Drupalcamp Michigan 2011

Posted by Rob_Feature on September 19, 2011 at 8:56pm

Start:

2011-12-03 09:00 - 17:00 America/Detroit

Organizers:

Rob_Feature

mfer

Event type:

Drupalcamp or Regional Summit

Horray! After many years of many different organizations around the state dreaming about, yearning for, and working towards putting on a camp, the very first DrupalCamp Michigan will finally take place December 3, 2011 in Novi, MI. Camp Registration is now open and spots are extremely limited.

Sponsors and Speakers include:

Comments

Ahhh... The D gets their own.

Posted by dirtabulous on September 19, 2011 at 9:05pm

Ahhh... The D gets their own. This is great to see!

Same day as DrupalCamp Ohio?

Posted by alexfisher on September 19, 2011 at 9:16pm

Why make it the same day when there's another one already happening only hours away?

Alex Fisher | 734-393-4696
Commercial Progression - The Drupal Experts
http://www.commercialprogression.com

Twitter: @AlexanderFisher
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alexfisher
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Yeah, unfortunately it's the

Posted by Rob_Feature on September 19, 2011 at 10:35pm

Yeah, unfortunately it's the only day we could do it in 2011 (lots of other schedule conflicts). Since it's the first one, we're keeping it small to minimize impact on the Ohio camp...plus we really wanted to bring out the Detroit crew, so hopefully it will be mostly Michigan folks anyway!

I can't believe I'm saying this about a DrupalCamp...

Posted by chriswgross on September 20, 2011 at 3:31am

but this is unfortunate. I am helping to organize DrupalCamp Ohio 2011 and I have several friends in Toledo and Bowling Green that were interested in coming down, and I can't help but feel like this is going to hurt both of us at least a little bit in terms of attendance. Our issue was that we had to work around OSU's schedule, which as you can imagine, can be very difficult for such a large, public organization, so we had little choice in the date. I'm all for reaching as many people as possible, but I guess I am just going to have to hope that it doesn't affect our turnout too much. Is it really important to get it in for 2011, with 2012 right around the corner?

I guess I'm obligated to say that this is just my opinion and I'm not speaking for anyone else on our organization or OSU. I wish you guys the best and hope you can spread the drupal love around Detroit, I just wish the schedules weren't going to collide. (I also sort of wish our two groups had been able to discuss this before you booked).

Hopefully...

Posted by Rob_Feature on September 20, 2011 at 1:48pm

Hopefully...we can attract different groups of folks. Drupal Camps, in my view, should be local anyway. The idea, really, is to attract folks from the city/state the camp is in, not really pull attendees from all over the place, so hopefully that will be the case. I'm guessing you guys have a proven camp track record...we do not :) I'd imagine that will be why many people will choose the Ohio camp over this one, which is fine with me.

In our view a Michigan based camp is a LONG time coming....If we got 10 people to show up, we'd be happy just to get it off the ground. I can't imagine we're going to be the camp of choice on that day.

Why not wait until 2012? Because back in 2008 we said 2009...in 2009 we said 2010, in 2010 we said 2011....Enough was enough and we just had to book something to make it happen.

Sorry it conflicts, but I can't see how more Drupal training for people is a bad thing...we'll happily direct people to the Ohio camp if that fits their needs better. I'm not interested in a competition...the more people that can get connected in a local area the better.

Hopepfully we'll both have a very full turnout!

That sounds about right

Posted by chriswgross on September 20, 2011 at 2:03pm

Believe it or not, this is Ohio's first DrupalCamp. From my understanding, some of the organizers here have tried in the past and couldn't get it off the ground, much like you described. We're just lucky to have gotten OSU behind us and to find a date when the Buckeyes don't have a scheduled game. I agree that the more camps, the better, so I hope your turnout is good, too. Hopefully, once we both get that good track record you mentioned, we will be able to have better availability and leverage for scheduling.

Collaboration possibilities

Posted by bigjim on September 20, 2011 at 9:37pm

I wonder if we can't find points of collaboration. Maybe stream a room at each camp between us and do joint sessions? Share keynotes? It would take some infrastructure building and all, but hey we're all web people right. :)

It could b like Drupal Camp Big Ten :) (I know I know UM is in Ann Arbor)

Supporting DrupalCampDetroit

Posted by dougvann on September 21, 2011 at 11:20am

I've attended 20 camps and am helping to organize 6 this year across three timezones. I think it's pretty widely held that booking a camp on the same day as a neighboring state [or ~ 200miles apart] is always going to be a bad idea on many levels. To my knowledge this is exactly why it has never been done before and likely will be a long time before you hear of it again.

