openSUSE Asia Summit 2019: Summit Preparation

Actually, this journey begins in 2015. I attending Indonesia Linux Conference, that’s the first time I meet people from openSUSE Indonesia. Mr. Edwin Zakaria. I remember, he gave me Alex the Gecko T-Shirt from Babacucu.com. My first openSUSE T-shirt.

After attending the conference. I also invited to KPLI (Kelompok Pengguna Linux Indonesia: it’s like Indonesian Linux Users) meeting at Gucci, Tegal with my boss, Pak Vavai. It’s an honor for me. Because I remember, I was a kid who never knew about a community before.

I talk with strangers I’ve never met before. Also, a person who I only knew from the internet (facebook groups). In fact, they are so kind, they are free to ask and answer my question.

So, i decided to join the community. Trying to contribute more to the openSUSE Indonesia forum, cause I’m an openSUSE user. Until 2016 openSUSE Asia Summit 2016 was announced that will be held in Yogyakarta. I proposed to be a Volunteer. Cause i think if you only use Linux it’s not enough. You have to give back to Open Source Project. If i can’t give a code. At least i have to try to help openSUSE Indonesia to make this event have a lot of fun.

And until now, i still active in the community. This year, i got a responsibility being a local team in openSUSE Asia Summit 2019, Bali. This is my story about how i and the team (openSUSE Indonesia) manage the conference remotely. hope you enjoy to read!

One Year Preparation

After openSUSE Asia Summit 2018. Indonesia was chosen as a host for openSUSE Asia Summit 2019, Bali. It’s an honor to being a landlord for this event, again. So, we from openSUSE Asia and Indonesia did a meeting, online or offline.

For Local Teams, we usually talk online using Telegram Group and meet each other every month in Depok. But, near the event. We meet every week in Blok M Jakarta.

openSUSE Asia Summit 2019 Local team has a different location around the “Nusantara”.

And for Asian Team, we talk to each other using Slack monthly. We usually make an appointment on Tuesday night. We talk about the progress of sponsorship, CFP, Logo competition, and many others.

Excellent Proudly Become a Sponsor for openSUSE Asia Summit 2019

My Company that i working on (PT Excellent Infotama Kreasindo) also become a sponsor for this event. My boss is a former of openSUSE Indonesia Chairman (2007). Which is Mr. Masim Vavai Sugianto. Actually, he wants to come to the event, but suddenly, his mom passed away ahead of the summit.

It’s really sad. I have to go to a summit with some of the tears. Because i have a good relationship with my boss and his family.

My company quite often to sponsoring for Open Source events such as openSUSE Asia Summit 2016, LibreOffice Conference Indonesia in 2017. And this year, Excellent become a custom sponsor for openSUSE Asia Summit 2019.(https://events.opensuse.org/conferences/summitasia19).

Thanks for the help, boss!

If you want to know further about our company, feel free to visit: https://www.excellent.co.id.

D-day openSUSE Asia Summit 2019

I arrived in Bali on Wednesday, Oct 3th. D-3 at the conference. I meet the volunteer on Thursday, we introduce each other. But, they already know because came from the same organization at the University. Seriously, they are really nice and humble. And the best volunteer I’ve ever met.

I met Adji M Nur, he is the coordinator for the University

Before this event, we only talk to each other using Telegram Group, but they have a fast response and willingly to help us even we never meet face to face.

We have many uncompleted tasks, such as preparing for the venue, goody bag, gate, and many more. So, we have to maximize the time to make this event running well.

Seriously, this is the superb volunteer. They already have many experiences handling similar events. So, they know what to do. I just said, “i need this, can you provide?”. They always answer. “Sure, we can“.

And I also really appreciated the volunteer. Some of them want to attend Hindunese Ceremony. The name is “Tooth Filling”. It’s their friend’s ceremony. But they canceled that because they said they have a responsibility to make this event successful. It’s awesome!

I can remember all the names of Volunteers also the face. They have a big soul for helping people. Really, I’m grateful and very nice to meet them.

So, after preparing the venue. We are ready to rock on the summit…

Actually, i have a long story for this summit. I will write it soon. See you in the next article!