Fall InterOp?

[Rob Seaman]

The show of hands for ADASS worked so well (that is, it didn't) that I  
thought I would try again :-)

Who is currently planning to attend the Fall IVOA InterOp?

With VAO funding still lagging, and with competing travel to ADASS and  
AAS, it seems likely that folks are going to have to pick and choose  
their trips this Fall.

The VOEvent WG has a lot going on, even if this isn't quite so obvious  
in the depths of the Summer.  We're working on the Hotwired book (more  
on that in an upcoming message) and further work on v2.0 is pending.   
The project landscape is shifting a bit, but interest is certainly not  
lagging - quite the opposite.  All that said, the question is what  
would the cost/benefit be for VOEvent sessions in Garching?  I think  
this keys on whether we anticipate a significant attendance from  
VOEvent stakeholders.  I've heard from several in the U.S. that this  
likely depends on VAO funding arriving...and the clock is ticking  
loudly.  I've heard a solid "no" from one party in Europe.

If attendance seems likely to be low, effort might be better spent  
pursuing our current initiatives online and through various other  
meeting opportunities.  The Spring InterOp is in Victoria not only  
will be cheaper for U.S. participants, but should see the VAO funding  
issue resolved one way or another.

This risks VOEvent losing its high profile among IVOA attendees, but  
honestly, we don't really seem to have much trouble making a spectacle  
of ourselves...

Comments?

Rob