Members aren't looking for Operator experience (sic). Members are looking for talks that do not suck.
(sic) is a matter of interpretation, and, you already said the talks suck. The PC said they don't get enough talks. Some of the talks are going to be filler.
Put more constructively, the PC is in need of talks that are relevant intelligent technical, or techy enough to be of interest not too long not too short not too obscure not marketing blather not vendor pitches (but *neutral* "white papers" might be ok) It is true that the PC will not get enough of these if it continues to rely on contributions. Which of us *wants* to present? Public speaking is the number one common fear, bar none. Part of the job of the PC, therefore, will be to solicit, cajole, bribe, lie, cheat, steal, extort, embarass, flatter, and guilt people into making presentations. Thus, it would appear that prime qualifications are: a) ability to distinguish presentations of the class above, and b) ability to convince such presentations to come to the podium One voter's opinion, Tony p.s. No, I'm not a candidate. If elected, I will not serve. ;-)