The Mozilla Summit is an invite-only event
If you have questions or feedback, please read this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and then ask us on #MozSummit on IRC.

General Agenda

How was the schedule decided?

The foundational Summit Agenda was developed by a team of over 50 delegates and leaders from the Mozilla community supported by the Summit Team. Large portions of the agenda have been left open for the community to program. Some of this programming has already been done by the delegates, but there is still space to propose more sessions or to become a facilitator.

Getting to the foundational Summit Agenda was long, complex, collaborative and occasionally frustrating process. Lukas Blakk has been part of this evolution from the beginning and has written two amazing blog posts her experience.

http://lukasblakk.com/my-big-shift/ http://lukasblakk.com/planning-a-summit-is-hard-lets-go-shopping/

A great read for those interested in a delegate's perspective on this process.

What does success look like at the Summit?

The success of the Summit depends on all of us -- we all need to be clear about what we want out of the Summit and then help to shape the event so that we get the most out of it.

At a top level, the core goal of the Summit as defined at the Summit Assembly is to align around our mission and create a shared vision of the future. By the end, we expect to have a concrete strategy to make this vision real.

How can I participate and help shape the Summit experience?

The Summit has been designed to be shaped and hacked by Mozillians so they can get the most out of the event. Some of the ways you can participate include:

Facilitate a 'supporting session' on day one. Find out how. (see belowi)
Propose or facilitate an open session. Find out how. (see below)
Showcase something amazing during one of the fairs. Find out how. (see below)

W intentionally limited the number and length of keynote presentations in favor of more interactivity -- fairs, open spaces, small group sessions, social events, etc. As the above indicates, there will be plenty of opportunity for Mozillians to present, attend, organize, hack, play, and certainly dance.

Why is there so much open time?

We know from working with the community and our past event experience that the Summit will bring together passionate, diverse and brilliant Mozillians who rarely get to spend time together as a group. While we are working hard to identify essential session topics and provide enough structure to make the event productive and enjoyable, we also want to honor the emergent and self-organizing aspects of leadership and collaboration that characterize Mozilla. The open time on the agenda will provide opportunities for serendipitous and unscripted sharing, creating and visioning, and will invite all Mozillians to lead by example in teaching, supporting and inspiring others. Not to mention playing and making.

Does the agenda allow for any free time in the evenings (or do we have something planned each night)?

There is a considerable amount of free-time built into the agenda AND we have social events scheduled for anyone who may want to participate. Most of the social events are intended for smaller groups and are completely voluntary. Each evening we will host dinner for all participants but only one is a “sit-down” (the others are “grab-and-go” style so you can take them wherever you like.

There are breaks as well, scheduled throughout each day.

Are the programs the same in all three locations?

Essentially, yes. We have created the agenda topics to repeat in each location, although there will be different hosts for each (of course :)

Will some keynotes be recorded and replayed?

In very few cases (possibly only one). As above, the idea is for different Mozillians to offer a similar keynote in each of our locations.

How will I know what’s going on in the other locations?

For the most part, you’ll want to stay keenly focused on what’s going on in your Summit city. When you’re not in a session and want to peek around, we’ll have a few ways you can connect with the other spots (social media with the #MozSummit hashtag, a Vimeo channel where we’ll host some of the recorded sessions, and more etherpads than you can handle.) You’ll hear more about these channels as we get closer to the event.

Where will Mitchell/Jay/Brendan <insert the name of your favorite Mozillian> be?

The leadership team is evenly spread out across all three locations. As above, where it makes strategic sense, we will replay keynotes in all three venues.

Where will Firefox be?

You’ll just have to wait and see. He’ll be there, promise.

Supporting Sessions

Proposed sessions for the 2013 Mozilla Summit

A number of 'supporting' and 'open' sessions have already been proposed by the Summit Assembly delegates. Here is the list of sessions currently on the agenda: Summit2013/Sessions

What are “Supporting Sessions” and how did they get on the agenda?

Supporting sessions were generated by the Summit Assembly delegates with the support of the Mozilla executive team. These sessions were identified by this group as key topic areas needed at the Summit to deliver against the various themes and goals of the program overall. Each supporting session will happen in at least two of the three cities (provided we have facilitators.)

I'm interested in leading a Supporting Session but have some questions. Where should I go?

Great! Here is the description of facilitator tasks and timeline: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Summit2013/Sessionfacilitators to start. Add you name to the session (and corresponding location) that you would like to facilitate on this wiki page: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Summit2013/Sessions.

The deadline to sign-up to facilitate a Supporting Session has now passed. If you have specific questions, please email the Summit team at summit2013@mozilla.com.

How will I know about all of the sessions (especially the ones that are not pre-arranged)?

