RE: stds-802-16: venue for Session #11

[Ken Stanwood <ken@ensemblecom.com>]

Roger,

I would prefer any option EXCEPT a joint session with ETSI.  My experience
at Gaithersburg was that I always need to be in two rooms simultaneously
since the meetings, while at the same place and time, were truly disjoint
meetings.  I think there were others that felt the same conflict.  I firmly
believe that, since IEEE 802.16 and ETSI BRAN are not working together,
joint (in time, but not room) meetings degrade the progress of both groups.

Ken Stanwood

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Roger B. Marks [SMTP:r.b.marks@ieee.org]
> Sent:	Friday, October 20, 2000 10:09 AM
> To:	stds-802-16@ieee.org
> Subject:	stds-802-16: venue for Session #11
> 
> 
> I want to thank Naftali for graciously handling a difficult 
> situation. We appreciate his offer to host and look forward to 
> another chance for him to do so.
> 
> In the meantime, there are a few developments:
> 
> (1) ETSI BRAN is planning to meet in Sophia Antipolis, France on 30 
> Jan - 2 Feb 2001, the week after Session #11 is scheduled. I have 
> inquired as to their interest in hosting our session there. I haven't 
> heard anything.
> 
> (2) I have received an indication that a company would like to host 
> the session on Long Island.
> 
> (3) I have received an inquiry about hosting the session in Ottawa.
> 
> (4) The option for an unsponsored session in Boulder is still open 
> (though it is less attractive than a sponsored option).
> 
> I turned down an offer from 802.15 to have us join them and 802.11 in 
> Monterey on the week of January 15. There were two problems: (a) the 
> loss of a week would pressure our letter ballot deadlines; (b) that 
> week overlaps a technical symposium of the WCA, and I would be 
> concerned with losing participants to that event.
> 
> Based on the multiple alternatives, I think that we are going to find 
> this to be a tough decision that won't be as easy to make as I'd 
> hoped. Unless something interesting turns up with regard to ETSI, I 
> propose to postpone the decision until Session #10. Since Session #11 
> is currently scheduled to start more than 10 weeks after Session #10 
> ends, I think that this will be OK. I hope that the potential hosts 
> will provide concrete proposals before we get to Tampa.
> 
> Roger
> 
> 
> P.S. 802.11 and 802.15 are finalizing May 14-18 as the dates of our 
> joint session in Orlando, so you can pencil in those dates for our 
> Session #13. Looking out to September, where we are again considering 
> a joint session, 802.11 and 802.15 are expecting to consider 
> proposals to meet in Australia, Finland, and Japan.
> 
> 
> >Dear Colleagues,
> >
> >Given the events of the previous weeks I agree that we need to postpone
> the
> >meeting in Israel to better times. The time remaining does not allow to
> drag
> >this decision any longer. It is not reasonable to convene in a place
> where
> >people have concerns of their safety. It is disappointing to discover
> that
> >the country I live in is less sane than I hoped.
> >
> >Wishing you all peace,
> >
> >Naftali.
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Roger B. Marks [mailto:r.b.marks@ieee.org]
> >Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2000 11:28 PM
> >To: stds-802-16@ieee.org
> >Subject: stds-802-16: possible change of venue for Session #11
> >
> >
> >
> >802.16's Session #11 is currently planned for 22-26 January 2001 in
> >Tel Aviv, Israel, with Naftali Chayat of BreezeCOM as the host.
> >
> >Under the current circumstances, it appears that there are risks
> >associated with this venue. While we all hope that Israel is at peace
> >in January, I think it is prudent to plan conservatively. My concern
> >is that a number of people would pass up the meeting because of
> >concerns of their own, of family members, or of company authorities.
> >
> >Last week, I began looking into a backup plan for Session #11. I took
> >the simplest approach, calling the Regal Harvest House in Boulder,
> >Colorado, USA:
> >
> >http://www.millennium-hotels.com/pages/regal.cfm?hotel=harvesthouse
> >
> >This hotel has hosted three previous 802.16 sessions (#0, #3, and
> >#7.5). They have done a great job and have been easy to work with.
> >It's a very nice and likable facility. At our request, they developed
> >a system to accept registration fees at the front desk; this has
> >worked fine. When you are running a meeting without a treasury, there
> >really isn't any other way to do it.
> >
> >The weather is to be a problem that time of year, and the skiing
> >should be fine for those who would like a side-trip. The hotel is
> >less than a hour by shuttle from Denver International Airport. You
> >can see more on the Session #7.5 logistics page
> ><http://ieee802.org/16/meetings/mtg075/logistics.html>.
> >
> >Although our largest previous meeting at this Hotel was for 55
> >people, they can easily accommodate far more. We have always used
> >their smaller downstairs rooms, but this time I requested the
> >ballroom, which divides into four segments; the capacities (with
> >tables) are quoted as 84 in two of the rooms and 60 in the other two.
> >They also have smaller rooms available if we need them. They are
> >temporarily holding meeting rooms for us.
> >
> >I have consulted with Naftali. Though he would be disappointed if we
> >changed our plans, he says that his company has not made financial
> >commitments.
> >
> >Although it would be nice if we could wait until Session #10 to make
> >this decision, I don't think that will be practical. No matter where
> >we meet, people are traveling long distances to get there, and they
> >need to make advance plans. I told the Harvest House I'd get back to
> >them in the middle of next week.
> >
> >While I'd love to visit Israel, I think that we should go ahead and
> >change our plans, postponing a meeting there until a more opportune
> >moment. I would like to take until next Wednesday to see what
> >everyone else on the reflector thinks.
> >
> >If you have a different venue in mind and want to commit to planning
> >a session there, then by all means make a suggestion.
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >Roger
> >
> >--
> >Dr. Roger B. Marks  <mailto:r.b.marks@ieee.org>
> >Chair, IEEE 802.16 WG on Broadband Wireless Access
> <http://ieee802.org/16>
> >phone: +1 303 497 3037  fax: +1 303 497 7828