Summit 2011 FAQ

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This page contains answers to frequently asked questions about the 2011 OWASP Summit.

Logistics

What is the Global Summit? Is it like AppSec or other OWASP conferences?

The OWASP Global Summit is the place where application security experts meet to discuss plans, projects and solutions for the future of application security. The Summit is not a conference - there are no talks or training seminars - this is an opportunity to do actual work to further the field of application security. Participants will stay in shared accommodations and collaborate to produce tangible progress towards influencing standards, establishing roadmaps, and setting the tone for OWASP and application security for the coming years. The Summit will consist of working sessions across a variety of topics set by our community. Participants are free to attend any working session, but we encourage everyone to select working sessions for topics where they have the most to contribute.

Anyone can attend the Summit! OWASP community members, application security experts, industry players, and developers are all welcome at the Summit. If you would like to receive a personalized invitation for yourself or another person, see the promotional materials page or contact either Sarah Baso or Kate Hartmann.

When is the Summit?

The Summit will be held February 8th-11th (Tuesday-Friday), 2011.

Where is the Summit being held?

See the Summit venue page. Please note that reservations for accommodations must be made through Diplomata Tours. Attendees should not contact Campo Real directly.

What if I want to arrive early/stay later at the Summit venue?

If you would like to arrive at Campo Real before February 7 or stay at Campo Real after February 11, you will have to move to a private room (unless you had requested type of accommodation for your entire stay) and the cost will be €67 EUR/night with breakfast included for a single and €127 EUR/night for a couple. If you are interested in arriving early at Campo Real or staying after the Summit is over, please let Diplomata Tours know at the time of your reservation and they will help you with your reservations.

How do I get to the venue?

Transportation to/from the airport to Campo Real is included in the accomodations price. Please send your flight itinerary to Lorna Alamri, Sarah Baso, or Jason Li if you did not book your flight through Diplomata Tours so that we can arrange for your transportation.

Otherwise, please visit Campo Real's location page to get details or directions.

Who do I contact for help?

For general assistance in all matters related to the Summit, contact Lorna Alamri, Sarah Baso, or Jason Li.

For help with travel and accomodations, contact Maria at Diplomata Tours by phone +351.967734170 or email.

How do buy my Summit ticket?

Reservation Process

How much will it cost to attend the Summit?

The short answer is €590 for a Summit Attendee Ticket, 4 nights shared accommodations, transportation to and from the airport, and food. Note that this does NOT include the flight costs. Please visit the Summit Reservations page to view a detailed cost table. We also have put together a PDF version of pricing table on OWASP Global Summit Letterhead if you or your employer needs a formatted version of the costs and booking process.

What is included in the price (meals, etc.)?

• The Summit Participant Ticket (€260 EUR) includes most (2 meals and 2 coffee breaks for each of the 4 days)
• There are different price points depending on the type and number of nights accommodation you require: 3 or 4 nights, shared or private accommodations, and individual or with a companion. Visit the Summit Reservations page to see the costs associated with each.
• All accommodation packages include transportation to and from the airport.
• All accommodation packages include meals and coffee breaks each day (for both the attendee and companion if applicable), with the following caveats:
  • All 3-night stay packages include: 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners, 6 coffee breaks (2 each day), and 4 lunches. (The reasoning behind this is that if you are staying 3 nights because you are arriving Tuesday morning, you will want lunch and dinner Tuesday + breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee Wednesday + breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee Thursday + breakfast, lunch, and coffee Friday. If you arrive Monday, but are leaving Thursday, this same meal rationale will apply shifted one day earlier.)
  • All 4-night stay packages include: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, 8 coffee breaks (for bother attendee and companion if applicable).

What are the estimated expenses per day (beer, wine, snacks)?

• The price of just lunch, dinner, and 2 coffee breaks is €65 EUR/day. This is included in all package prices listed on the Summit Reservations page. Additionally, if you are staying at Camo Real breakfast is included in the price of accommodations.
• The amount for "extra" expenses per day - beer/wine/sight-seeing/etc. is more or less up to you! Each villa (shared accommodations) includes a common living room and kitchenette, so evening socializing and collaboration could theoretically take place there to cut back on costs.

Where do I stay?

See the Summit venue page. Please note that reservations for accommodations must be made through Diplomata Tours. Attendees should not contact Campo Real directly.

Who is going to the Summit?

Please visit the either theSummit attendee page, organized by Sponsor, or expected attendee page to see the most up to date list on who is attending the Summit.

Funding

I don't have enough money to pay for my trip. How can I still go?

See the attendee funding page.

I'm an OWASP leader - why isn't this free for me?

See the section on Attendee Funding - Background.

