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Wednesday 15 February
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So you're coming to BarCamp on Sunday: what to expect
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Dear BarCamper, if you're receiving this email, it's because you've signed up and/or are sponsoring BarCamp and I want to keep everyone in the loop. So much has happened and so many people have helped to make BarCamp a reality this year, and we're excited that it's just around the corner now! In particular, I would like to thank BarCamp sponsors, friends who have helped, and those of you who have contributed individual amounts. Every bit of what you did has helped create this event.
There is some last minute information, including a new venue, tips on preparation, and a collection drive, so please be sure to read through this newsletter.
We'll be meeting on February 19th at 9am, at Miami Dade College in Downtown Miami. The Chapman Center is in Building 3, second floor.
Over 350 people have registered! We have ordered 150 t-shirts, so frst come first serve - be sure to arrive early!
If this is your first BarCamp, you should know that it is an event where any participant can lead their own session. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to talk. The sessions are 40 minutes long, which should give you enough time to present and discuss your ideas. There will be 5 rooms to present in, all with A/V. Please see details below.
Since this conference is free to attend, we ask that you think of the more needy people and donate a can of unwanted food. We'll be collecting on behalf of Camillus House.
If you can help during the morning of BarCamp, please let me know. Your commitment will be about an hour, and the more helping hands the better. There's not much to do, but we'd like to run a registration table and also orient everyone, so the day rolls out smoothly.
Finally, BarCamp is very much a user-generated conference. You can really create your own experience and make some great connections. My co-organizers and I hope that you will greatly enjoy this day!
-Alex
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Where is it? (It's at a new venue!)
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BarCamp will be held on Sunday, February 19th, from 9am to 5pm.
Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus
300 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33132
We'll be in the Chapman Center, Building 3000, second floor.
There is a parking lot adjacent to the building on the north side, and just south of the Freedom Tower, which is open exclusively for us. It holds 118 cars. There is ample street parking on Sundays, including in front of Bayside.
Remember that there's also the metromover, College/Bayside Station.
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What should I do to prepare?
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BarCamp Miami is an "unconference." Unlike a traditional conference which costs a lot to attend and where you sit listening to pre-selected speakers ... at BarCamp YOU are invited to speak, and sessions are more like discussions than formal presentations.
What should you talk about at BarCamp? Anything you're passionate about and that your regular friends are already tired of hearing you tell them about. Use BarCamp to get new feedback on your ideas and projects and to meet like-minded people.
During the morning of BarCamp, you will be submitting your topic idea on to a board with timeslots. There are 5 rooms and 7 time slots, for a total of 35 possible presentations. Each session is 40 minutes long. With 350 people registered, this is about the right ratio based on previous BarCamp experiences. Of course, there are additional outdoor areas to gather people and present, should there be more presentation topics.
The rooms have A/V equipment and are set up for PowerPoint, so you're welcome to bring your slides. It's probably better if you have it on a USB key.
There is Wi-Fi. However, please do not rely on Wi-Fi for your presentation. It's always better to have a backup plan, since Wi-Fi is a student of Murphy's Law. If a live demo can go wrong, it will go wrong. Prepare slides instead.
Let me know if you have any questions!
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What's Camillus House and how can I help?
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Since we are so many to attend BarCamp, we have an opportunity to do a great amount of good for the less fortunate.
Camillus House works every day to make life better for countless men, women and children in the South Florida community.
We will be collecting canned foods and goods during BarCamp Miami, which we will donate to Camillus House. Your gift enables them to serve nutritious meals, shelter homeless individuals and families, help people overcome addictions, provide job training, and help to prevent homelessness. Please pay it forward by donating your unwanted canned food.
There are also number of opportunities to contribute in-kind donations. Please consult the wish list of specific things Camillus needs but can't fit into the budget this year.
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Who are the great sponsors who made BarCamp possible?
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Please thank our generous sponsors:
And our media partners:
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