2010Q3 Reports: Sponsorship Chairs - Revision history

Sponsorship at 07:20, 18 June 2010

2010-06-18T07:20:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:20, 18 June 2010
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	We submitted two applications to funding agencies (the Swedish Research Council and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation). Both of these have special budgets for supporting scientific conferences, though it was not self-evident that a large international conference such as ACL -- which essentially sets its conference fees to make a surplus -- would be a suitable candidate for funding. Both applications were successful, however, each providing funding well above the Platinum level. Platinum-level support was also obtained from Uppsala University and Gold-level support from the Swedish National Graduate School of Language Technology.		We submitted two applications to funding agencies (the Swedish Research Council and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation). Both of these have special budgets for supporting scientific conferences, though it was not self-evident that a large international conference such as ACL -- which essentially sets its conference fees to make a surplus -- would be a suitable candidate for funding. Both applications were successful, however, each providing funding well above the Platinum level. Platinum-level support was also obtained from Uppsala University and Gold-level support from the Swedish National Graduate School of Language Technology.

	The hit rate for companies within Sweden was not as good -- only a handfull were recruited (ranging from Silver to Local Student Fellowship Sponsor). Unsurprisingly, personal contacts seem to have been a crucial factor for success in this case ~~(thereby also limiting the number of companies that we could recruit).~~.		The hit rate for companies within Sweden was not as good -- only a handfull were recruited (ranging from Silver to Local Student Fellowship Sponsor). Unsurprisingly, personal contacts seem to have been a crucial (and limiting) factor for success in this case.

	Here are some items that might be worthwhile considering for the future:		Here are some items that might be worthwhile considering for the future:

	* It would be good if the Sponsorship Booklet was available at the moment when information about sponsoring is published on the conference website. In our case, we were approached by a company already in September (Textkernel, through the e-mail address sponsorship@acl2010.org which had then been published), but ~~basically~~ had to put them on hold until the booklet was out.		* It would be good if the Sponsorship Booklet was available at the moment when information about sponsoring is published on the conference website. In our case, we were approached by a company already in September (Textkernel, through the e-mail address sponsorship@acl2010.org which had then been published), but had to put them on hold until the booklet was out.

	* It would facilitate communication among the persons involved in sponsoring if the ACL wiki could be used for documenting progress and responsibilites. It was sometimes hard (for everyone, we think) to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just by using e-mail.		* It would facilitate communication among the persons involved in sponsoring if the ACL wiki could be used for documenting progress and responsibilites. It was sometimes hard (for everyone, we think) to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just by using e-mail.

Sponsorship at 20:20, 17 June 2010

2010-06-17T20:20:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:20, 17 June 2010
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	* Only two sponsors subscribed to the "combo" packs. Sponsors preferred to sponsor conferences in their business regions, this year. Is there a way to make these more attractive to sponsors?		* Only two sponsors subscribed to the "combo" packs. Sponsors preferred to sponsor conferences in their business regions, this year. Is there a way to make these more attractive to sponsors?

	'''Local Sponsorship (ACL ~~in Uppsala~~)'''		'''Local Sponsorship (ACL)'''

	Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis		Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis

Sponsorship at 20:17, 17 June 2010

2010-06-17T20:17:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 17 June 2010
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	* Only two sponsors subscribed to the "combo" packs. Sponsors preferred to sponsor conferences in their business regions, this year. Is there a way to make these more attractive to sponsors?		* Only two sponsors subscribed to the "combo" packs. Sponsors preferred to sponsor conferences in their business regions, this year. Is there a way to make these more attractive to sponsors?

	'''Local Sponsorship (ACL)'''		'''Local Sponsorship (ACL in Uppsala)'''

	Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis		Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis

Sponsorship at 20:17, 17 June 2010

2010-06-17T20:17:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 17 June 2010
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	* Only two sponsors subscribed to the "combo" packs. Sponsors preferred to sponsor conferences in their business regions, this year. Is there a way to make these more attractive to sponsors?		* Only two sponsors subscribed to the "combo" packs. Sponsors preferred to sponsor conferences in their business regions, this year. Is there a way to make these more attractive to sponsors?

