Western NY State Drupal MINI-CAMP, 4/26/2014. . . .

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jpw1116's picture
Start: 
2014-04-26 10:30 - 17:00 America/New_York
Event type: 
Drupalcamp or Regional Summit

The Western New York State Drupal User Group (WNYDUG) is following up on the success of its first mini-camp last year with a carbon copy this year: Saturday 4/26/2014 at Holiday Valley Resort, Ellicottville, NY 14731.

This a not-for-profit event by WNYDUG. Members of any Groups.drupal.org group and guests are welcome.

Details, suggested donation and advance registration is open now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnydug-mini-camp-2014-tickets-10376441215 . . . but hurry because THE EARLY BIRD RATE ENDS MARCH 9, and we reserve the right to limit registrations to room capacity.

Event info
The Western New York State Drupal User Group knows about your chronic winter. . . .

Get ready for a spring camp!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26, 2014 . . . our second MINI-CAMP.

We trust it will be a little warmer than right now, still pre-DrupalCon, and a prime time to get some Drupal people together in a casual roundtable setting. Last year everyone loved the scenic view and top-notch conference facility, plus inn rooms at a discount rate for those traveling with family members, or not.

Here is the plan:

    • One day only
    • Late morning start (to accommodate travelers—free parking!)
    • On-premises breakfast snack, lunch, and beverages (See ordering options below)
    • Sessions and BOFs, like any other camp. (See proposal guidelines below)
    • Wrap up by dinnertime

All G.d.o groups are welcome
Outside the regional scope of our G.d.o group, this event will mix in attendees from neighboring Drupal groups around the Great Lakes circuit. Cleveland is exactly three hours away; Toronto, just under three; Rochester, two.

Lodging
Contact the Inn at Holiday Valley (800-323-0020) for a WNYDUG conference group rate of US$98/night. Mention this 4/26 Drupal event and ask them for details on this special rate, valid Friday and Saturday.

Lunch is included
Again we will have a variety of box lunch content, e.g., Chicken wrap -or- Veggie wrap -or- Deli sandwich. Have a preference? BY APRIL 17, please forward to my contact form: http://drupal.org/user/721598

PRESENT!
If you want to present a session, please put the proposed title as the subject and write a blurb ASAP in the comments below so we can all pick our favorites. Just vote up using the +1 option—it’s that easy!

The evening is young
We will be on our own for post-event gatherings in Downtown Ellicottville—restaurants and bars make it easy to split off and continue conversations through the evening.

Questions?
Pose them in the comments.

Once more: Details, suggested donation and advance registration is open now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnydug-mini-camp-2014-tickets-10376441215

Thanks in advance go out to our volunteers, Holiday Valley Resort and all participants from G.d.o.

See you in Ellicottville!

Comments

Remember, earlybird registration ends MARCH 9. . . .

jpw1116's picture

Please reserve your spot now before the price increase kicks in:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnydug-mini-camp-2014-tickets-10376441215

Also don't hesitate to post your proposed session or BoF topics in this same comment area below. Then just up-vote the ones you favor using the "+ 1" feature to the left of the comment.

Finally, message me offline if you have a lunch preference or need; otherwise we will order a varied selection similar to last year.

Thanks!

-John
jpw1116

Performance?

colan's picture

I could do the talk on performance I'm planning to do at DrupalCon. I already did an early version of this for the Toronto DUG, and will be doing it again at the Camp in Ottawa next week.

What is there to do nearby?

DamienMcKenna's picture

Out of interest, what is there to do nearby for a tagalong family while the rest of us are geeking out?

This site should help . . . and it's Drupal, no less.

jpw1116's picture

http://enchantedmountains.com/events

True, the event was set to take advantage of inter-seasonal downtime at the resort, meaning the mountain coaster attraction will not be ready yet. For the outdoors, though, outside of Ellicottville are spots like Allegany State Park and alpaca ranches, and for indoors, Walden Galleria is just under an hour away near Buffalo.

I suppose that this is too

dalin's picture

I suppose that this is too late to be of any use Damien, but last year my family tagged along and they loved Ellicotville. They're coming again this year. I highly recommend the sculpture park (you climb the sculptures, it's not like an art gallery), and the Alpaca farm was cool too. Ellicotville is basically a resort town so it's fun to just walk around town too.

