X : When is #mapcamp happening this year?
Me : Wed, Oct 13th.
X : What's the plan?
Me : Right now? Find some funding.

X : How much do you need?
Me : For a 1500 - 3000 person online event? Back of envelope calculation ... about £50k to make it happen. LEF has kindly sponsored it for the last few years but we now need to stand it up on its own two feet.
X : What does that mean?
Me : Like all events, it's a risk profile. So, today the chance of #mapcamp happening is 0%, as we raise some funds, identify costs and find ways of reducing costs etc then that chance increases to a point that we can say ... yep, we can do this.
X : What about ticket sales?
Me : Nothing can ever be guaranteed, so you have to position it to the point that if everything goes wrong the liability is acceptable. Ask me in a month then I'll have a better idea.
X : If it's all about cost, reducing liability etc ... why does anyone run an event?
Me : For the same reason we speak at events. We love the subject. If you didn't then you'd be mad.
X : What about "early bird" pricing.
Me : Yep, we use that once we're close to get us over the line then anything else that is made is spent on improving the event. By the end, it's all spent.
X : Volunteers?
Me : Everything is, from the speakers to the organising committee to the chairs etc. We borrow, beg and steal each year. Did I not say you've had to be mad to put on an event about a subject you didn't love?
X : What if you don't raise funding?
Me : Talk about doom and gloom. If we don't raise then I'll have a private zoom session with friends.
X : A public webinnar?
Me : £400+ ... I do love mapping but when push comes to shove, I'd rather spend my time and money on family.
X : Map Camp is a great event.
Me : Thanks. But it is also an accidental conference. It was supposed to be me going to a pub in London to meet up with a dozen people, it ended up as 1500 people in an online event. These things come and go. We shall see what this year brings us.
X : Do you enjoy map camp?
Me : I love it ... long hours, organising committees and schedule, trying to raise funds, chasing people, stress of it all, day itself and the final bill ... what wouldn't you love? Seriously, never run a conference unless you truly love the subject.

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Imagine if Christians actually had to live according to their Bibles.


Imagine if Christians actually sacrificed themselves for the good of those they considered their enemies, with no thought of any recompense or reward, but only to honor the essential humanity of all people.

Imagine if Christians sold all their possessions and gave it to the poor.

Imagine if they relentlessly stood up for the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner.

Imagine if they worshipped a God whose response to political power was to reject it.

Or cancelled all debt owed them?

Imagine if the primary orientation of Christians was what others needed, not what they deserved.

Imagine Christians with no interest in protecting what they had.

Imagine Christians who made room for other beliefs, and honored the truths they found there.

Imagine Christians who saved their forgiveness and mercy for others, rather than saving it for themselves.

Whose empathy went first to the abused, not the abuser.

Who didn't see tax as theft; who didn't need to control distribution of public good to the deserving.

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