Cleveland, OH Workshop September 5-6, 2014 (@pzula)

[pzula]

This workshop's going to be amazing!! Here's what we need to do!

A few months out:

• Find a venue (see http://railsbridge.org/help/host)
• Find sponsors for the workshop. This workshop covers Rails. Sponsoring the workshop costs between $900 - $1,500, depending on the size of the workshop.
• Find two co-organizers. It's a lot of work, but always a lot of fun. No experience is necessary; checkout the workshop cookbook if it's new to you.

Leave a comment below if you're able to host, sponsor or organize! 😸

Once we have a a venue, sponsors, and organizers, we can:

• Work together to set an RSVP limit that works for everyone
• Find a few people to offer baby-sitting in one of the rooms at the venue
• Make posters to hang up in prominent places at local colleges/universities
• Contact digital arts and comp sci departments of local colleges/universities to forward announcement email
• Post the workshop to Bridge Troll
• Post the workshop to Meetup for publicity

One to two weeks out, we can:

• Plan a teacher training
• Order breakfast
• Order lunch
• Find a good place for the afterparty

After the workshop, we can:

• Party! 🎉
• Retro

🌷

[joelbyler]

I've already spoken to the folks at LeanDog and we're ready to sponsor. I'll put the date on our calendar tomorrow

[pzula]

@joelbyler Awesome! I'm excited that LeanDog is open to being the venue! I need to check with the RailsBridge folks to find out about how sponsorship (monetary sponsorship) of the event should be conducted. I'm also updated the checklist up top to include more marketing

[jrgifford]

I've got the following that I can assist with:

• Contacts at John Carroll and Case Western (IT department, but they in turn know people)
• finding teachers/assistants. My former contractors were good at teaching, debugging and troubleshooting. I know most of them will probably be free on weekends.
• summoning power strips and other similar resources. I'm still part of a IT infrastructure team, so I can probably arrange for a collection of power strips to vanish for a weekend.
• probably something else I can help with, but am not thinking of.

[jrgifford]

@pzula Any update on this?

[pzula]

@jrgifford -- I am coordinating website and poster design right now. As soon as we get the site up, we can:

1. get all of our volunteers together on a Hangout
2. assign tasks (such as the ones you've listed above) to volunteers
3. set a date for volunteer training
4. reach out to companies for food sponsorship

[jacqueline-homan]

This sounds like a really cool idea! I can teach for a weekend. :)

[pzula]

Here is the BridgeTroll signup page:
http://www.bridgetroll.org/events/105

I bought http://clevelandrailsbridge.org and am going to add content to it this week.

[tjgrathwell]

The event is published and can now be seen on http://railsbridge.org and http://bridgetroll.org

[jacqueline-homan]

I already signed up as a teacher.

On Tue, Jul 15, 2014 at 4:30 PM, Travis Grathwell notifications@github.com
wrote:

The event is published and can now be seen on http://railsbridge.org and
http://bridgetroll.org

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[image: http://]about.me/jacqueline_homan
http://about.me/jacqueline_homan

[rachelmyers]

Just chiming in to say if you needed anything from people not in Cleveland, like questions about money or anything, feel free to mention some of us (me or @mfjenn or others) into the conversation. 👯

[mfjenn]

Thanks Rachel. Persa and I spoke yesterday.

On Jul 16, 2014, at 3:01 AM, Rachel Myers notifications@github.com wrote:

Just chiming in to say if you needed anything from people not in Cleveland, like questions about money or anything, feel free to mention some of us (me or @mfjenn or others) into the conversation.

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[pzula]

Hi Volunteers!
I can definitely use some help with outreach & marketing!

1. We need help finding contacts at colleges, universities, libraries, coffee shops that will let us post up the posters that LeanDog's interns so kindly made for us.