	'''Local Sponsorship'''		'''Local Sponsorship (ACL)'''

	Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis		Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis

Sponsorship at 20:15, 17 June 2010

2010-06-17T20:15:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:15, 17 June 2010
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	Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis		Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis

	The Sponsorship Booklet for 2010 became available by early November 2009. The local sponsorship chairs approached funding agencies, organizations and companies within Sweden, roughly during the period December 2009--April 2010.		The Sponsorship Booklet for 2010 became available by early November 2009. The local sponsorship chairs approached funding agencies, organizations and companies within Sweden roughly during the period December 2009--April 2010.

	Our strategy was to concentrate on a small number of funding applications (which if successful would yield large amounts of funding) and on trying to recruit companies where we had some kind of connection (direct or indirect), rather than sending out general information about sponsoring opportunities to all organizations with a potential interest in language technology.		Our strategy was to concentrate on a small number of funding applications (which if successful would yield large amounts of funding) and on trying to recruit companies where we had some kind of connection (direct or indirect), rather than sending out general information about sponsoring opportunities to all organizations with a potential interest in language technology.

	We submitted two applications to funding agencies (the Swedish Research Council and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation). Both of these ~~councils~~ have special budgets for supporting scientific conferences, though it was not self-evident that a large international conference such as ACL -- which essentially sets its conference fees to make a surplus -- would be a suitable candidate for funding. Both applications were successful, however, each providing funding well above the Platinum level. ~~We also managed to get~~ Platinum-level support from Uppsala University and Gold-level support from the Swedish National Graduate School of Language Technology.		We submitted two applications to funding agencies (the Swedish Research Council and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation). Both of these have special budgets for supporting scientific conferences, though it was not self-evident that a large international conference such as ACL -- which essentially sets its conference fees to make a surplus -- would be a suitable candidate for funding. Both applications were successful, however, each providing funding well above the Platinum level. Platinum-level support was also obtained from Uppsala University and Gold-level support from the Swedish National Graduate School of Language Technology.

	The hit rate for companies within Sweden was not as good -- only a handfull were recruited (ranging from Silver to Local Student Fellowship Sponsor). Unsurprisingly, personal contacts seem to have been a crucial factor for success in this case (thereby also limiting the number of companies that we could recruit)..		The hit rate for companies within Sweden was not as good -- only a handfull were recruited (ranging from Silver to Local Student Fellowship Sponsor). Unsurprisingly, personal contacts seem to have been a crucial factor for success in this case (thereby also limiting the number of companies that we could recruit)..
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	Here are some items that might be worthwhile considering for the future:		Here are some items that might be worthwhile considering for the future:

	* It would be good if the Sponsorship Booklet was available at the moment when information about sponsoring ~~opportunities~~ is published on the conference website. In our case, we were approached by a company already in September (Textkernel, through the e-mail address sponsorship@acl2010.org which had then been published), but basically had to put them on hold until the booklet was out.		* It would be good if the Sponsorship Booklet was available at the moment when information about sponsoring is published on the conference website. In our case, we were approached by a company already in September (Textkernel, through the e-mail address sponsorship@acl2010.org which had then been published), but basically had to put them on hold until the booklet was out.

	* It would facilitate communication if the ACL wiki could be used for documenting progress and responsibilites ~~among the persons involved in sponsoring~~. It was sometimes hard (for everyone, we think) to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just by using e-mail.		* It would facilitate communication among the persons involved in sponsoring if the ACL wiki could be used for documenting progress and responsibilites. It was sometimes hard (for everyone, we think) to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just by using e-mail.

	* The timing of preparing applications to funding agencies turned out to be quite delicate. On the one hand, both agencies requested detailed conference budgets to motivate why funding was needed. On the other hand, in order for the funding to affect conference fees, decisions from the funding agencies had to be obtained before the conference budget was finalized. Furthermore, different agencies process applications at different speeds (in our case, one month and three months, respectively). Thanks to terrific help from Priscilla and Joakim, we were able to get detailed information about the tentative budget, which allowed us to create coherent calculations in time.		* The timing of preparing applications to funding agencies turned out to be quite delicate. On the one hand, both agencies requested detailed conference budgets to motivate why funding was needed. On the other hand, in order for the funding to affect conference fees, decisions from the funding agencies had to be obtained before the conference budget was finalized. Furthermore, different agencies process applications at different speeds (in our case, one month and three months, respectively). Thanks to terrific help from Priscilla and Joakim, we were able to get detailed information about the tentative budget, which allowed us to create coherent calculations in time.

