RIPE 50 - Newcomers FAQ

1. Who attends RIPE Meetings?
2. What is a Working Group?
3. What Working Group sessions should I attend?
4. How should I prepare for attending a Working Group?
5. How much do tickets for a RIPE Meeting cost?
6. Why do I pay an entry fee for a RIPE Meeting?
7. What are the benefits of attending and contributing?
8. I am new to these meetings. Am I allowed to offer my opinion at sessions?
9. I am not a native English speaker. Does this matter?
10. Who can I talk to if I have questions?
11. Useful URLs

1. Who attends RIPE Meetings?

RIPE Meetings are open to anyone. People who attend include a variety of individuals from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network operators mostly from Europe and surrounding regions. The meetings address technical and policy issues affecting Internet administration and operation in the RIPE NCC service region and beyond.

2. What is a Working Group?

A Working Group (WG) session is an open forum. This means that anyone can join and take part as an equal. You do not have to be a member of the RIPE NCC to join in discussions.

RIPE Working Groups deal with various issues and topics related to the work of its members and the Internet community. Each Working Group has a mailing list where topics related to the group are discussed between RIPE Meetings. Links to the mailing lists with subscription instructions can be found at:

http://www.ripe.net/ripe/maillists/

The RIPE Working Groups meet at RIPE Meetings where participants can meet face-to-face and discuss policy and other relevant issues.

More information on RIPE Working Groups can be found at:

http://www.ripe.net/ripe/wg/

3. What Working Group sessions should I attend?

You can find complete agendas for each Working Group in your RIPE Meeting packet, on the RIPE Meeting website and at the registration desk. The agenda tells you about the topics that will be discussed within each session. If you wish to add an item to an agenda please contact the Working Group Chair. You will find the name of each Working Group Chair by selecting the relevant Working Group web page from: http://www.ripe.net/ripe/wg/

4. How should I prepare for attending a Working Group?

Before attending a Working Group you should first read the published agenda.

You can find information for each Working Group at:

http://www.ripe.net/ripe/wg/

This information includes minutes from previous RIPE Meetings and mailing list archives, where you can read recent discussions. By reading previous minutes and discussions you will:

• have a clearer idea of what to expect during the Working Group sessions
• be up-to-date on recent issues and developments.

5. How much do tickets for a RIPE Meeting cost?

The regular meeting fee is EUR 400. However, you can get a EUR 50 discount if you register and pay at least one full working day before the start of the meeting.
Day tickets are also available at EUR 125 per day.

6. Why do I pay an entry fee for a RIPE Meeting?

RIPE Meetings must be paid for by the attendees as they are not paid for through RIPE NCC membership fees. This is because anyone can attend a RIPE Meeting – not only RIPE NCC members. Some RIPE NCC members are unable to attend meetings and it is considered unfair for non-attendees to pay for meetings.

To encourage new RIPE NCC members to attend, we give all new LIRs two free tickets for a RIPE Meeting that are valid for two years.

7. What are the benefits of attending and contributing?

Your attendance and contributions are very important. There are many benefits gained from attending and contributing to a RIPE Meeting:

• Decisions are made in an open forum where everyone who attends is allowed to voice an opinion. If your organisation is represented at a RIPE Meeting you will be able to influence the decisions made.

• The RIPE community is extremely influential. If you contribute during a RIPE Meeting, your opinion will have an influence on policies. These policies directly affect your organisation and the Internet industry.

• RIPE Meetings offer a huge opportunity for learning and a wide variety of topics are discussed. By attending a RIPE Meeting you are able to keep up-to-date with new developments within the Internet industry.

• RIPE Meetings give an opportunity to meet potential customers, collaborators or business partners. As attendees come from a wide geographic area, it is possible to meet with organisations from all over the RIPE NCC service region and beyond .

• Attendees may also benefit by meeting direct competitors at RIPE Meetings, where attendees do not directly compete but share information, ideas and solutions to problems that their organisations may be facing.

8. I am new to these meetings. Am I allowed to offer my opinion at sessions?

Anyone is welcome to speak during a Working Group session. You can also ask a Working Group chair to raise an issue for you. However, you should read discussions from the Working Group mailing list and relevant documents before making statements to avoid voicing an opinion already expressed or stating a solution to a problem already resolved.

If you want to speak during a Working Group session, just go up to the microphone (in large meeting rooms) or put your hand up (in the smaller meeting rooms).

Your voice is as important and relevant as anyone else’s. Each individual is considered an equal at RIPE Meetings and has the same amount of influence within the RIPE community.

9. I am not a native English speaker. Does this matter?

Please do not feel embarrassed about your level of English. The majority of attendees are not native English speakers and the attendees that are native English speakers are aware of the multiple nationalities that attend these meetings.

10. Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions before the RIPE Meeting, please email <meeting@ripe.net>.

If you have questions during the RIPE Meeting, please go to the Registration Desk where you will find a RIPE NCC staff member who can help you.

If you have questions regarding your LIR, you can go to the Hostmaster Consultation Centre (HCC) where you can talk with a RIPE NCC Hostmaster.

Hostmasters are also available for lunch meetings. Please go to the HCC if you want to set up a meeting.

If you have questions about connectivity please contact the Registration Desk or a member of the RIPE NCC Operations group who will be wearing badges with blue stickers.

11. Useful Links

RIPE NCC:
http://www.ripe.net/

RIPE:
http://www.ripe.net/ripe/

RIPE Documents:
http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/

Whois Database:
http://www.ripe.net/db/

LIR Portal:
https://lirportal.ripe.net/

Training Courses:
http://www.ripe.net/training/