Ah yes, this is part of the mobile experience we’re creating. Once you get to the Summit, you will have access to a mobile Summit Guide that we will keep up to date with the latest information about everything, including open session as they happen. So, make sure to bring your device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop). We will also have some conventional signage in each location.

Fairs and Open Sessions

What is the World Fair and how do I sign up to take part?

The World Fair is a way for participants to showcase where they come from and/or what they are doing. It is a way to connect with other Mozillians who may be interested in getting involved with your project. For more information, you can read about how the how the Fairs worked on the 2010 Summit.

If you have something to showcase (can be anything really, that’s related to Mozilla), complete this form and we’ll follow up.

What is the Innovation Fair and how do I sign up to take part?

The Innovation Fair is a way for participants to showcase what they are working on. The focus is on products and technology, current or future. Like the World Fair, the Innovation Fair is a way to connect with other Mozillians who may be interested in getting involved with your project.

If you have something to showcase (can be anything really, that’s related to Mozilla), complete this form and we’ll follow up.

What are “Open Sessions”?

Open sessions are sessions proposed by delegates and participants. They may happen in all three cities if proposed in advance and if there are enough facilitators. Or they may just happen in one city. It is really up to the people who proposed the sessions to decide this.

These sessions will take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the Summit, and will be smaller in size than sessions in other parts of the agenda. Participants will be able to propose sessions in the time leading up to the Summit, and as space permits, sessions can also be proposed at the Summit itself.

If you would like to host an Open Session, complete this form and we’ll follow up.

While there is no deadline to sign-up for an Open Session, 'we urge you to sign up here now. Sign-ups can take place up to (and at!) the Summit itself, but we need as many possible in advance so we can allocate space.

What makes an “Open Session” different from other sessions?

Open session topics will vary in each of the three Summit locations, and will reflect the unique interests, skills and passions of those present in each city. The emphasis in Open Sessions will be on discussion and knowledge sharing, and formats are intended to be dialog-oriented and hands-on rather than lecture or presentation. We will discourage use of slideware, and instead invite Open Session facilitators to let questions and participant interests shape the course of their sessions. Learning by doing, co-creating and co-designing formats will be especially encouraged.

Why do I need sign up in advance to host an Open Session?

Sanity and efficiency. With about 600 people in each city, and with Open Sessions spread across at least 10 rooms in each location. we are hoping to make it easy for every participant to find the sessions they want to join. Taking dozens of session proposals in real time from 600 folks is unlikely to go smoothly. Participants will be able to propose Open Sessions on the day-of, but we humbly request as many proposals as possible be shared in advance in order to maximize the quality of experience. More learnin’, less churnin’!

How do I get a room for my Open Session?

Once we have marshaled all the Open Session proposals, sessions will be grouped into available rooms at each site. Note that there will be more than one session in each room - our hope is keep session sizes small by encouraging a larger number of sessions.

How do I sign up to participate in an “Open Session”?

No advance sign-up will be required to join in open sessions. At the event, you will be able to browse session choices in each room, and attend the session of your choice.

Participation beyond the Summit

Will there be a video channel so I can re-watch Keynotes (or those from other locations)?

Yes. We will record select sessions and make them available to all Summit attendees shortly after the event.

Will we curate all of the tweets from the Summit somewhere?

Yes. We have a full social media plan that will be finalized in the next week. We’ll publish information about this program as soon as it’s available. For now, we encourage everyone to tweet about the Summit using #MozSummit.

Meals and Social Events

I see you have meals listed – is there someplace special I go if I have food allergies?

Each food item will be labeled with food allergy information so anyone who needs to know, will. If you have something severe and/or have indicated the need for a specially prepared meal, we will make sure you know where to pick it up each day.

NOTE: If you have ordered a special meal, we request that you pick it up and eat that meal. We’ve had it especially made just for you after all ;).

What if I want to host a social event?

We have some pretty great things planned during the Summit that we hope you’ll participate in. If however, the mood strikes and you and some friends want to do your own thing (and want to invite others to come along), we suggest you use the #MozSummit hashtag to rally your fellow Mozillians. It’s possible we’ll have another way to enable this through the mobile app by the Summit, but we can’t commit to it just yet.

I’m a minor so will I be able to take part in the social events? Will my guardian?

Yes. Almost all of our planned social events will have no age minimum. Yes, your guardian may accompany you to any social event.

Travel

Will someone be at the airport/train station to greet me?

It's all here.

Will Mozilla arrange for transportation from the airport/train station to the venue/hotel and back again?

Yes. Specifics are here.