--


Dave Hansen-Lange
Director of Technical Strategy, Advomatic.com
Pronouns: he/him/his

I could talk about how we are

Lauren Kelly's picture

I could talk about how we are using git and features to manage our development workflow with a team of 6 people working on a project that is deploying out on Acquia.

I could also do a case study

Lauren Kelly's picture

I could also do a case study for this project - its a full university site that we moved from CommonSpot over to Drupal 7, hosted on Acquia.
Here's what I submitted to NYCCamp:
Like many Universities facing tightening budgets, the University of New England web team was told that they needed to switch their site from their current proprietary CMS (Commonspot) to the Open Source CMS Drupal. Knowing their website had some usability challenges, they chose to use this opportunity to also move to a fully responsive, clean, modern design.

They came to Singlebrook looking for a system that would allow them to have independent subsites - each with their own administrative teams and their own unique look and feel - but still ensure the site conformed to site-wide style standards. Content managers needed to quickly add content and media - and the web team needed to know that the site was going to work, no matter how much content, how many subsites, how many images were added to the site.

Working together, the UNE web team and Singlebrook went from concepts on the table to a stunning live site with over 10,000 pages in less than 9 months.

Come learn more about the challenges we faced and met!

jegelstaff's picture

Hello, I would like to spread the word about how we are adding data management, reporting and workflow systems to Drupal sites, by integrating them with Formulize.

Formulize (http://www.freeform.ca/en/formulize-downloads) is an open source system similar to a CMS, but aimed at managing databases with complex access permissions and workflows. It's also got an easy to use, and customizable, data browsing and reporting interface. Plus, it's fairly easy to use for non-developers, so besides using it ourselves to create complex database systems, we have clients who use it mostly by themselves for simpler things.

There's an integration module for Drupal (https://github.com/jegelstaff/formulize-drupal) that provides single-signon and the ability to publish Formulize screens as Drupal nodes, so people can interact with the database.

--Julian

jegelstaff's picture

I spent five months last year using only an Android tablet, and an iPod Touch. No PC, no laptop, just "mobile." I've almost recovered.

Don't believe the hype, mobile may be the future, but a complete switchover is way further off than it has to be, because short term gain (apps) is threatening the long term viability of the platform. Mobile devices could replace most desktops and almost all laptops in ten years or less, but instead it's going to take 20 years at least in my opinion.

After some time and distance, I have collated the horror stories into five areas:

  • mobile websites
  • app and OS updates
  • abdication of OS responsibilities
  • file (un)management
  • UI/usability failings left, right and centre

I would like to continue the healing process by sharing these with you.

--Julian

Countdown. . . .

jpw1116's picture

With one month to go before the April 26 mini-camp, sign up now to lock in a spot. Seating may be limited. Expect a diverse group of attendees and sessions. If you are presenting, sign up now in this comment stream. Thanks and see you in a month!

NO PRESSURE (or guilt). . . .

jpw1116's picture

But . . . it's time to step up and post your talks. Right here!

Only twenty minutes (plus or minus) per session. You may claim more than one topic, and some already have.

First come, first served on this page--last year, the number of talks fit in perfectly with the length of the event.

BoFs are possible, but with the size/config of the boardroom we're in (same as last year), go for a session. (Remember Nick's CloudFlare two-hour BoF-esque talk last time?)

Don't forget, you can vote up others' session topics with the + button.

User Advocate's picture

Drupal is always taking a significant hit from Wordpress and much of that is because of the complexity of site building and content management user workflows. Fundamentally the process of building websites in Drupal is inside out. That is being addressed by such initiatives as Panels, Panopoly, Display Suite and Spark but are these approaches addressing the real problem? Will they be sufficient to meet the needs of clients and site builders using the Drupal platform?

I will outline a deeper UX strategy (I call it an ‘inductive pull-model’) for ‘Outside-In’ site building that could potentially leapfrog Wordpress. I will also tie it to some of the technical factors that need to be addressed to get there.