During the previous Summit, OWASP was fortunate enough to be able to fund all OWASP leaders to attend the Summit. Unfortunately, the budget for the 2011 Summit is not as large as the previous budget and due to the success of OWASP, the organization has grown on a world-wide level making even more OWASP members than ever want to attend the summit (and ask for funding). As a result, we are making the following compromise with our attendees: OWASP will provide the venue meeting rooms, the A/V equipment, and the venue supporting staff in order to enable attendees to work effectively; attendees just have to pay for travel and accommodations for themselves.

The goal of the sponsorship model is to ensure that as many OWASP leaders as possible can attend the Summit. There are many OWASP leaders that want to come and are unable to get funding from their employer or local chapter.

We realize that every dollar that is used to fund a global committee member is a dollar that we cannot spend to send another OWASP leader to the Summit. As a result, we have several committee members that would have been eligible for sponsorship under the "established, active committee member" model, but are instead being paid entirely by their employers, their local chapters, or in some cases even straight out of their own pockets!

We humbly ask that if you can obtain funding from your chapter, please do so!

Remember that not every OWASP leader is fortunate enough to be part of a chapter that recently hosted an AppSec conference or otherwise profitable event. We want to make sure that we sponsor as many OWASP leaders as possible to get everyone participating at the Summit. Please help us to make this possible!

But OWASP paid for everything at the last Summit! Why did it change?

See the section on Attendee Funding - Background.

So who is being funded?

The first round of funded/sponsored attendees included OWASP employees, Board Members, the Summit Planning Committee as well as Global Committee Members who have been active in their chapter for at least 6 months. There are some additional funds for sponsorship, who will be including in that funding

What does it mean to be a "sponsored" Summit attendee?

See the section on Logistical Guidelines and Expectations for OWASP-Sponsored Attendees, which outlines what costs will be covered for sponsored attendees as well as what will be asked from them in exchange for the sponsorship.

Are there any requirements or expectations for sponsored Summit attendees?

YES. See sections entitled "Award Claim" and "Logistical Guidelines and Expectations for OWASP-Sponsored Attendees" on the Summit Attendee Funding tab.

What is the process for requesting funds from my local OWASP chapter or project to pay for my trip?

See Funding Request Application Process. You must fill out this form and submit it to your local OWASP chapter/project leader. Please visit Funding Priority.

My chapter leader is not responding so I don't know if I can get chapter funding. Can you help me?

Yes. Please fill out and submit this form to Sarah Baso and CC your project or chapter leader on the email. She will get back to you about the possibility of receiving funding. See also the Funding Request Application Process.

My employer needs an invitation letter/documentation to sponsor me to go? Where do I get this?

There are a number of example letters and templates available on the promotional materials page. Please contact either Sarah Baso or Kate Hartmann with your request and they will work with you on creating some personalized material for your employer/sponsor.

Can my company have a logo on the wiki page if they fund me?

Yes. Please visit the either theSummit attendee page, organized by Sponsor, or expected attendee page to see the two locations where your company's logo will appear if they fund your trip.

Working Sessions

I want to plan/run a Working Session. What do I need to do?

1. If you haven't done so already, please add your name to the Summit Attendee page.
2. If you will need help with funding, please visit the attendee funding page for more information.
3. After we know you plan to attend the Summit, visit the Summit working sessions page and determine if there is a working session already listed that you are interested in running/planning/leading, or if you have a new idea.
4. If there is a session already listed without a leader, feel free to add your name as the leader and send Sarah Baso an email letting her know your intent. She can set you up with a working session page and let you know about any next steps. If a leader already is listed for the session you are interested in, add you your name as session member/attendee and email the leader to see what you can do to help.
5. If you have a new idea, add your information to one of the blank rows under the appropriate track name, or under Track 8: OWASP if you don't see a good fit. Send Sarah Baso an email letting her know your intent. She can set you up with a working session page and let you know about any next steps.

I want to participate in a working session. Where do I sign up?

Visit the Summit working sessions page and click on "edit" in the left hand column next to the session(s) you want to participate in. When you get to the edit screen, scroll down to where you see:

| summit_session_attendee_name1 =
| summit_session_attendee_email1 =
| summit_session_attendee_wiki_username1 =

At a minimum, please enter your name and email address so the person leading the group can contact you to follow up.
If you don't see a session you are interested in and want to create one, or want to lead a session, see the answer under the previous question (above).

Corporate Sponsorship

My company wants to sponsor the Summit. What do I do?

Please visit the corporate sponsorship page to view current opportunities. If you are interested in supporting the global summit, please contact Lorna Alamri by email or by calling +1 (651) 338-0243.

Miscellaneous

Can you help me get a visa (letter of invitation, etc.)?

Depending on the type of documentation you need, we can try to help you. Contact Lorna Alamri, Sarah Baso, or Jason Li and let us know what you need.