	* One of the funding agencies demanded that if the conference leave a surplus, this would have to be refunded to the agency afterwards. The way to handle this was to have the agency provide the funding to the local organizer (Akademikonferens), rather than to ACL directly.		* One of the funding agencies demanded that if the conference leave a surplus, this would have to be refunded to the agency afterwards. The way to handle this was to have the agency provide the funding to the local organizer (Akademikonferens), rather than to ACL directly.

Sponsorship at 20:10, 17 June 2010

2010-06-17T20:10:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:10, 17 June 2010
Line 23:		Line 23:
	Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis		Mats Wirén and Hercules Dalianis

	The Sponsorship Booklet for 2010 became available by early November 2009. The local sponsorship chairs ~~then~~ approached funding agencies, organizations and companies within Sweden, roughly during the period December 2009--April 2010.		The Sponsorship Booklet for 2010 became available by early November 2009. The local sponsorship chairs approached funding agencies, organizations and companies within Sweden, roughly during the period December 2009--April 2010.

	Our strategy was to concentrate on a small number of funding applications and on trying to recruit companies where we had some kind of connection (direct or indirect), rather than sending out general information about sponsoring opportunities to all organizations with a potential interest in language technology.		Our strategy was to concentrate on a small number of funding applications (which if successful would yield large amounts of funding) and on trying to recruit companies where we had some kind of connection (direct or indirect), rather than sending out general information about sponsoring opportunities to all organizations with a potential interest in language technology.

	We submitted two applications to funding agencies (the Swedish Research Council and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation). Both of these councils have special budgets for supporting scientific conferences, though it was not self-evident that a large international conference such as ACL -- which essentially sets its conference fees to make a surplus -- would be a ~~good~~ candidate for funding. Both applications were successful, however. We also managed to get support from the Swedish National Graduate School of Language Technology ~~as well as from Uppsala University~~.		We submitted two applications to funding agencies (the Swedish Research Council and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation). Both of these councils have special budgets for supporting scientific conferences, though it was not self-evident that a large international conference such as ACL -- which essentially sets its conference fees to make a surplus -- would be a suitable candidate for funding. Both applications were successful, however, each providing funding well above the Platinum level. We also managed to get Platinum-level support from Uppsala University and Gold-level support from the Swedish National Graduate School of Language Technology.

	The hit rate for companies within Sweden was not as good -- only a handfull ~~out of those approached~~ were recruited. Unsurprisingly, personal contacts seem to have been a crucial factor for success in this case.		The hit rate for companies within Sweden was not as good -- only a handfull were recruited (ranging from Silver to Local Student Fellowship Sponsor). Unsurprisingly, personal contacts seem to have been a crucial factor for success in this case (thereby also limiting the number of companies that we could recruit)..

	Here are some items that might be worthwhile considering for the future:		Here are some items that might be worthwhile considering for the future:

	* It would be good if the Sponsorship Booklet ~~could be~~ available when information about sponsoring opportunities is published on the conference website. In our case, we were approached by ~~one~~ company (Textkernel, through the e-mail address sponsorship@acl2010.org which had then been published) ~~already in September~~, but basically had to put them on hold until the booklet was out.		* It would be good if the Sponsorship Booklet was available at the moment when information about sponsoring opportunities is published on the conference website. In our case, we were approached by a company already in September (Textkernel, through the e-mail address sponsorship@acl2010.org which had then been published), but basically had to put them on hold until the booklet was out.

	* It would ~~have been good to use~~ the ACL wiki for documenting responsibilites among the persons involved in sponsoring ~~and the progress made, and not just for this (retroactive) reporting~~. It was sometimes hard to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just using e-mail.		* It would facilitate communication if the ACL wiki could be used for documenting progress and responsibilites among the persons involved in sponsoring. It was sometimes hard (for everyone, we think) to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just by using e-mail.

