I plan to participate in a NetSquared Camps conference call Thursday at 4. If you are interested in finding out more about this, please join us:
(US & Canada Toll-free): (866) 272-5332
Conference Code: 6049742232
Message to me from Amy Sample Ward February 1
I know that you guys are hoping to plan an event for this June and would love to share what we are working for the NetSquared conference this year: local conferences! We are hoping to support 3-5 NetSquared Camps around the world this May/June and there is clearly already interest in the Triangle area. I shared some information about this in the conference call notes I emailed to the organizers google group last week, and we will be having a conference call this Thursday at 4 pm EST specifically for those interested in learning more about the NetSquared Camps plan and so on.
If you’re interested, it would be great to have you!
Summary from conference call January 28, 2010
(I missed this call)
We have done a lot of listening and thinking and are ready to take the next steps in launching a new version of NetSquared's work, something we are calling NetSquared Camps. We spent time at N2Y4 Conference bringing community members together to provide feedback and ideas about what was wanted from the convening power of NetSquared and what emerged was the need to reflect the global reach of our work and move out of Silicon Valley. NetSquared Camps capitalize on this idea by putting the power to convene changemakers and innovators into the hands of local groups. This year, we are committed to supporting 3-5 camps around the world and know some of you are already interested in participating.
We will be holding a conference call this coming Thursday, February 4th. On this call, we invite all organizers interested in learning more about Camps and those who think they may want to be one of the 3-5 participating groups to learn more about our planning and commitments, as well as join us in figuring out the rest of the logistics and unique details for different locations to make Camps work.
NetSquared/NTEN session or track?
By adminIn Feb. 3 email to me, Amy Sample Ward said " I'd love to visit the Triangle group at some point to be part of the mix,..." I'm thinking that she might be able to come to the conference. And perhaps someone from NTEN could join us. If so, we should have at least a session on NetSquared and NTEN.
Email from Annaliese (NTEN), 1/20/2010, included "If you'd like to set up a time to talk on the phone, I'd love to connect! Or, let me know how things are going:...
> Ways you think NTEN can help you this year?
My notes and thoughts from 2/4 call
By hallmanConference call Feb 4, 2010
My notes:
NetSquared wants to do five local versions of their conference -- project oriented -- focused on building something, accomplishing something, doing something together. Real things get done. Our local volunteer/match problem is of interest.
NetSquared/TechSoup Global will provide resources and support for the local conferences. They will bring attention to the local camps on their web pages. Local camps will be able to post on their front page. They'll help with flyers. They'll have a wiki for the camps to share information. They'll provide some financial backing -- no travel money.
Their timeline:
Feb 15: Memo of understanding
Feb 28: Project plan
April/May: 1-2-day camps (June is OK -- they want a specific goal, not just sometime later)
Camp format "open space technology" (Google it) -- like bar camp, an "unconference."
Freedom to do what we need. Something involving social change and technology. Chose a theme, have a format and a schedule. Real-time collaborations, engaging local leaders, figuring something out, local energy and collaborations.
Branding is flexible, but they want it to be a NetSquared camp. Need people to be able to find it as a NetSquared local camp.
Others on the call who sounded interested in doing a camp: Madrid, Paris, Portland, Philladelphia, and maybe a couple more.
Billy's slides are at http://n2tuesdayorganizers.pbworks.com/f/Net2Camps1.pdf
My thoughts:
- This is a good opportunity to develop a local volunteer/match service.
- We need to figure out who the conference is for and who the camp is for. I think the conference is for executive directors, staff, volunteers who plan/work with technology for nonprofits (what's available and how to use it), while the camp is for nonprofit technology professionals and supporters to build something.
- Do we want to do them at the same time and place or separate? We have rooms for three tracks at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill, June 25, so one track could be focused on the camp.
- The conference is on a weekday, for executive directors and staff. Should the camp be on a Saturday when professionals can attend without taking vacation?
- We could move the conference to a Saturday at the Friday Center.
- We could do the camp on a different day from the conference, have it on a Saturday, and perhaps use facilities in the Park, like Cisco, IBM, Nortel, SAS. Cisco hosts the big NetSquared in San Jose
- Should we drop the "conference" in favor of the "camp?"
Amy will post her notes from the call in the wiki.