South Bay Front End Workshop - Date TBD

[rachelmyers]

Hi guys! We haven't had a workshop in the south bay in a while. Should we do this thing!? I don't know who's available to do this, so I'll just start cc-ing people. :smile_cat:

[rachelmyers]

@fazil, is this up your alley?

[nuclearsandwich]

I'm so down to help out but I'm spinning pretty full plates until late May.

[rachelmyers]

June sounds good! :)

[nuclearsandwich]

I'll start putting out host/sponsor feelers then. I would love a co-organizer! Since I've organized a handful of workshops before I would love to help a :green_apple: new organizer learn.

[rachelmyers]

@mfjenn, I know you're out of the area and it's been a while since we did a workshop in the South Bay. But I thought I'd ping you in case you knew someone who might be able to co-organize this South Bay workshop with @nuclearsandwich. :smile_cat:

[mfjenn]

What bout Doug? Or our contact at Outright?

On Apr 14, 2014, at 9:18 PM, Rachel Myers notifications@github.com wrote:

@mfjenn, I know you're out of the area and it's been a while since we did a workshop in the South Bay. But I thought I'd ping you in case you knew someone who might be able to co-organize this South Bay workshop with @nuclearsandwich.

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

[rachelmyers]

!! Those are great suggestions! Thank you! :D

[mfjenn]

Sorry I couldn’t recall full names. :-/

On Apr 14, 2014, at 9:56 PM, Rachel Myers notifications@github.com wrote:

!! Those are great suggestions! Thank you! :D

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

[nuclearsandwich]

I haven't spoken with anyone at Outright in a while and they've full-on rebranded as GoDaddy, which is an org and name I don't really want to work with.

[anwith1n]

When is this, @rachelmyers? I have access to space in Mountain View (Egnyte HQ) and it can handle up to 50 people on WiFi (and can coordinate to add more pipes if needed). @nuclearsandwich are you the right person to work with on this? :)

[nuclearsandwich]

@anwith1n I am absolutely happy to work on this with you! Do you have dates in mind? I'm looking at the last two Saturdays in June as potentially good dates. Are you willing and able to help me organize the workshop? If not, do you know anyone who is?

[anwith1n]

@nuclearsandwich Yes, consider me in! If Egnyte HQ doesn't work, we could potentially use Bitcasa's space as well.

Let's target June 27, if that works for you. As a n00b organizer, is there a framework you guys like you use? Off the top of my head, am thinking:

1. Secure the space: 1a. Communicate capacity + bandwidth needs to venue partner. 1b. Ensure support from security and facilities. 1c. Have a plan for signage, parking and refreshments.
2. Publicize event: 2a. Create sign up page with logistical details. 2b. Distribute sign up page through marketing channels (and any others if appropriate).
3. Execute event: 3a. Secure mentors and any presenters. 3b. Venue set up / tear down. 3c. Pre, during and post event communications with attendees.

I'm sure I'm missing things, but just wanted to get something started so we can start splitting up roles / responsibilities. Feel free to let me know if you'd like things handled differently -- happy to do what's needed to make sure we all have fun and it's a smooth process.

[nuclearsandwich]

@anwith1n https://github.com/railsbridge/docs/wiki/Cookbook has the whole cookbook. I've done a fair few workshops now as well so we'll make a good team :grinning:.

[anwith1n]

@nuclearsandwich awesome -- I'll take a look at the cookbook tonight. :)

Cool if you mentor me on this one, since it's my 1st for railsbridge? (Not my 1st event for life, but I know every team / event / community is different, so I want to make sure I'm respecting the community.)

[nuclearsandwich]

@anwith1n it's June now, can we confirm Egnyte as the venue? Do you have any idea who might want to sponsor the food and/or afterparty? Usually around $700 total for a one day event of about 40 people.

[anwith1n]

@nuclearsandwich My contact at Egnyte is out of town, but sent a note that she's happy to work with me on it -- We'll chat more on it on Tuesday. I'll ask her re: food + afterparty, and will hit up Bitcasa as well.

[anwith1n]

@nuclearsandwich Egnyte is very interested and is working through the channels for the needed approvals -- will update you when I hear more!

[nuclearsandwich]

@anwith1n so glad to hear it! Let me know if there's anything you need from me. Since we are 15 days from the target workshop date we should do our best to get everything else prepared so we can pull the :confetti_ball: trigger on this as soon as we have word from Egnyte.

One thing we really need to know before we can start planning is how much space Egnyte has.

• How many total people can sit and eat?
• What meeting rooms do they have and how many people can sit with a computer in each?

Once we have those numbers we can set attendance goals. We have historically had a really hard time finding volunteers for South Bay events due to Caltrain's southbound schedule being incompatible with a 9am start time. If any SF or Peninsula volunteers are interested in carpooling down that would be :sparkles: as a unicorn.

[nuclearsandwich]

Removed the "Needs organizer" label as @anwith1n and I are taking care of this. :metal:

[rachelmyers]

:sunglasses: :thumbsup:

[nuclearsandwich]

@anwith1n upon further reflection (and the consultation of a calendar :calendar:) I have discovered that the 27th is a Friday rather than a Saturday. Is that your intention or should we be targeting the 28th?

[anwith1n]

@nuclearsandwich Ugh. I seem especially calendar challenged these days. I gave Egnyte that weekend date. I'm following up with them to see where they are at with the request.

They have a huge open cafeteria area that can comfortably seat 75, and they have a few breakout rooms, that can seat 2-4.

Good point about CalTrain -- I'll have to hop on board with someone who is driving down.

[nuclearsandwich]

@anwith1n any news from Egnyte?

[anwith1n]

@nuclearsandwich Yes! Natalie is still trying to secure approval. They can provide drinks + snacks, but they don't have any budget to support the event. Bitcasa is also over-extended at this time and won't be able to participate in anything until Aug. / Sept. timeframe at the soonest.

I'm reaching out to Pearson for financial support -- any other ideas for financial outreach?

[rachelmyers]

Let's ask GitHub! @nuclearsandwich and I can help with that! :smile_cat:

[anwith1n]

@nuclearsandwich Natalie from Egnyte says we can't use the space without someone from Egnyte there, and she couldn't find someone internal to staff it -- they are going through growing pains.

She does want to be involved in a future Railsbridge, once she has her team filled out. Anyone know of a dev evangelist who's looking?

Any other thoughts on venue? No other partners in the South Bay :(

[rachelmyers]

@mfjenn, do you, by chance, know other South Bay venues?

[ruchikakumar]

Hey guys, I'm going to close this out. Lets start another issue if someone wants to organize a south bay workshop and had identified a venue. Thanks!