	* The timing of preparing applications to funding agencies is quite delicate. On the one hand, ~~one must supply a~~ detailed conference ~~budget~~ to motivate why funding is needed. On the other hand, ~~one needs~~ the ~~decision~~ from the funding ~~agency~~ before the conference budget is finalized~~, for otherwise it can't be used for reducing the conference fees (which we take to be the purpose of sponsoring)~~. ~~Also~~, different agencies process applications at different speeds (in our case, ~~one did it in~~ one month and ~~the other did it in~~ three months). ~~Fortunately, we got~~ terrific help from Priscilla and Joakim ~~in explaining~~ the tentative budget, which allowed us to ~~put together a~~ coherent ~~calculation~~ in time.		* The timing of preparing applications to funding agencies turned out to be quite delicate. On the one hand, both agencies requested detailed conference budgets to motivate why funding was needed. On the other hand, in order for the funding to affect conference fees, decisions from the funding agencies had to be obtained before the conference budget was finalized. Furthermore, different agencies process applications at different speeds (in our case, one month and three months, respectively). Thanks to terrific help from Priscilla and Joakim, we were able to get detailed information about the tentative budget, which allowed us to create coherent calculations in time.

			* One of the funding agencies demanded that if the conference leave a surplus, this would have to be refunded to the agency afterwards. The way to handle this was to have the agency provide the funding to the local organizer (Akademikonferens), rather than to ACL directly.

Sponsorship at 15:14, 17 June 2010

2010-06-17T15:14:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:14, 17 June 2010
Line 37:		Line 37:
	* It would have been good to use the ACL wiki for documenting responsibilites among the persons involved in sponsoring and the progress made, and not just for this (retroactive) reporting. It was sometimes hard to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just using e-mail.		* It would have been good to use the ACL wiki for documenting responsibilites among the persons involved in sponsoring and the progress made, and not just for this (retroactive) reporting. It was sometimes hard to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just using e-mail.

	* The timing of preparing applications to funding agencies is quite delicate. On the one hand, one must supply a detailed conference budget to ~~show~~ why funding is needed. On the other hand, one needs the decision from the funding agency before the conference budget is finalized, for otherwise it can't be used for reducing the conference fees (which we take to be the purpose of sponsoring). Also, different agencies process applications at different speeds (in our case, one did it in one month and the other did it in three months). Fortunately, we got terrific help from Priscilla and Joakim in explaining the tentative budget, which allowed us to put together a coherent calculation in time.		* The timing of preparing applications to funding agencies is quite delicate. On the one hand, one must supply a detailed conference budget to motivate why funding is needed. On the other hand, one needs the decision from the funding agency before the conference budget is finalized, for otherwise it can't be used for reducing the conference fees (which we take to be the purpose of sponsoring). Also, different agencies process applications at different speeds (in our case, one did it in one month and the other did it in three months). Fortunately, we got terrific help from Priscilla and Joakim in explaining the tentative budget, which allowed us to put together a coherent calculation in time.

Sponsorship at 15:14, 17 June 2010

2010-06-17T15:14:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:14, 17 June 2010
Line 29:		Line 29:
	We submitted two applications to funding agencies (the Swedish Research Council and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation). Both of these councils have special budgets for supporting scientific conferences, though it was not self-evident that a large international conference such as ACL -- which essentially sets its conference fees to make a surplus -- would be a good candidate for funding. Both applications were successful, however. We also managed to get support from the Swedish National Graduate School of Language Technology as well as from Uppsala University.		We submitted two applications to funding agencies (the Swedish Research Council and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation). Both of these councils have special budgets for supporting scientific conferences, though it was not self-evident that a large international conference such as ACL -- which essentially sets its conference fees to make a surplus -- would be a good candidate for funding. Both applications were successful, however. We also managed to get support from the Swedish National Graduate School of Language Technology as well as from Uppsala University.

	The hit rate for companies within Sweden was ~~poorer~~ -- only a handfull out of those approached were recruited. Unsurprisingly, personal contacts seem to have been a crucial factor for success in this case.		The hit rate for companies within Sweden was not as good -- only a handfull out of those approached were recruited. Unsurprisingly, personal contacts seem to have been a crucial factor for success in this case.

