Short Version:
Please take this Triangle DrupalCamp interest survey:
https://learn2.dukece.com/surveys/drupalcamp
Long Version:
At various times in the past folks have talked about a Triangle area DrupalCamp. During the TriDUG IRC planning meeting today, it seems like there finally might be enough people interested in helping make this happen.
During the meeting, I promised to query folks here about times that would be best to have an exploration meeting. (Afternoon of next co-working day was suggested...).
Anyway, after some research into organizing a DrupalCamp, e.g.;
http://groups.drupal.org/node/136494
http://drupalcampkit.org/
I decided to expand this into a general interest survey... along with asking for who wants to help and when should we do an initial meeting.
So, everyone, please take the time to fill in this survey:
https://learn2.dukece.com/surveys/drupalcamp
An feel free to publicly comment here.
Comments
Survey Says! Numeric results
I've closed the survey now. I think there was a pretty good response with 39 people. Here are the numeric results.
There seems to be a strong enough interest/people willing to help/sponsor to continue on with this. Plus after the TriDUG IRC meeting today, we had a nice chat with people involved with the Ashville DC, the Charlotte DC, and Boone's DC.
The three main hurdles seem to be:
Stay tuned for more details (and bear with the slow pace right now).
Here's the overall numbers.
cool! Thanks for this!
cool! Thanks for this!
LLC vs incorporating
I've talked to lawyers about it for myself. It would be an LLC, not an LLP. LLPs are partnerships, usually law firms.
You would compare and LLC to incorporating as a non-profit. There are certain rules to follow and watch out for piercing the corporate veil to keep from becoming personally liable. Most of the rest concerns ease of filing, minutes and meetings, and tax filing. A lawyer will probably tell you to talk to an accountant as well. I could ask my accountant if he can write a letter on the financial aspects of it.
There's more information on the Secretary of State's website.
http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/
-Don-
Venue
We have a contact at the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau. If you gave me an idea of the requirements (people, space, budget, etc.), I can see if they have any ideas.
David Minton, Managing Partner, DesignHammer | Durham, NC, USA
Incorporation just to put on an event?!?
This feels a lot like the tail wagging the dog.
I wonder if there is a way to partner with organizations that do these events professionally. I personally know the two people that run the Triangle Entrepreneurship Week event. It might be worth a conversation.
Yeah we might skip doing an
Yeah we might skip doing an LLP and just choose an honest person who's personal bank account is tied to a PayPal account for sponsors and registration $$$ to go to. Then have them right the check.
Or alternatively, get just a local business license and DBA account to run it.
However, someone then becomes liable for any taxes on the income. They and maybe others helping become personally liable for any legal problems. E.g., someone slips at the event and becomes a paraplegic... everyone involved gets sued and may potentially end up loosing their personal wealth.. not to mention the lawyer fees, etc. even if you win/get dropped.
An LLC type structure can supply a bit of protection for how much you can loose in a law suite.... not perfectly, but better than nothing.
That said, the other thing to consider is that this is not just an event... I think all the folks who have put their names in to help would agree... if we do this, we should plan on it being a reoccurring yearly event not just a one off.
IMHO, This means creating an organization that can withstand people leaving and others stepping in. An LLC provides the framework to allow for officers to change under a clear legal set of rules. X can't take their bank account and go home, breaking up the game.
Another reason to consider an LLC type structure is the potential size of this event.
Asheville gets about 80 people from a "day trip" area of 500K (wikipedia asheville metro).
Atlanta gets 450 people (2012 max... have always had waiting line) from a metro area of about 7M (Wikipedia).
Our "day trip" population is 2.7M ( Wikipedia Research Park / WRAL viewing area numbers) + 1.6M in the Triad. Not even including drawing folks from the Coast, Charlotte, or Richmond areas, we have a market size of about 4.3M Plus we will probably get a boost from all the college / tech students in the area.
If we put together even a half decent yearly camp, I would not be surprised to see it grow to support 150-250+ attendees. To run something this size, you need an organization and not just a person.
Yes, we probably could get by with just a "Doing Business As" (DBA) biz account... and maybe we will. But just like when you code... you need to consider the final place you want to end up and try to make sure that your design will not prevent it.
Drupal camps are typically
Drupal camps are typically organized in a grassroots fashion. If we're looking for assistance with organization details one of the Drupal Associations stated reasons for existing is providing assistance with organizing events. If we're going to be reaching out to anyone, I'd start with them.
I agree. Check out
I agree.
Check out https://association.drupal.org/about/faq
and https://association.drupal.org/grants
FYI - we actually talked a
FYI - we actually talked a bit after the IRC planning meeting with folks involved with the Charlotte DC, the Boone DC, and the Ashville, DC. Have plans to talk to them more.
We're also reaching out to the NCTech4Good folks since they did a conference last year.
AFAIK, DA is only doing grants and a bit of DA related promos (sending banners / post cards) to camps. If we push the "GO" button, a DA grant app will probably be going out.
Haven't found anyplace that they are offering "formal" support like supplying an over-arching LLC . ( I imagine their audit process would be a nightmare if they did.. they would have to make sure all the money coming in went out to correctly) or helping start DCs.
There are a fair number of projects/groups for DC planners (like drupalcampkit.org). There is also a partially completed distro ( COD ) for having a DC site.
Right now we just trying to get a much info about what we're getting into as possible... then deciding how to go from there.
We're interested...
We can certainly help out, and I think I may be able to pull some out-of-town drupaluminaries (did I just coin a word??) in to speak/present possibly.
--
Michael R. Tucker
www.Bluespark.com
People Focused. Drupal Powered™
Tel. +1 (919) 234-7876
Skype: michaelrtucker
Twitter: @michaelrtucker
@bluesparklabs @drupalrooms
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www.bluesparklabs.com
RAD Camp
On to a much more serious topic: I think we need to consider the awesome possibility of the acronym "RAD" (Raleigh Area Drupal) to make RADCamp as opposed to the BADCamp. Of course this leaves Durham and Chapel Hill out, which is unfortunate, but on the upside: RADCamp.
We could also go with
We could also go with TRICamp, as in (phonetically) try camp. Or DUGCamp, as in "I dug this camp" (after it is all over). RDU Camp for Real Drupal Users Camp.
Is there still interest in an RTP NC Area DrupalCamp?
One of the sessions at last weekend's BarCampRDU was on organizing tech camps. This got a few of us thinking about this thread. Is there still interest in organizing a Drupal Camp for 2013 or 2014? If so, we would be willing to contribute some DesignHammer staff time to getting it off the ground.
David Minton, Managing Partner, DesignHammer | Durham, NC, USA