[GR-Jug] Re: BarCamp

[Joel Adams]

Kyle,

If you are willing to organize this, and make it self-supporting, and  
hold it
at a time that doesn't conflict with our classes (i.e., this August,  
or sometime
next summer), Calvin's CS Dept could probably sponsor the facilities  
end of things.

There are lots of classrooms that sit unused much of the summer,
which we could reserve...

-Joel.


On Jun 30, 2006, at 9:50 AM, Kyle Adams wrote:

>> BarCamp looks very interesting.  What are some ideas of what it would
> include.... <
>
> Ah, now see, that's violating the spirit of BarCamp.  The idea is that
> the participants determine what it should include.  I was proposing  
> the
> GRJUG take on organizing one.  The nice thing is that organizing is
> pretty limited to finding the space (and perhaps equipment to a lesser
> extent) and providing a loose structure for everything to happen in
> (e.g. we start on this day, end on this day).
>
> As I understand it, a group interested in organizing a BarCamp would
> need to track down space with:
>
> 1) Internet access for a large number of computers (preferably WiFi)
> 2) Space for meeting (preferably conference-type rooms, but a large
> open room can be informally divided up)
> 3) A system for posting meetings & presentations (e.g. a large
> whiteboard, those oversized post-it notes we've all seen presenters  
> use,
> etc. with time slots setup and ready for scheduling)
>
> Nice to haves (depending on ease of acquisition):
>
> 4) LCD projectors/screens for presenters
> 5) A healthy supply of Red Bull/coffee
> 6) A separate sleeping area for crashing
> 7) Food arrangements
>
> The nice-to-haves above can be provided by the organizers, or they can
> look to the attendees to help fill in the gaps.
>
> The general agenda (once again, as I understand it) is that the
> attendees show up at the appointed time, a host might do a short intro
> speech describing how the BarCamp works, and then the attendees are  
> set
> loose to fill up the session board with whatever they want to present
> on.
>
> I've never been to a BarCamp, so I can't speak from personal
> experience.  There is a good deal of info available if you snoop  
> around
> online:
>
> http://barcamp.org/BarCampSanFranciscoSchedule - agenda from San
> Francisco's, which I suspect is more highly organized/fancier that  
> what
> a GR BarCamp would be
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/sets/72057594079522975/ -
> photos from the BarCamp is Austin; like SanFran, this is a high-tech
> city; I wouldn't expect a BarCamp Lotus to show up at any area
> BarCamp...
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/argyle/sets/72057594088579781/ - photos
> from Disney's internal version, a PoohCamp
> http://davidcrow.ca/article/1046/poohcamp-and-a-business-model - more
> info on the above
>
> http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,68610,00.html - Wired  
> article
> on the phenomena
>
> As you can see from the above, BarCamps adapt to their environment.
> Austin's was based in a bar, Disney's in a country-themed conference
> center.  Others have been hosted in warehouses, factory floors,
> colleges, etc.
>
> Discuss...
>
> Kyle
>
>
>
> _____
>
> Kyle Adams | Java Developer  |  Gordon Food Service  |  616-717-6162
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-Joel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prof. Joel Adams
CS Dept, Calvin College
http://www.calvin.edu/~adams