Contents
What is the Bergtagung?
The Bergtagung is a meeting of open minds, Free Software/Free Culture enthusiasts and others, in the Swiss alps! Top priorities are:
To give and listen to talks about various subjects, relating to Free Software or not, it's entirely in the speakers' hands
- To relax in the sun
- To drink beer (or non-alcoholic beverages of your choice)
To go for walks and enjoy the scenery
- To eat grilled sausages and local specialties (and/or tofu, vegetables...)
- To chat about software, culture, technology and whatever else seems to fit. Maybe even, god forbid, football
Just imagine what happens if we combine some of these. Drink beer while hiking up a mountain with a sausage AND listening to a lecture!
When is the Bergtagung?
The second annual Bergtagung takes place in July 2008, but the exact date has not yet been decided. Have a suggestion? Contact the organizers!
Where does the Bergtagung take place?
In Siat, Switzerland. It's right up there in the middle of the alps, looking down at the Rhine valley, near several of Switzerland's most popular ski resorts! Check out this photo album to get an impression of what it looks like. Also #linuxmeet 2005 took place there.
What does "Bergtagung" mean?
It's a German compound word we made up, consisting of:
- Berg, meaning "mountain" (or "pile" in some cases)
- Tagung, meaning "conference" or "meeting"
As with all German compound words, you can't tell who does what. Is it a meeting of mountains? A conference about mountains? Meeting in the mountains? No way to know unless you join us!
The title was chosen in the spirit of a "Bierwanderung", specifically the Linuxbierwanderung, an event not related to this one at all but still with a fascinatingly cute name.
The Philosophy of the Bergtagung
Free and Open Spirit
We put a lot of emphasis on freedom and openness. We want to extend that as far as we can into the organization of the Bergtagung. Participants have a word in everything: The events, the places we visit, even the wording of the call for entries and the invitation e-mails. This is reflected by the choice of an open wiki for all organizational tasks.
Think of it this way: The organizers are only a relay between your ideas and reality. They will do everything they can to assist you in what you're planning for the event. The top priorities above serve as a rough guideline only.
Of course we heavily discourage things that are beyond the limits of tact and taste, but that is your responsibility alone. If you want to have a really wild event involving swastika-throwing nuns and naughtily shaped cucumbers, don't blame us if the audience is less than amazed.