That being said, Rob makes some excellant points about his low expectations of attendance, and his desire to be a very local camp that serves the local constituency. I can certainly sympathize with his point about NOT delaying the camp as they have done in the past.
Here, I believe, the NIKE principle applies.. JUST DO IT! ;-)

I wish you guys the best and echo Jim's statement about sharing our resources with you. We are soon to announce a very special keynote speaker [no not that tall guy with crazy hair] and we'd be happy to stream that out to you and give official welcome to your camp on the broadcast.

Rob, I'll hit you up personally and gauge your interest on this. I really like it. At least for the keynote if not for more.

Doug Vann [Drupal Trainer, Consultant, Developer]
http://dougvann.com

Doug Vann [Drupal Trainer, Consultant, Developer]
Synaptic Blue Inc. [President]
http://dougvann.com

Collaboration

Posted by techPersona on September 21, 2011 at 1:47pm

First and foremost, I am as much a Buckeye as I am a Wolverine, due to my ties to Toledo and being at the stateline of Ohio/Michigan.

I am no Drupal guru, or elite dev by any means, but I do enjoy organizing a little monthly Drupal user group gathering here in Metro Detroit.

Our region isn't as dense as those out in the East Coast, and because of that, the bond of camaraderie among Drupalers in Michigan, Ohio, and perhaps also Indiana, ought to be very strong and tight.

Amplifying the comments by Chris, Jim and Doug above, I hope there is still time and avenues for DrupalCamp Columbus and DrupalCamp Detroit to collaborate as best as humanly possible.

i'm in northern mi and would

Posted by dotman on September 21, 2011 at 2:05pm

i'm in northern mi and would love to attend. is there an agenda yet or is it still in the planning stages?

Doug

Still planning

Posted by Rob_Feature on September 21, 2011 at 2:12pm

We're still planning but from what I see so far, it'll be worth the trip down south. Look for details and signup in the next couple weeks.

Agreed!

Posted by Rob_Feature on September 21, 2011 at 1:54pm

Yup, let me just chime in publicly (I told Doug privately) I think if we can do some collaboration via video, it's a great idea. We're working on it to see if we can make that happen...it would be great to have some cross-over if possible!

I got to thinking, Google

Posted by bigjim on September 21, 2011 at 2:08pm

I got to thinking, Google Hangouts may be a simple low cost solution, mic up a laptop get a web cam etc... We did a video conference once at a CODUG meeting on Skype, it went great.

On the timing conflict, if you ask me this hasn't happened before only because there have not been enough Drupal camps :) Look at the #'s there are 52 weeks in a year, subtract holiday weekends and you really only have 40 or so viable options, and 50 states with 1-200 major cities that could hold camps. This is inevitable, it's problems of the rich that way I look at it.

drupalcamp MICHIGAN

Posted by Rob_Feature on September 27, 2011 at 2:34pm

Just an FYI: We're branding it "Drupalcamp Michigan" now instead of "detroit" thanks to great response from sponsors across the state.

Our sponsors will include:
Mustardseed Media (Detroit Area)
Commerce Guys (Jackson)
Switchback (Ann Arbor)
Commercial Progression (Detroit Area)

The website is coming soon and we'll be taking registrations and session proposals. Stay up to date following us on Twitter @drupalcampmi and join us in the IRC Channel: (free node) #drupal-michigan

It looks like tickets will be $15 and will include lunch and coffee and the location will be the Crowne Plaza in Novi.

That's all for now....See y'all there!

From Grand Rapids. Just heard about this.

Posted by pichot on October 11, 2011 at 1:42pm

Awesome to see a DrupalCamp in Michigan!

We've got an active Drupal group in Grand Rapids (http://groups.drupal.org/grand-rapids-mi). Many of us hadn't heard about this DrupalCamp until last night at our last meeting. I was disappointed to see it's already sold out.

Next time something like this is planned, please reach out to us. I think many in our group would be interested. Maybe we can compromise and have it in Lansing? :P