For the past four years, I have put a lot of work into executing a strategic plan that is tangentially connected with our conferences. [...] Instead [of trying to force interaction], I decided to try and slowly steer things in a direction that would have made our conferences closer to a family reunion than a dry business meetup.

He mentions the steps in his "evil plan" (for conference domination?) - community participation, setting the right atmosphere for the exchange of ideas, the oh-so-secret choosing of the speakers and their leadership by example through participation with the speakers and other conference goers.

His real excitement comes with the latest offering the PEAR group is creating to pull more of the PHP community into the project and make them feel a part - a new election interface to vote on packages and the future of PEAR.

Most of the important decisions I mentioned will be decided by a general election, meaning that the users of PEAR, not just the developers, will have a voice in the direction PEAR decides to take.

PEAR developers out there are already registered to vote, but if you'd like to get in on the action, head over to the signup form and get involved today.