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I have been reading some of the comments on the Bicon community, particularly in response to the last post about accommodation and feel compelled to comment.
I am in the fortunate position of never having been involved in the running of a Bicon. In the 8 years I have been going I have seen the level of commitment, organising and stress it takes to put this event together.
It is because of this level of commitment that we get such a professional looking Bicon.
Unfortunately, it is also because of the wonderful work that has been done that people forgot that people who organise Bicon:
- are volunteers
- do so around their day jobs and busy lives
- are not usually trained/experienced conference organisers (though they are experienced afterwards!)
- have to set a lot of things up from scratch each year
- may never have worked together before
- still have to pay their own Bicon fees and don't get free accommodation either and they live in the same accommodation as non-organisers do
Bicon is not a corporate event. Just because one year the organisers managed to find a venue where things were practically perfect, does not guarantee it will happen the next year. In addition, they are not responsible for the way student accommodation is organised/built/laid out. I work at a university and I know just how slow, beaurocratic and difficult some of them are to work with.
It is only a few weeks before Bicon and I can't imagine the level of stress the volunteers who organise it are under. In my opinion their main responsibility to ensure that Bicon happens, there is a venue and a place for people to meet safely and be open about their bisexuality. As far as I can see, they are doing this, as have all the teams I have seen in the past.
I would therefore like to give them a big thank you now for all the hard work put in and all the extras like the entertainment, the travel information, the information about the venue, the attention to accessibility that even corporate events often don't manage, the responses to questions and last minute changes...etc, etc, etc.
Thank you!
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August 13 2008, 09:06:25 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 09:18:54 UTC 3 years ago
(and nice icon :-))
August 13 2008, 09:10:07 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 09:17:19 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 09:22:24 UTC 3 years ago
You said it all so much better (and with less swearing) than I could have done.
L
x
August 13 2008, 09:22:36 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 09:31:31 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 09:40:44 UTC 3 years ago
As someone who is currently adjacent to, rather than technically on, the team...
Thank you!I think it's going to be a great weekend. Some of the accommodation may be basic, but the shape of the venue is brilliant - everything's very close together and looks very easy to find. We have lots of really good workshops, too.
One very good thing about the accommodation is that it's almost all on the ground floor or first floor, which makes access issues a lot easier.
August 13 2008, 09:50:19 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 09:52:19 UTC 3 years ago
I've sent an email thanking the accommodations folks for being so great and patient, but this is a much better venue for making one's appreciation known.
::applauds::
August 13 2008, 10:00:38 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 10:02:36 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 10:20:24 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 10:38:59 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 11:37:53 UTC 3 years ago
offer not valid. it's hyperbole, dammit!
August 13 2008, 11:51:20 UTC 3 years ago
Fortunately, the benefits of running one outweigh, for me at least, the problems.
I've said it before, and will doubtless say it again, but it's next year's organisers that people really need to feel sorry for because they are going to be very worried come the end of this one :)
August 15 2008, 14:28:36 UTC 3 years ago
3 years ago
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August 13 2008, 12:05:47 UTC 3 years ago
As long as there's somewhere warm and dry to sleep, flushing toilets and running water, and a BAR with lots and lots of booze, I'll be happy.
Or, alternatively, unconscious.
Either suits me.
August 13 2008, 12:42:28 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 13:01:17 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 14:13:15 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 14:39:06 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 19:42:35 UTC 3 years ago
The hills last year were a bit of an effort, but people seemed to manage and cope - which is all we could cope for really. I'm so pleased you made it, and got such a buzz outof it too. Make me remember why we fools try to do this in the first place
L
x
August 13 2008, 14:51:14 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 19:13:54 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 20:21:03 UTC 3 years ago
Thank you!
all supportiveness and so on
August 13 2008, 20:43:21 UTC 3 years ago
August 13 2008, 20:56:58 UTC 3 years ago
First, in the early days, bicons were non-residential. A lot of people slept on other people's floors, often trusting people they didn't know in advance. So if people think the current provision is poor, perhaps they'd like to consider how better off they are.
Second, if soeone really doesn't like what's on offer from the conference, let them pony up and stay in a B&B or hotel! No-one is forcing them to stay on-site.
It's been many years (decades, in fact) since I was involved in running a bicon, but I remember it vividly. (It was also a wonderful sense of achievement afterwards, BTW). I completely concur with Sanjibabes.
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