StixCamp Victoria, Australia

We’re going to be running a few competitions leading up to and during the event, perhaps even after. Here’s the first.

Spread the word before registrations open

The rules are simple; just write one or more blog or microblog posts about the upcoming StixCampNewstead event under the tab #stixcampnewstead. You might want to use info from the this web site, in particular this press release.

On the day that registrations open, the organisers will collect and collate posts from these locations:

• stixcampnewstead tags on hashtags.org - your tagged twitter posts will appear here.
• stixcampnewstead tags on identi.ca - your tagged identi.ca posts will appear here.
• stixcampnewstead tags on technorati - your tagged blog posts will appear here (if you publish to technorati)

Once we’ve collated the posts, we’ll pick our favourite. If it’s yours, you’ll get a prize!

Terms: The organisers decision is final and no discussion will be entered in to. If we cannot accurately identify the author of the post, the entry will be excluded from the competition. This is a game of skill and no element of chance exists.

Good luck - start spreading the news!

StixCampNewstead will be held at Welshmans Reef Winery in Newstead on the 14th and 15th of March, 2009.

In other news, we have our first sponsors already! Andrew Gordon at Stategic Data responded a mere 12 minutes after receiving the request for sponsorship email, such was his enthusiasm for the event! Strategic Data provide services in all parts of the data collection, capture, processing, management and analysis process, and are strong supporters of open source and community programs such as BarCamps and user groups. They are a previous sponsor of BarCampMelbourne.

Thanks Andrew!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 January 2009

Newstead Vic. to Host User Generated Unconference in March 09

All eyes will be turning to the Victorian town of Newstead on the 14th and 15th of March this year as it hosts the first StixCamp unconference.

Based on the BarCamp model, StixCampNewstead brings together mainly users and developers of open source tools and applications to share knowledge about particular subjects, in this case technology and business.

An unconference (unorganised conference) uses volunteers to secure the venue and funding but other organisational requirements such as calling for submissions, keynote speakers, reviews and talk scheduling are either not performed, or done so on the day.

Organiser, Ben Balbo, says this model is surprisingly effective, providing participants with an opportunity to share their own knowledge and expertise in an interactive environment. “StixCamps are open forums for knowledge sharing, something that developers have been doing for years over the Internet. A typical event will start with a welcome from the lead organiser and a short scheduling session, where those interested in presenting or leading a discussion will assist with the scheduling of the day’s itinerary.”

Balbo has organised two BarCampMelbourne events in previous years, including the first BarCamp in Australia. “After last year’s hugely successful city-based event, it was suggested that successive unconferences alternate between rural and city locations. Rural locations serve to spread knowledge and sharing to those that might not readily travel to a major city.”

Newstead resident and StixCampNewstead organiser, Dave Hall, says locals are looking forward to the upcoming event. “Every second conversion I have with local residents involves StixCamp.”

Anyone interested in attending StixCampNewstead, or being kept informed about future events, including the next BarCampMelbourne in September 2009, is encouraged to join the announcement mailing lists on the following websites:

http://vic.au.stixcamp.org/
http://barcampmelbourne.org/

For further information please contact:

Ben Balbo
Convener
StixCamp and BarCampMelbourne
ben {at} benbalbo(.)com
0415 127 120

This new StixCamp site has just been created. There’ll be more to come soon!