Michael

Michael Keara
User Interface Systems Architect,
The User Advocate Group

adamwhite's picture

John reminded that I completely forgot to submit a session proposal. How's this?

We recently had to make use of visitor geolocation and mapping on a higher traffic site. While on smaller scale jobs we've happily used one of the many mature contributed modules that handle location data, for this site it became apparent that to maximize performance and better handle API limits, much of that logic could be moved out of Drupal and into Javascript.

This is partly a discussion of some light-weight mapping tricks you can do entirely in Javascript, but it's also a discussion of why sometimes tossing the contributed module and Doing It Yourself could result in a better end product.

One week to go. . . .

jpw1116's picture

If you haven't yet registered for your camp tickets. please visit this link no later than the start of TUESDAY, 4/22: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnydug-mini-camp-2014-tickets-10376441215

That's when we need a solid tally for the lunch orders. Last year it worked out great and everyone was served their box lunch on site. Once again there will be a set of deli/chicken or veggie sandwiches to choose from.

Coffee and breakfast snacks on arrival, of course.

What else to bring? BUSINESS CARDS to tack onto our cork board, and if you think you'll need it, an adapter for your laptop video. Their projector was standard fare last year and we were able to project everyone's session. (You're welcome to record your own, or others, if you bring the gear.)

Post any last-minute SESSION PROPOSALS in this comment stream, with the title as the subject, and vote up your favorites with the + feature. We hope to accommodate everyone if the sessions are kept to 20 minutes each, plus or minus.

Remember, doors open Saturday, 4/26 at 10:30 a.m., program starts at 11 in Ellicottville's Holiday Valley lodge (left side of main road heading up). We're slated for the Birdie room again. Second floor (upslope).

Any questions or other ideas, bring them up here too. Thanks everyone!

Once more, register here by Tues.: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnydug-mini-camp-2014-tickets-10376441215

I haven't had the time or

escoles's picture

I haven't had the time or interesting project to put together a presentation of my own, but I for one (for purely selfish reasons) would love to see a higher ed case study. Performance is always welcome.

Looking forward to this, though I may not be doing a lot with Drupal for a while -- I just took a job managing a big Mura-driven site. However, my uber-employer (Ellucian) has a substantial corporate investment in Drupal, so I'll be trying to stay in the game.

Just a few days away from the camp. . . .

jpw1116's picture

We're all set with a nice wide array of attendees for Saturday's event.

If you still need to post a session topic, go ahead. Name it in the subject line and just add it to this thread.

Saturday's arrival time is 10:30 a.m., with event kickoff at 11 sharp. Head up to the second floor of the lodge (parking on both sides of main road) and look for the Birdie Room. http://goo.gl/jYIBOE

Reminder, bring your business cards and brochures, if any, to post on our networking corkboard. Pushpins provided. . . .

Cattaraugus County is stepping up with a special bonus for all those who have registered--thanks to Jeremy Knab and staff for that!~

Any last-minute questions, post them here. Thanks!

I was wondering where the

dalin's picture

I was wondering where the list of sessions was...

If it's not too late, I was planning on doing a session that I submitted for DrupalCon but wasn't accepted:

Paddling Upstream from the Waterfall to Consultancy Scrum;
How we're making the transition and what we're learning along the way

As you start investigating agile methodologies for your Drupal shop, you will discover that the majority of blog posts and tech talks fall into one of these categories:

  • They're talking about agile for a product company, like a tech start-up where the stakeholders and development team are within the same company. A single entity might be in control of both the purse strings, and the people writing the code. Most of their advice will lead you astray when you're in the consultancy world where clients control the budgets, but vendors control the resources.
  • They've been doing consultancy scrum for the last 10yrs. While the underlying concepts and theories sound great, understanding those is the easy part. The hard part of consultancy scrum is where the rubber meets the road. What you really need are examples of other firms trying to make the leap.

This presentation will cover our story:

  1. Where we came from? What problems did we have that prompted us to investigate consultancy scrum?
  2. What have we figured out so far? What have we changed, and how does it help us? What are the toughest parts of making the transition?
  3. What still needs work? What are we going to change next?