	Here are some items that might be worthwhile considering for the future:		Here are some items that might be worthwhile considering for the future:

	* It would be good if the Sponsorship Booklet could be available when information about sponsoring opportunities is published on the conference website ~~(including the e-mail address sponsorship@acl2010.org)~~. In our case, we were approached by one company (Textkernel) already in September, but basically had to put them on hold until the booklet was out.		* It would be good if the Sponsorship Booklet could be available when information about sponsoring opportunities is published on the conference website. In our case, we were approached by one company (Textkernel, through the e-mail address sponsorship@acl2010.org which had then been published) already in September, but basically had to put them on hold until the booklet was out.

	* It would have been good to use the ACL wiki for documenting responsibilites among the persons involved in sponsoring and the progress made, and not just for ~~the~~ reporting ~~that we're doing now~~. It was sometimes hard to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just using e-mail.		* It would have been good to use the ACL wiki for documenting responsibilites among the persons involved in sponsoring and the progress made, and not just for this (retroactive) reporting. It was sometimes hard to follow what was happening and understand the division of labour just using e-mail.

	* The timing of preparing applications to funding agencies is quite delicate. On the one hand, one must supply a detailed conference budget to show why funding is needed. On the other hand, one needs the decision from the funding agency before the conference budget is finalized, for otherwise it can't be used for reducing the conference fees (which we take to be the purpose of sponsoring). Also, different agencies process applications at different speeds (in our case, one did it in one month and the other did it in three months). Fortunately, we got terrific help from Priscilla and Joakim in explaining the tentative budget, which allowed us to put together a coherent calculation in time.		* The timing of preparing applications to funding agencies is quite delicate. On the one hand, one must supply a detailed conference budget to show why funding is needed. On the other hand, one needs the decision from the funding agency before the conference budget is finalized, for otherwise it can't be used for reducing the conference fees (which we take to be the purpose of sponsoring). Also, different agencies process applications at different speeds (in our case, one did it in one month and the other did it in three months). Fortunately, we got terrific help from Priscilla and Joakim in explaining the tentative budget, which allowed us to put together a coherent calculation in time.

Sponsorship: Local Sponsorship

2010-06-17T14:30:46Z

Local Sponsorship

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Sponsorship
+'''Sponsorship'''
 Christy Doran and Srinivas B.
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 * Only two sponsors subscribed to the "combo" packs. Sponsors preferred to sponsor conferences in their business regions, this year. Is there a way to make these more attractive to sponsors?

DragoRadev: New page: Sponsorship Christy Doran and Srinivas B. The sponsorship effort for 2009-2010 was reasonably successful compared to the preceding year. For the NAACL 2010 conference, we raised over $30...

2010-06-09T20:09:31Z

New page: Sponsorship Christy Doran and Srinivas B. The sponsorship effort for 2009-2010 was reasonably successful compared to the preceding year. For the NAACL 2010 conference, we raised over $30...

New page

Sponsorship

Christy Doran and Srinivas B.

The sponsorship effort for 2009-2010 was reasonably successful compared to the preceding year. For the NAACL 2010 conference, we raised over $30,000 from a range of small and large companies. Given the economic times, this is a noteworthy amount.

Here are a few points to improve the efficiency of raising money for future conferences:

* There should be a single point of contact in the committee who will be responsible for each organization we approach to solicit sponsorship. (Compile and update the list of donors.)

* There should be a local organization member as part of the committee, given that there are usually companies local to the conference who might be better targeted by local organizers.

* The committee members should approach the organizations well ahead of time, perhaps even the fall of preceding year, since organizational budgets are decided during fall of previous year.

* Besides corporations, it might be meaningful for research institutions to show off their research in a "Show and Tell" like set up. This event might attract additional funds to support a conference.

* Clear guidelines need to be established as to how sponsor materials will be presented (logo, write up etc.) on the conference web site.

* Only two sponsors subscribed to the "combo" packs. Sponsors preferred to sponsor conferences in their business regions, this year. Is there a way to make these more attractive to sponsors?