/gist:2792675

## gistfile1.perl
Some concerns about the future of YAPC::NA were recently brought to my attention on IRC. The ensuing discussion revealed some people had valid concerns about the future of Perl conferences and YAPC::NA itself. Most of these concerns stem from a lack of supervision of the various organizing groups, and a lack of overall direction and "steering". Policy decisions (such as Codes of Conduct) are left to the individual organizers, who already have an entire conference let alone having to wade into gender politics in the modern American IT industry. Additionally I've personally witnessed the, inefficient, transfer of institutional knowledge when organizing YAPC::NA 2011.

Much of this stems from the Conference Committee's traidtional hands-off approach to the organizers. This approach is understandable from both the practical side, members are volunteers and they have busy lives, but also from a policy side where we want to encourage conference organizers to be able to make their own decisions. However I think that it may be time for a change.

My proposal is simple, why not have the organizers from the conferneces in a given year become the committee members for the conferences committee the next year, keeping some appointed positions for balance. Let's assume that we keep *just* the chairperson, and that Josh is willing to continue for another year that would make the committee for next year:

Josh McAdams - Chairperson
Chris Prather - Orlando Perl Workshop
John Anderson - DC/Baltimore Perl Workshop
JT Smith - YAPC::NA 2012
Dan Wright - Pittsburgh Perl Workshop

This committee would then be responsible for helping the new organization team deal with the community and, since many of us organize from year to year, a source of continuity and experienced advice. Additionally this community could be responsible for helping with policy decisions that really are part of the domain of the TPF, like a Conference COde of Conduct that is maintained year-after-year as well as liasing with the EPO's Send-a-Newbie program and coordinating sponsorship and fundraising issues.
	Some concerns about the future of YAPC::NA were recently brought to my attention on IRC. The ensuing discussion revealed some people had valid concerns about the future of Perl conferences and YAPC::NA itself. Most of these concerns stem from a lack of supervision of the various organizing groups, and a lack of overall direction and "steering". Policy decisions (such as Codes of Conduct) are left to the individual organizers, who already have an entire conference let alone having to wade into gender politics in the modern American IT industry. Additionally I've personally witnessed the, inefficient, transfer of institutional knowledge when organizing YAPC::NA 2011.

	Much of this stems from the Conference Committee's traidtional hands-off approach to the organizers. This approach is understandable from both the practical side, members are volunteers and they have busy lives, but also from a policy side where we want to encourage conference organizers to be able to make their own decisions. However I think that it may be time for a change.

	My proposal is simple, why not have the organizers from the conferneces in a given year become the committee members for the conferences committee the next year, keeping some appointed positions for balance. Let's assume that we keep just the chairperson, and that Josh is willing to continue for another year that would make the committee for next year:

	Josh McAdams - Chairperson
	Chris Prather - Orlando Perl Workshop
	John Anderson - DC/Baltimore Perl Workshop
	JT Smith - YAPC::NA 2012
	Dan Wright - Pittsburgh Perl Workshop

	This committee would then be responsible for helping the new organization team deal with the community and, since many of us organize from year to year, a source of continuity and experienced advice. Additionally this community could be responsible for helping with policy decisions that really are part of the domain of the TPF, like a Conference COde of Conduct that is maintained year-after-year as well as liasing with the EPO's Send-a-Newbie program and coordinating sponsorship and fundraising issues.