Some areas that we'll dive into:

  • Adjusting the structure of the team
  • Changing to the estimation and intake process
  • Partners and clients that just can't get out of a waterfall mindset
  • Getting developers beyond the 'rules' of scrum to a place of empowerment

--


Dave Hansen-Lange
Director of Technical Strategy, Advomatic.com
Pronouns: he/him/his

Slides are

--


Dave Hansen-Lange
Director of Technical Strategy, Advomatic.com
Pronouns: he/him/his

Camp day. . . .

jpw1116's picture

Everyone travel safely and beware that there may be some construction on RT-219 if you're taking that route.

There will be a great slate of presentations and chances to talk, too.

See you there at Holiday Valley's Lodge starting at 10:30 a.m.

Today's schedule

adamwhite's picture

2014 WNYDUG mini-camp SCHEDULE

~20 minute presentations with 10 minutes padding for questions / setup of next person

11:00 Plenary and Intro
Welcome
Attendee intros

11:45 Session
jegelstaff - five reasons why mobile sucks rocks

12:15 Session
adamwhite - Mapping & Geo and when to ignore contrib

12:45 Session
Lauren Kelly - Case study on university site

1:15 Lunch / BOF (45 min)

2:00 Session
dalin - Paddling Upstream from the Waterfall to Consultancy Scrum

2:30 Session Overflow / BOFs

3:00 Coffee / BOFs

3:30 Session
colan - Performance

4:00 Session Overflow / BOFs

4:30 Session
jegelstaff - data management, reporting and workflow

It's a wrap! . . .

jpw1116's picture

Thanks everyone for a super-successful camp! Stay tuned for followup info and possibly video this time. . . .

The group split up and eight are celebrating at John Harvard's on the premises. Updates on next locations pending.

EBC at 20:30. . . .

jpw1116's picture

That is the latest plan for those still here. . . .

20140426 WNYDUG mini-camp review. . . .

jpw1116's picture

Our second annual mini-camp took place in the identical Holiday Valley Lodge meeting space as last year's, ran just as smoothly, and proved the viability of a single day, retreat style of camp in the hills of Ellicottville.

Attendees traveled from the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton/Niagara, Ithaca, Rochester, Batavia, Perry, Great Valley, Buffalo, Fredonia and Lakewood, OH. Attendance was down to fourteen after three last-minute cancellations.

There was time for six complete sessions, coordinated by adamwhite:

    jegelstaff: 5 reasons why mobile sucks rocks (but it's still the future)
    adamwhite: Mapping & Geo: When It Just Makes Sense to Ignore Contrib
    Lauren Kelly: Case study on university site
    dalin: Paddling Upstream from the Waterfall to Consultancy Scrum:
    How we're making the transition and what we're learning along the way
    colan: Performance
    jegelstaff: Data Management, Reporting and Workflow Systems in Drupal

A lunchtime pseudo-BoF by Eidolon Night showed a few memorable commit logs and other misc. tidbits, but no formal BoFs were possible due to the full program.

Cattaraugus County provided every attendee with a swag bag, including keyboard brushes, dry erase boards and other welcome esoterica. GreenSkunk, lead at EnchantedMountains.org, facilitated the handout. Member darlai also contributed another epic tray of baked goods featuring a custom Druplicon theme layer.

No outside sponsorship came through this year despite volunteer efforts by members. As a result, we did not wind up in the black this time, facing a gap of $158.21 after expenses of $756.21.

Since we recorded all the sessions this time, the plan is to perpetuate this content and have it help rebound attendance at the next event of this type. We also intend to capitalize on the Drupalcon Austin Community Monday to whatever extent it may help.

Special thanks to all volunteers and to WebOzy for supporting another WNYDUG camp.

Much thanks to everyone who

dalin's picture

Much thanks to everyone who helped to make this happen. I had a really great time, learned and learned a lot. Can't wait till next year.

--


Dave Hansen-Lange
Director of Technical Strategy, Advomatic.com
Pronouns: he/him/his

jpw1116's picture

Thanks to media conversion and uploading by Nick Garofalo, and Goog+ finessing by James Stone, you should be able to access them at:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/109901306889534106439/videos

WNYDUG

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