beSwarm: an open spaces style meetup in Charlottesville

Want to geek out about natural language processing, talk about the latest buzz on TechCrunch, learn what all that hype is about with that new framework you’ve been meaning to check out, or start hacking on some electronics or software projects?

We’ve picked a date for beSwarm3, so come Sign Up and get ready to have fun learning, sharing, and exploring whatever it is that interests you!

• Sign up here.
• Sunday, February 26, 2012
• 10:00am to 5:00pm EST
• Plenary event: Lightning Talks at the end of the day
• WillowTree @ 107 5th Street SE, Suite B Charlottesville, VA 22902
• Cost: event is free! (lunch offered at a discount)

Signing up is a good idea, but it’s completely optional. You can decide to attend beSwarm the day of; just show up!

Sponsorship

Willow Tree Apps has graciously offered to sponsor the venue for beSwarm3. If you or your organization would like to sponsor beSwarm3 in any way, please volunteer on the Sign Up sheet, or contact the organizers.

Lunch

The plan is to order a whole boat-load of pizzas from Christian’s. We’ll have a donations jar at the main entrance for contributions towards the price of lunch, and we’d greatly appreciate your contribution. beSwarm organizers will cover any remaining costs.

Parking

There is plenty of street and garage parking available near the venue.

A note on the name

beSwarm is not beCamp, but has its roots in beCamp (“We should have more than one bar camp in the year…”), so we chose a similar name.

Credits:

• Kai Groner - video collection
• Jason Bennett - video editing, compilation

Central Virginia’s active and uber-talented tech community came out in full force for beSwarm1 - but that was only the beginning! beSwarm2 is scheduled for September 25.

Were you at the last beSwarm? We want you back! And if you missed out last time, we can’t wait to meet you.

• Sign up here.
• Saturday, September 25, 2010
• 10:00am to 5:00pm EST
• Plenary event: Lightning Talks at the end of the day
• OpenSpace @ 455 Second Street SE, Suite 100, Charlottesville, VA 22902
• Cost: event is free! (lunch offered at a discount)

Signing up is a good idea, but it’s completely optional. You can decide to attend beSwarm the day of; just show up!

What is beSwarm?

beSwarm is a local tech unconference. Very un. We have a few simple rules to get started, then you the participants take it from there:

• Come to share, learn, and meet.
• Broadcast your interests, and look for others to do the same.
• Want to chat? Chat. Looking for a discussion? Moderate. Have a demo? Demo.
• Use the Law of Two Feet. That is, if you’re not energized by the discussion you’re in, start a new one. Boredom is strongly discouraged.

We’re talking about total flexibility here. Unlike beCamp, beSwarm doesn’t draft a schedule or agenda. To the extent that there is a schedule, it’s adjusted in real time. It’s surprising the level of energy that gets generated when a bunch of really smart folks have the freedom to take the conversation in whatever direction they choose.

As beSwarm1 attendee Joe Meade put it, it’s like “1000 ninjas, just chillin’ and talking shop.”

Sponsorship

beSwarm2 - like beSwarm1 before it - is sponsored by OpenSpace, one of the best places in Charlottesville to meet like-minded geeks and get your cowork on. We’re super grateful for their support of beSwarm and the larger Cville tech community.

If you or your organization would like to support beSwarm2 in some way, contact John Feminella or Matt Dawson.

Lunch

The plan is to order a whole boat-load of pizzas from Christian’s. We’ll have a donations jar at the main entrance for contributions towards the price of lunch, and we’d greatly appreciate your contribution. beSwarm organizers will cover any remaining costs.

Parking

There is plenty of street and garage parking available near the venue.

Organizers

beSwarm started with a First Wednesdays discussion between John Chapin and Ron DuPlain, found identity when John Feminella (who proposed the name “beSwarm”), Eric Pugh, and Nicole Radziwill joined the discussion over coffee and lunch, and landed a venue thanks to Jeff Gunther and the concierge at OpenSpace.

beSwarm2 is being organized by John Feminella and Matt Dawson with support from all the folks on the beswarm-organizers mailing list. If you’re interested in organizing a future beSwarm, join the list, and be sure to introduce yourself.

A note on the name

beSwarm is not beCamp, but has its roots in beCamp (“We should have more than one bar camp in the year…”), so we chose a similar name.

Our first beSwarm event went well. Look for beSwarm2 this summer/fall.

We are ready to go! See you at OpenSpace today. Come directly to the south entrance, where the event is held. Have a Spudnut on us. :-P~

Looking for lively tech discussions? Come to beSwarm on Feb 27 and join the conversation in an open spaces format. Think of it as an (un)conference which revolves around hallway and coffee break discussions.

• Sign up here.
• Saturday, February 27, 2010
• 10:00am to 6:00pm EST
• Plenary event: Lightning Talks at the end of the day
• OpenSpace @ 455 Second Street SE, Suite 100, Charlottesville, VA 22902
• Cost: event is free! (lunch offered at a discount)

Signing up is a good idea, but it’s completely optional. You can decide to attend beSwarm the day of; just show up!

How an open space conference works

You have time slots and spaces to meet (and coffee!). At any point during the event:

1. Pick an interesting tech topic.
2. Find that topic on the schedule board, or add it!
3. If needed, merge two or more separate topics.

The rules:

• Whoever shows up is the right group.
• Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
• Whenever it starts is the right time.
• When it’s over, it’s over.

Use the Law of Two Feet. Not interested in a topic? Move along. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for. Speaking of Droids, don’t take a sudden interest in your phone because you find a topic boring. Find or start a new discussion!

beSwarm is not beCamp (and is not quite BarCamp).

Unlike beCamp, beSwarm’s schedule never becomes formal. Participants can add, move, and adjust the schedule in real time. See what emerges. Also, beSwarm’s emphasis is on discussion, not eyes-forward presentations.

That said, the open spaces format is an unconference and can safely be associated with the BarCamp spirit. Don’t miss beCamp because of beSwarm. Go to beCamp!

Sponsorship

OpenSpace is sponsoring beSwarm — Hooray! (The names of the open space conference format and OpenSpace co-working are actually coincidental, we think.)

Lunch

We’ll provide light refreshments and coffee. We’ll also provide lunch at a promotional price with free delivery to the venue. You’ll special order lunch here in the morning during the event. Thanks: Eppie’s and orderTopia.

Parking

There is plenty of street and garage parking available near the venue.

Organizers

beSwarm started with a First Wednesdays discussion between John Chapin and Ron DuPlain, found identity when John Feminella (who proposed the name “beSwarm”), Eric Pugh, and Nicole Radziwill joined the discussion over coffee and lunch, and landed a venue thanks to Jeff Gunther and the concierge at OpenSpace. Lunch delivery and discount are provided by Dan Epstein and Eppie’s, with order logistics from orderTopia including technical support from Brian Williford. If you are interested in talking to the organizers, or in organizing a future beSwarm, we have a beswarm-organizers mailing list. If you just want to let us know you are coming, see the sign up page.

A note on the name

beSwarm is not beCamp, but has its roots in beCamp (“We should have more than one bar camp in the year…”), so we chose a similar name.