First SF NodeSchool - Sat Feb 7th, 1-5p

[cantremember]

continued from nodeschool/organizers#92

it looks like we've all expressed interest in having a first NodeSchool event on Sat Feb 7th from 12-5pm at New Relic's class space. let's continue the discussion here

[cantremember]

the initial list of interested people

@duquet

I think the following people have expressed interest. Please let me know if I missed anyone...

Host: @groundwater (new relic) @llkats (craigslist)
8+ Mentors: @maxogden @jedireza @maxogden @tlhunter @cantremember @johnmarkos @bengl @linclark
Organizers: @agminusthev
Helpers: @terinjokes
Unknown: @imurchie @dshaw @RichardLitt
Advice: @mikeal

confirmed as available via comment: @duquet @groundwater @agminusthev @llkats @jedireza @RichardLitt @cantremember

excerpts from the prior thread

@agminusthev

It was recommended we have a 5:1 ratio of attendees:mentors. We should consider capping the student headcount for the first event. Maybe 30 students and at least 6 mentors (8+ volunteers already!)

it looks like New Relic's class space has 32 chairs and can comfortably hold some extra bodies.

@llkats

Yes, tutor to student ratio would be great to know. How do we solicit and track volunteers?

@groundwater

I've gotten a 90% yes on using the space (an exact date will help).

Feb 7 looks good, but I have an obligation in Sacramento around 7pm. I'm assuming we will do this in the daytime?

@linclark

If we start it at 1pm, then I think we can get away with having lighter snacks.

For the one at Double Union, we did $5 tickets through Tito to ensure that people showed up.

[RichardLitt]

I'd be happy to be a mentor or a helper.

Also, @maxogden is in the Mentors' list twice.

[terinjokes]

I will be in Brussels on February 7th, so I'll be unable to help on the day of.

[dshaw]

@cantremember I'm afraid I'm probably in the Advice category too. My availability is extremely limited. I can also help recruit (too soon? 😜) and promote.

[agminusthev]

I just submitted an event request form to New Relic on 2/7 from 1-5pm. The odds are looking really good that they'll host us. Fingers crossed :)

[cantremember]

thank you for coordinatinagin that, @agminusthev !

in addition, the following questions came to mind

• @groundwater you'd hinted you might like to make this more of an 'advanced' NodeSchool. you mentioned Runtime.js. does anyone else have an idea for a Topic, advanced or otherwise? †
• how does a workshop like this get promoted?
• who wants to go in on the "lighter snack" fund?

† i'm gonna look at 2 of the core workshoppers, Bug Clinic and Promise It Won't Hurt, and see if they're fun. i don't have enough hands-on experience with async-listener and continuation-local-storage to build a workshopper of my own, but i find ThreadLocals-in-JavaScript to be kinda awesme

[jedireza]

I'd like all skill levels to feel welcome. I can throw in on the snack fund.

[groundwater]

I am working on a RuntimeJS Workshop right now. If there is enough interest, we can hold a "kernel hacking in javascript" workshop.

[agminusthev]

New Relic confirmed for Feb. 7 1-5pm.

Do we have a site to promote this event? Per the wisdom of previous NodeSchool organizers we'll probably want to consider charging a nominal fee of $5 for the event. Thoughts?

[RichardLitt]

@llkats is working on a site now. I think syncing with a Meetup group would probably be a smart idea, too.

[agminusthev]

I'm an organizer for SFNode so we can use that network if we'd like.

[agminusthev]

Another question, is this first come first served or are they submitting 'applications.'

The only other event I participated in similar to NodeSchool was Rails Girls. The big benefit of reviewing applications is making sure there's a good blend of people. The downside is that we would have to review applications and debate over who would get to attend.

[jedireza]

@agminusthev woo hoo! I'm glad the venue is confirmed. I agree the $5 cover is a good plan. When I attended an Oakland NodeSchool, attendees were paired with others at similar skill levels.

At first thought I'm not a fan of applications for the same reasons @agminusthev mentioned.

[jedireza]

@groundwater I read through the RuntimeJS docs. Very cool project btw. I'm interested in that workshop.

[llkats]

Wooo confirmed venue! I just pushed an initial site live to the gh-pages branch in this repo; will be sure to make an issue to update copy with the event details.

[llkats]

I opened some issues of tasks that need doing. Leave a comment to pick up a task, and please feel free to discuss and add more issues.

[sedouard]

Not available on the 7th but I'd love to get involved in future event as a helper or mentor! :-)

[jedireza]

We have a website:
http://nodeschool.io/sanfrancisco/

And started tweeting today:
https://twitter.com/nodeschoolsf

We've had 18 registrations so far.

[jedireza]

🎆 Thanks. I'm pretty sure @llkats did the footer.

[RichardLitt]

Woop.

[johnmarkos]

My child care has fallen through: I'm wondering whether it would be all right if I brought my children (7 and 9) to the event. I'd ensure they were quiet with books and perhaps screens, if necessary. I don't think they're quite ready to learn Node just yet, so they wouldn't really fall into the "student" category.

[johnmarkos]

This morning I tried installing Node on my son's Windows 8.1 machine, and I noticed two issues. First of all, the directory where node resides was not in the PATH on install, so I had to go into Advanced Settings -> Environment to add it to the PATH. Secondly, npm expects a directory C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\npm to exist out of the box, but it didn't, so I had to go create that.

Just something to keep in mind for the actual event -- tomorrow I'll try installing Node on my daughter's Windows machine and see if I have the same experience, or run into any other pitfalls.

[Trott]

@johnmarkos I'm glad somebody is doing the legwork on Windows. It had crossed my mind that if someone has trouble installing Node on a Windows machine, I for one would be largely lost trying to help them.

[agminusthev]

Hey @johnmarkos it's a friendly space and I don't foresee any problems with your kids hanging out.

[agminusthev]

I'll need the attendee list and will also pull together the list of mentors so building security at New Relic will know who to let up.

Can someone help me get this list? Thanks!

[jedireza]

@agminusthev I'll email you the attendees list. The mentors/organizers are at the top of #15

[dshaw]

@johnmarkos I've always been a big fan of bringing the kids along. (It's usually only stressful for you, the parent.) My kids came to the last SFNode which happened to be at New Relic. Nice space with ample room to stay out of the way or get involved, as appropriate.

[dshaw]

@johnmarkos Mine are 8 and 9.

[groundwater]

@johnmarkos should be fine!

[cantremember]

@groundwater i just scanned through your repos & npm packages and i do not see your Workshop for Runtime.js. i'd like to run it through once on my own before playing a Mentor role for it -- even if it's a work-in-progress

could you please provide an npm package name?

[groundwater]

@cantremember unfortunately I still need to fix runtime before I can write the workshop.

[jedireza]

Congrats everyone. Our first event went great. Thanks you all.