Who attends RIPE Meetings?
2. What is a Working Group?
3. What Working Group sessions should I attend?
4. How to prepare for attending a Working Group?
5. Why do I pay an entry fee for a RIPE Meeting?
6. What are the benefits of attending and contributing?
7. I am new to these meetings. Am I allowed to offer my opinion at sessions?
8. I am not a native English speaker. Does this matter?
9. Who can I talk to if I have questions?
10. Useful URLs

Who attends RIPE Meetings?

RIPE Meetings are open to anyone. The primary attendees include a variety of individuals and organisations from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network operators predominantly from Europe and surrounding regions. The meetings address technical and policy issues affecting Internet administration and operation in the RIPE NCC service region and beyond.

What is a Working Group?

A working group (WG) session is an open forum. This means that anyone can join and participate as an equal. You do not have to be a member of the RIPE NCC to join in discussions.

RIPE Working Groups deal with various issues and topics related to the work of its members and the Internet community. Each working group has a mailing list where topics related to the group are discussed between RIPE Meetings. Links to the mailing lists with subscription instructions can be found at:

http://www.ripe.net/ripe/about/maillists.html

The RIPE Working Groups meet three times a year at RIPE Meetings where participants can meet face-to-face and discuss policy etc.

The working group topics are described within the name of the working group. For example, the Routing WG discusses issues relating to routing, the LIR WG discusses policies and other issues related to Local Internet Registries (LIRs), and so on.

More information on RIPE Working Groups can be found at:

http://www.ripe.net/ripe/wg/

What Working Group sessions should I attend?

What is your area of interest? While the LIR (Local Internet Registry) Working Group is considered the most important working group for members of the RIPE NCC, you may prefer to attend the session on IPv6 or DNS, depending on your business focus or interest.

You can find complete agendas for each group in your RIPE Meeting packet, on the RIPE Meeting web site and at the registration desk. The agenda details specific topics that will be discussed within the working group sessions. If you wish to add a point to an agenda please contact the working group chair. You will find the name of each working group chair at the aforementioned URL.

How to prepare for attending a Working Group?

Before attending a working group you should first read the group’s published agenda.

Online information for each WG can be found at:

http://www.ripe.net/ripe/wg/

Minutes of the working groups from previous RIPE Meetings and mailing list archives, where you can read recent discussions, are also here. By reading previous minutes and discussions you will have a clearer idea of what to expect during the working group session and also be up-to-date on issues and developments.

Why do I pay an entry fee for a RIPE Meeting?

RIPE Meetings must be paid by the individuals attending, as they are not paid for through membership fees. This is because anyone can attend a RIPE Meeting – not only RIPE NCC members. Also some members are unable to attend meetings for various reasons (e.g. workload, travel expense etc). It is considered unfair for non-attendees to pay for meetings.

To encourage new members of the RIPE NCC to attend RIPE Meetings all new LIRs are given two free tickets for a RIPE Meeting that are valid for one year.

What are the benefits of attending and contributing?

Your attendance and contributions are very important. There are many benefits gained from attending and contributing to a RIPE Meeting:

• Decisions are made in an open forum where every individual who attends is allowed to voice an opinion. If you do not have a representative from your organisation attending a RIPE Meeting you will not be able to influence decisions made.

• The RIPE community is extremely influential. If you contribute during a RIPE Meeting your opinion will have an influence on policies. Your organisation as well as the Internet industry is directly affected by these policies.

• RIPE Meetings offer a huge opportunity for learning. A variety of topics are discussed. By attending a RIPE Meeting you are able to keep up-to-date with new developments within the Internet industry.
  
• RIPE Meetings give an opportunity to meet potential customers, collaborators or business partners. It is possible to meet with organisations from all over the RIPE NCC service region and beyond as attendees cover a wide geographic area.
  

• Attendees may also benefit by meeting direct competitors at RIPE Meetings, as it is here that people do not directly compete but share information, ideas and solutions to problems that your organisation may also be facing.

I am new to these meetings. Am I allowed to offer my opinion at sessions? I am not a native English speaker. Does this matter?

Anyone is welcome to voice an opinion during a working group session. You can also ask a WG chair to raise an issue for you. However, it is advised that the discussions within the WG mailing list and relevant documents are read before making statements to avoid voicing an opinion already expressed or stating a solution to a problem already resolved.

If you wish to speak during a WG session, simply approach the microphone (in large meeting rooms) or raise your hand (in the smaller meeting rooms).

Your voice is as important and relevant as anyone else’s. Each individual is considered an equal at RIPE Meetings and has the same amount of influence within the RIPE community.

I am not a native English speaker. Does this matter?

Please do not feel embarrassed about your level of English. The majority of attendees are not native English speakers and the attendees that are native English speakers are aware of the multiple nationalities that attend these meetings.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have questions regarding the RIPE Meeting, such as payment issues etc. you will find a RIPE NCC staff member at the registration desk throughout the entire meeting.

If you have questions regarding your LIR you can approach the Hostmaster Consultation Centre. There you will find RIPE NCC Hostmasters who will be pleased to answer any question you have.

Hostmasters are also available for lunch meetings. Please visit the Hostmaster Consultation Centre if you are interested in setting up a meeting.

If you have questions regarding connectivity please contact the registration desk or a member of the RIPE NCC Operations group who will be wearing blue badges.

Useful URLs

RIPE NCC:
http://www.ripe.net/

RIPE:
http://www.ripe.net/ripe/about/

Documents:
http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/index.html

Whois Database:
http://www.ripe.net/db/whois/whois.html

LIR Portal:
https://lirportal.ripe.net/lirportal/index.html

Training Courses:
http://www.ripe.net/training/index.html