Posted by warfeous on May 21, 2008 at 5:25pm
My experience at Drupal Camp Vancouver left me wanting more from our own web dev community here in Lethbridge.
DCV08 sold out in two days, was $21 bucks (including lunch and a shirt) and was the best exchange of info from frontline developers I've seen in a long time!
I'd love to offer the same experience to Drupal developers in Calgary and the rest of Southern Alberta. It would be super cost-effective (but realistic?) to take over the Galt for a two day Drupal camp of around 100 people. I'm unsure if developers from Calgary would make the trip.
I'm rattling the bushes in the Calgary group to see just how many "lurkers" there are, and to gauge interest.
Stay tuned!
M.
Comments
Hi Calgarians
I'm from Vancouver and attended DCV08, it was a great event. I'm quite active with the Vancouver Drupal Group. We have a busy tech community all around here with multiple events almost weekly. I'm following this group because I have family in Calgary and sometimes have extended visits there a couple of times a year. If my visits ever coincide with a Calgary Drupal Group meeting or even a Drupal Camp, I would love to support it and attend. How long a drive is it to Lethbridge from Calgary?
A short commute by Vancouver standards! A long haul for others..
I thought DCV08 was really well run, and completely worth our time.
Depending on how well you obey the speed limit, Lethbridge is less than two hours from Calgary. Although its totally worth the drive out, we've got access to some great facilities (The Galt Museum would be great for a small <100 person Drupal Camp, The University can hold something ALOT larger).
M.
Facilities
Take a look at the photo gallery http://www.galtmuseum.com/facilityrentals.htm (although they've set it up for weddings and stuff in the photos, you'd have to use your imagination a bit). They have a large main hall - all windows, and four breakout rooms. Perfect for a Drupal Camp. The idea would to keep costs down (perhaps through sponsorship) and have it accessible to all (maybe a bus charter from Calgary?). The University of Lethbridge is a whole other idea - you can stay in the student housing apartments and townhomes in the summer for dirt cheap, and the facilities are setup beautifully for this type of event. Take a peek http://www.uleth.ca/conference/.
I think the cost of holding the event in Lethbridge would keep it accessible. Just sayin'.
M.
I would make the drive. I
I would make the drive. I was super choked I couldn't get to the Van one. I'd also be willing to help organize it.
Daniel
Sounds great!
Thanks Daniel,
You'd be willing to help organize it, and we'd accept the help.
Conversation around this topic is heating up, (moreso in my office right now than online). I don't think its crazy - but we could pull something together in June (any later and people will be on summer vacations).
I'm the team lead for the University of Lethbridge web unit, I know we'd get support from the University.
I'm wondering if we can collapse the Edmonton and Calgary groups, and have a province-wide Drupal group to gain higher numbers?
M.
Looks like its on!
We have commitment from the University of Lethbridge to host Drupal Camp Alberta 2008 in June or July.
We'd love to have you participate. Stay tuned later this week for more solid details.
Thanks,
m.