Announcing: Code Camp NYC II - March 3rd, 2007
Many of you who have attended the various community events I have participated in recently have heard me talk about code camps. Code Camps are "grass roots" mini application platform developer conferences, free of charge to attendees and open to presenters of all stripes and experience.
It's been about a year since the first NYC code camp took place back in February 2006. I'm happy to announce that the second NYC Code Camp will be taking place Saturday, March 3rd, 2007!
Code Camp NYC will be held at Microsoft's offices in Midtown Manhattan (1290 Avenue of the Americas between 51st/52nd Streets) on Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 from 9am - 6pm. This is an all-day event with refreshments served, including a developer's "power lunch" (pizza and soda).
How can I participate?
There are several ways you can help out at code camp. You can volunteer to help with the logistics of the event. You can volunteer to present at code camp. Finally, of course, you can show up and absorb the knowledge being spread by the many experts who will be speaking.
Volunteer to Help With Event Day Logistics
First off, special thanks to Andrew Brust, Stephen Forte, William Zack, and Edwin Woo for helping get Code Camp NYC off the ground so far! All four have been working hard behind the scenes on the planning of the event. But those guys could still use some of your help.
There is always the need for help on the day of the event with various logisitics. We'll need people to take shifts manning the registration desk and letting folks into the building at the security desk in the lobby. If you are interested in helping out, please send an e-mail to volunteeringnyc@codecamp.us.
Volunteer to Speak
The best way you can help out is by volunteering to present at code camp. The new Code Camp NYC website is now up and running. Right now, the call for speakers is open! When you see the 'call for speakers' post, it may look a bit 'formal' with tracks and content deadlines, but don't be intimidated. (This is Andrew's first code camp... we'll have to teach him that Code Camp is not like a real conference... it's an 'un-conference'. :))
Code camp is open to anyone to speak and present on anything developer related that you find interesting.
The four tracks in the 'call for speakers' post are merely SUGGESTIONS! If you've got something cool to talk about, just submit it and don't worry about the track. This includes non-Microsoft topics. While the majority of topics will likely be Microsoft related, any Java, Ruby, PHP guys out there are welcome to participate too!
I want to re-iterate: Code camp is open to anyone to speak on anything developer related that you find interesting!
You don't have to have a big formal presentation prepared to speak at code camp. The emphasis is on code, not power points. If you don't feel like standing up and delivering a full-fledged presentation, volunteer to show off something cool you have worked on in a roundtable or chalk-talk session.
Code Camp is a great way for folks in the local developer community to speak on a given topic for the first time. If you haven't spoken at a public event before and are thinking about it, consider signing up to co-present with someone else. Two speakers always bring a great dynamic to the session. If anyone is interested, I'll offer to co-present with them. For more tips on first time code camp speakers, see this great post from David Hayden, a Microsoft MVP from Florida.
As for the content deadline... while no one will be "reviewing" your actual content beforehand, it is a good idea to be prepared in advance in order to deliver a great session!
Register to Attend
Ahhhh! This is the big one that everyone has been asking for. "When can I register for code camp?" Soon! But not yet. Right now the call for speakers is open. Registration for Code Camp NYC will be opened up about two weeks before the event. If you are subscribed to this blog, I will post it here. You can also check back at the official Code Camp NYC website around February 19th.