This is what Bob said, and I fully agree:
I talked to Charles about this ahead of time, but I don’t think it sunk in. The way a conference is normally organized, you have three different groups:
- institutional group (e.g., Stan Governing Body)
- program chair (responsible for program, accepting talks, rough schedule)
- local chair (responsible for venue, fine-grained schedule)
It’s unusual to ask the same group that’s doing the local organization to also be responsible for being program chair. I mentioned that to Charles, but we still get this question in the form:
StanCon is organized by a committee. Provide at least the names of (i) a local organizer, (ii) a program chair, and (iii) an organizer who can act as a liaison with the Stan Governing Body and NumFocus.
This is also typically not the job of the local organizers:
StanCon brings together both veteran Stan users and new users. How would the proposed location attract veterans and new users?
I’m also not sure the local organizers are the ones to put in charge of deciding what kind of online content is produced, as seen in this question:
Please describe what type of online content you intend to provide (streaming, recording, etc.)
I’m writing this now not to complain but because it’s not too late to change what we’re asking of local organizers.
We need a StanCon committee, and this should be a standing committee responsible for the programs of future StanCons. As an SGB member, I propose that the SGB find 5 - 9 people willing to help out here - and all volunteers welcome!
OK, maybe not something this big and complicated - we need a program chair or a few co-chairs to manage the program - and not ask the local organizers to take this on.