Immigration/Visas for the Summit

Will Mozilla reimburse us for visa fees

Yes, through the Reps program here: https://wiki.mozilla.org/ReMo/SOPs/Budget/Summit_2013_Expense_Reimbursement. If you cannot locate a Rep, please email to accounting@mozilla.com with the following information with a copy of your receipt (we cannot reimburse without a receipt):

Name
Address
Amount to be reimbursed (see wiki page for eligible expenses)
Currency of the receipt
Bank Name
Bank Location (City, Country)
Bank IBAN # or Account Number (IBAN is required for Europe)
Bank Swift Code: (required for all non-US countries)
Bank Routing #
For Canadian Bank Account only: Transit Number + Branch Number

NOTE: Please submit for reimbursements no later than 30-days following the close of the Summit.

I need the address where I'm staying for my visa application

Santa Clara = Santa Clara Marriott - 2700 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Toronto = Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel - 123 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2M9, Canada
Brussels = SQUARE - BRUSSELS MEETING CENTRE Glass Entrance, rue Mont des Arts, B-1000, Brussels

I need an invitation letter for the airport

If you are going to a country for summit that is not your home country you will need to bring an invitation letter with you to the airport. Select the city you are going to below, download the document, write in your name (it's an editable PDF form), print, and bring with you to the airport.

File:Volunteer - Summit 2013 US Invitiation Letter Santa Clara.pdf

File:Volunteers - Summit 2013 US Invitiation Letter Toronto.pdf

File:Volunteer - Summit 2013 Brussels Invitation Letter.pdf

Hotels

Can I have a smoking hotel room for my stay at the Summit?

If you're going to Santa Clara or Toronto, unfortunately both Summit hotels have smoke-free policies, so smoking hotel rooms are not available. Also, both locations have city-wide anti-smoking laws, so be sure to ask at the hotel front desk or concierge desk about where you should go to smoke. In Santa Clara, you cannot smoke inside any public buildings or within 20 feet (6 meters) of the entrance to a public building. In Toronto, you cannot smoke inside any public buildings or within 10 (3 meters) feet of the entrance to a public building.

If you're going to Brussels, the only hotel with smoking rooms available is the Grand Windsor Hotel (subject to hotel's availability, we can't guarantee that you can be assigned a smoking room). All other hotels have smoke-free policies, so smoking hotel rooms are not available. Be sure to ask at the hotel front desk or concierge desk about where you should go to smoke. If you want to request a Smoking hotel room in Brussels, contact the Registration Team at MozillaBrussels@shworldwide.com<mailto:MozillaBrussels@shworldwide.com>.

Is there a way we can contact our roommate in advance?

Yes, you can look up your roommate on mozillians.org and grab their email address there.

Getting There

I'll be arriving at about Midnight on Thursday night. What are the hours for the Mozilla reception desk?

Hotel reception desks are open 24 hours a day.

Event/Mozilla people will be available at the following times:

Brussels - Thursday 10:00am - 4:00pm
Toronto - Thursday 10:00am - 8:00pm
Santa Clara - Thursday 10:00am - 8:00pm

Is there somewhere to hang out on Thursday?

Yes.

Brussels - each hotel will offer a "hospitality suite" for Mozillians waiting for their rooms. Site host will help you find those.
Toronto - Grand Foyer Lounge is open at 7:00am on Thursday (and for 24/day during the Summit - closes 8:00pm Sunday)
Santa Clara - Sedona Room is open at 7:00am on Thursday (and for 24/day during the Summit - closes at midnight Sunday)

Do you have recommendations for wireless providers in each site?

According to our local community, it should be easy to get a prepaid SIM anywhere in town including the arrival hall in the Airport.

Prepaid options include:

How much money should I bring for meals and taxi?

Mozilla will provide meals beginning Thursday afternoon - Monday breakfast. As for taxi's, you won't need money for that unless you're not arriving on 3-October or leaving on 7-October (we'll provide shuttles both of those days.) Lots walkable in Toronto AND this city has one of the best transit systems in the country - so taxis unnecessary. TTC info: http://www.ttc.ca/

Brussels is a highly walkable city. All very condensed so taxis also not necessary.

Santa Clara doesn't have too much around it other than an amusement park across the street (and a killer pool in the hotel!) If you are heading out of Santa Clara, you'll need to bring taxi fare OR connect with local Mozillians to carpool around.

What about extra money for the social events?

If you participate in the organized events (some require pre-Summit sign-up), Mozilla will pay. If however, you want to take a tour or do something on your own or with a small group, you will need to have enough money to pay for that.

What sort of clothing should I pack?

Best to check weather.com before you pack. There is an outdoor pool in Santa Clara (and Toronto) so you may want to bring a swim suit if it seems like it will be warm enough.

How do I get my boarding pass?

Boarding passes are typically issued online within 24 hours of the flight or you can print them at the airport. If you have a record locator number for the flight reservation, you should try to get an advance seat assignment (either online at the airline's site or by calling the airline of your first flight). That may help you avoid getting a middle seat in the rear of the plane.

Summit2013/FAQ