[open-government] open data day 2012

Mon Nov 5 16:34:27 UTC 2012

Hi everyone,

Okay here is a lengthy email on where we stand on Open Data Data. Here, is the very short version: 1) I'm super sorry for dropping the ball and owe you all a big apology 2) I definitely need help (there's a list of things) 3) We should consider pushing the date back, but I'm open to leaving it where it is.

1) Massive apology
Okay so first I owe everyone on this list a massive apology for not getting to this issue. This is doubly true of Danielle Gould and Mary Beth Baker who have been quite diligent in asking me what was going on this year and to whom I have been nearly responsive enough. Between work, some frustrating obstacles with the website (see below) and our little guy, it's been hard to find time for anything in the last 8 weeks. Either way, any organizing whole we are in is entirely my fault and I definitely want to apologize to everyone.

2) Consider moving the date?
I have had some opportunities to reach out to people and a few (particularly the Brazilians) expressed some concern with December - saying they had already had several events planned and didn't think it would work. Given we are a month away, I'd be happy to move it into the new year (although I admit I love having it on the same day every year) if we thought we needed the time. 

There is no good way to make this call - but if people email the list saying, let's do it. I say, let's do it.

3) Help!
So here is where things get really sticky - as I have terrible news re the website.

3a: Website:

My website providers moved my website a few months ago and, in the process, lost everything on OpenDataDay. Sadly this includes the wiki and the site. I have some of the website data backed up, but not all of it. I know that Mary Beth, you guys have the original so this is not the end of the world, but it means we will have to stand up a new site.

Action: Someone needs to create (or use the old templates to recreate) a site. We should shoot to have the site up by friday (monday at the latest) if we went to do it on Dec 2. This would also mean standing up a wiki so we can track who is participating.

3b: DNS

To do that, I need to figure out where I bought the URL open data day and switch the DNS. 

Action: *I get that information today.*

3c: Create New Content

We should create some new content - ideally have a few new challenges - for the site.

Action: I'm happy to take this on, but also happy to work with others. 

3d: Start letting people know about the event

Action: I should write a blog post, but then, so can and should many others… so this challenge becomes distributed.

I'm again, really sorry about failing to communicate this. I really feel like I've let the community down. Hopefully we can find a way, either in a month, or reschedule to pick this back up. Thank you Daniel, Danielle and MAry Beth for poking me and not losing all patience.

Dave

On 2012-11-05, at 5:45 AM, Daniel Dietrich wrote:

> At the OKFestival some people discussed the idea to add a "theme" to this years open data day and work on the data (action plans) of participating countries of the Open Government Partnership. I do like the idea, but personally I have little recourses to move this forward. Paul and Javier now in CC - what is the latest on this idea? I also added David Eaves to this conversation. Any updates from your side David?
> 
> Regards
> Daniel
> 
> 
> 
> On 5 Nov 2012, at 12:39, Ton Zijlstra wrote:
> 
>> Hi Alek, all,
>> 
>> In the past 2 years it coincided with Random Hacks of Kindness. RHoK is scheduled for 1 & 2 December http://www.rhok.org/event/rhok-global-december-2012
>> 
>> If you look at their event page you already see a list of cities participating, which people may want to connect to. http://www.rhok.org/events?qt-event_tabs=0#qt-event_tabs under RHoK Global December 2012.
>> 
>> David Eaves who initiated both open data days in 2010 and 2011 has not 'given the signal' yet this time around. But I'm sure that if you want to get the ball rolling you can do that by simply announcing it that you're going to put together a local team.
>> 
>> Any other takers?
>> 
>> best,
>> 
>> Ton 
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Interdependent Thoughts
>> Ton Zijlstra
>> 
>> ton at tonzijlstra.eu
>> +31-6-34489360
>> 
>> http://zylstra.org/blog
>> 
>> Share your real life open data experiences,
>> observations and anecdotes:
>> http://epsiplatform.eu/content/share-your-story
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 11:34 AM, Alek Tarkowski <alek at creativecommons.pl> wrote:
>> Dear all,
>> 
>> Does any one know of any plans for Open Data Day 2012? if it is to take place at the same time as last year, there's only a month left. at the same time the webpage seems to be dead, which is worrying, as it was a pretty good global action.
>> 
>> best,
>> 
>> Alek
>> 
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> 