Our thanks are extended to everyone who completed the post event survey - your feedback has been invaluable in helping to identify weaknesses and help plan future events.
In the spirit of openness and transparency we’ve also made the post even report available at the links below 
Ben Balbo, convenor of StixCampNewstead, was interviewed by Dave Lennon on ABC Central Victoria. Recordings of both interviews are now available in our Media section.
We’ll also be adding a copy of the article in the Bendigo Advertiser soon.
Welcome everybody to StixCampNewstead!
Many of us are going to blog, tweet, identi.ca, etc etc about our experiences at StixCampNewstead. Please use the following tags / hashtags;
We will be using an IRC channel to help co-ordinate;
irc://freenode/#stixcampnewstead
Many of us are on Twitter, Identi.ca and other social media services - just add yours in the comments below
A number of people are carpooling to the destination:
If you need a lift or can offer a lift, please leave a comment below and we’ll get you in touch with each other.
We’re also planning a pickup at Southern Cross station at 8.45am for the 9.15am train to Bendigo, stopping at Castlemaine, which should get everyone to StixCamp by 11am or so. Tickets to Bendigo from Southern Cross are $23.20 return (which is less than the petrol would cost!)
My apologies, registrations opened a day late. The good news is this gave you all an extra day to enter our first competition! The competition is now closed, and the winner, to be announced at the event, will receive a voucher allowing them to take one schwag item of their choosing.
So, without further ado, please form an orderly line and make your way to the registration page.
Now, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the $50 per head ticket price. We know - BarCamps/StixCamps are meant to be free, but in this current economic climate, we’re having problems finding sponsors. The cost mentioned is the maximum amount you will need to pay (unless you want a t-shirt which is extra). The cost will come down, hopefully to around $25, if/as sponsors come in.
You’ll need to prepay by PayPal now, but any difference in ticket price will be refunded to you in cash on the day. All attendees will be given a receipt on the day.
We will have a preview of the t-shirt available soon, so feel free to register now and contact us when you know if you want a t-shirt. This might later become another PayPal order form type thing on the site.
That’s all for now, there are only 55 spaces available, so get in early. As always, keep an eye on the web site, the @stixcampvicau Twitter and Identi.ca feeds and this mailing list for updates.
Cheers!
We’re going to be running a few competitions leading up to and during the event, perhaps even after. Here’s the first.
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:
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!