[ncc-services-wg] Figuring out RIPE meetings

> On 4 Dec 2023, at 13:39, Shane Kerr <shane at time-travellers.org> wrote:
> 
> The RIPE community is willing to help when it makes sense, and can be trusted to be understanding otherwise.

Shane, I think you’re wrong and unreasonable on this issue.

For starters, as far as I’m aware the RIPE community - for some definition of that term - has not taken a consensus decision to be willing to be involved on this matter. Where/when/how did that take place?

Second, it’s highly unlikely input from the RIPE community could be helpful in choosing meeting venues. The community is so diverse, it’ll be pulling in too many conflicting and possibly mutually exclusive directions at the same time. Expecting the RIPE community to converge on a broadly agreed venue is as realistic as us agreeing on the best flavour of beer/coffee/fruit juice/whatever.

Finally, I doubt the RIPE community has enough of an understanding of all the factors that go into choosing a location and venue. How many of us are professional meeting planners or know what’s available and at what price for an upcoming RIPE meeting?

IMO it’s best to leave these decisions to the great team at the NCC who know this stuff and have the expertise at negotiating with hotels or conference centres. The RIPE community can offer constructive feedback on those choices, just as they’ve always done. There’s no need or reason for the RIPE community to micro-manage this stuff. Please leave it to the experts.