Portland wiki conference

Saturday, March 26, 2010 and Sunday, March 27, 2001 at Webtrends in Portland, OR

(Wiki's 15th birthday is March 25, 2010)

Let's keep discussions on the discussion page.

Name of Conference

see discussion. Post suggestions here.

• WikiCamp
• Wiki15
• WikiWorld
• WikiBirthday15
• What in the Wiki?
• Wiki What You Will
• Vinci Vidi Wiki (I came, I saw, I wiki - a play on the quote from Caesar, providing a theme for the party a well)
• West Side Wiki (a play on West Side Story, provides theme)
• Walkin' in a Wiki Wunderland
• Wiki Wonka

Goal of Portland Wiki Conference is...

• Evangelize Wikis to general public
• Celebrate 14th anniversary of wikis & honor Ward's insight
• get-together of wikiphiles
• Give Portland Civic Wiki a major boost

I Will Help Organize This Event

(Sign yourself up, don't volunteer others)

• David Galiel
• Pete F. (this is a commitment to exploring organizing the event. I'm still on the fence about diving in, but will work on it for sure over the next month or two.)
• Teresa Boze * ~ I have concept and elbow grease to contribute. I have no problem with committing; exploration over, let colonization begin! BTW - could someone identify where the lines below, beginning, " I'd like to..." belong? They appear to have been separated from someone's comment here. I believe the *Two Thing* were 1) speakers and 2) venue, both of which were targeted and begin at Dec 3 Wiki Wed.

I'd like to start preliminary organizing. March 25 is not far away. There are logistics we can think about regardless of the ultimate mission statement. The two things that we should start working on right away are:

Perfect Venues

We should look at venues that can accommodate 200 people, and have flexible floor plans, so we can have everyone in a keynote session, and break out into multiple, parallel unconference sessions as well. The goal should be to secure donated space. In general, the lower our costs, the fewer sponsors we need to secure, the easier it will be to keep things open, clean and Wiki Way.

Some thoughts to explore:

• Portland State University. We can get a discount through connections, but it's still expensive. Two RCC's have already been held there.
• (Could we find a way to get PSU to engage as a partner, and pick up the tab altogether? They should, but we'd need to make the case.)
• NedSpace: right downtown, right atmosphere. Not sure if they have/want to do full weekend events, or what they might want to charge.
• Slate Technologies ~65th and Foster. Decent size, right atmosphere. Not sure about hosting events.
• LeftBank on N Broadway. Neat space. Not sure if it would/could be used for something like this.
• East Portland Eagles Lodge. Pete F. is a member; last year we held a pre-party there. Good space for a party, not bad for some events, but on the whole likely too small. Inexpensive to rent, has PA, projector, wifi, full bar, kitchen.
• Webtrends: SW 6th and Taylor. WordCamp was there, great space, awesome view (16th floor), flexible for large audience & breakdown for small sessions. A/V, WiFi, kitchen, balcony, etc.

UPDATE: Mark Dilley has asked Webtrends if they will host the conference

Ideal Keynote Speakers

It is valuable to have at least a keynote or two (or more, can have a keynote track) with marquee speakers who will attract an audience (including folks new to wikis) and help ensure participation in the conference. When we have confirmation, add "confirmed" to name. Also includes non-keynote speakers and/or panel participants.

• Ward Cunningham
• Jimbo Wales
• Michael Wesch (The Machine Is Us(ing) Us)
• Vivek Kundra (US CIO)
• Eugene Kim
• Sunir Shah - editor of MeatballWiki
• Peter Thoeny from Twikiwiki
• Ross Mayfield
• Peter from Dreamfish
• Angela Beesly from Wikia
• Pheobe
• Matt from EditMe
• ___ from MuppetWiki
• David Weekly from PBworks
• Marc Laporte from Tikiwiki
• ___ from EditThis
• ___ Dave Weiner from RSS
• Ray King from AboutUs
• ___ from WikiSpaces
• Folk from WikiHow

At the same time, we can start a community discussion about tracks, topics, discussions, etc. that potential attendees would like to see. We don't have to decide now whether to make it all unconference, or part unconference and part tracked, or all tracked. The idea is to get some energy and momentum going, while we work on the backend logistics of putting an event like this together.

Ideas for:

Proposed Tracks

• Wiki 101
• Wikipedia Academy
• Content creation and other planning for Portland civic wiki
• Wiki for biz ~ At a presentation for Managing Virtual Team, produced by Rachel Kjack of Oregon Training Network, wikis were mentioned. But no one - we're talking seasoned virtual managers - knew about the wiki or how eloquently it could be applied. What about involving the business community - both corporate and indie - on the incredible edible wiki a a tool to reduce mayhem and increase open team, etc? I would be happy to attempt to hopelessly ensnare Rachel in my in this plot... I mean track. Teresa Boze

Proposed Topics/Presentations

• Steven Walling presentation - Wikipedia for... (journalists? educators? what version would Steven like to present?)
• Wikis and Social Change - Panel Discussion
• End Wikilessness (modeled on End Bloglessness)
• Rachel Kjack from Oregon Training Network on to provide session on Wiki in the Workplace a a virtual team tool(Mark Dilley will see her 12|10 at Beer and Blog)
• Wilm Leier to provide session TBD Teresa Boze