2. We also need help emailing the local meetup groups -- this involves messaging the meetup group organizer and asking if they can email their group with a message along these lines:

Do you dream of someday writing software that helps people and improves the world? 
Led by an all-volunteer team of seasoned, enthusiastic Ruby and Rails developers, the Cleveland RailsBridge workshop introduces people of all backgrounds to the concepts, tools, and techniques of Ruby and Rails development. Our audience those with no or little programming experience that are underrepresented in the field of technology. 

This free workshop includes a Friday evening install-fest to get everyone's laptops up and running, and an all-day Saturday workshop. And yes, there will be food!

Sign up today at http://clevelandrailsbridge.org!

3. Any other forms of outreach that you can think of! Does anyone know someone at the local papers? Can we get an article written about this?

Let me know who can help! @jrgifford, @joelbyler, @jacqueline-homan

[jacqueline-homan]

Hi Persa,

Since I live 100 miles east of ya'll, I don't think posting anything
locally to me would help, but what I can do is scoot over to Facebook and
make a status post. As a leader in the HT survivor movement, I have quite a
large following so anything I post and make global, reaches far and wide.
Would that be helpful? Just send me a PNG or JPG/JPEG copy of fliers and I
can upload them as status post pics and can help with posting the fliers
electronically :)

On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 9:56 AM, Persa notifications@github.com wrote:

Hi Volunteers!
I can definitely use some help with outreach & marketing!

We need help finding contacts at colleges, universities, libraries,
coffee shops that will let us post up the posters that LeanDog's interns so
kindly made for us.
2.

We also need help emailing the local meetup groups -- this involves
messaging the meetup group organizer and asking if they can email their
group with a message along these lines:

Do you dream of someday writing software that helps people and improves the world?
Led by an all-volunteer team of seasoned, enthusiastic Ruby and Rails developers, the Cleveland RailsBridge workshop introduces people of all backgrounds to the concepts, tools, and techniques of Ruby and Rails development. Our audience those with no or little programming experience that are underrepresented in the field of technology.

This free workshop includes a Friday evening install-fest to get everyone's laptops up and running, and an all-day Saturday workshop. And yes, there will be food!

Sign up today at http://clevelandrailsbridge.org!

1. Any other forms of outreach that you can think of! Does anyone know
   someone at the local papers? Can we get an article written about this?

Let me know who can help! @jrgifford https://github.com/jrgifford,
@joelbyler https://github.com/joelbyler, @jacqueline-homan
https://github.com/jacqueline-homan

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[image: http://]about.me/jacqueline_homan
http://about.me/jacqueline_homan

[pzula]

@jacqueline-homan Thank you! I can't upload PDFs onto here, but here is a PNG of the poster!

[jacqueline-homan]

AWESOME! I am saving that img now and making a FB status post. I can create
an event page for it too, if that was not done already.

On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 10:15 AM, Persa notifications@github.com wrote:

@jacqueline-homan https://github.com/jacqueline-homan Thank you! I
can't upload PDFs onto here, but here is a PNG of the poster!
[image: railsbridge poster]
https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/1807290/3790762/668f1720-1b18-11e4-86ce-4abe666ab17a.png

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Jacqueline Homan
[image: http://]about.me/jacqueline_homan
http://about.me/jacqueline_homan

[pzula]

Cool! Thanks @jacqueline-homan! The only thing I worry about with a FB event page is that we want to make sure we funnel all sign-ups to the BridgeTroll page and nowhere else (www.bridgetroll.org/events/105) -- otherwise we will miss out on knowing how much food we need/childcare/teachers, etc.

[jacqueline-homan]

I will add the link to the bridgetroll.org page so that people will know to
go there to sign up.

On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 10:18 AM, Persa notifications@github.com wrote:

Cool! Thanks @jacqueline-homan https://github.com/jacqueline-homan! The
only thing I worry about with a FB event page is that we want to make sure
we funnel all sign-ups to the BridgeTroll page and nowhere else (
www.bridgetroll.org/events/105) -- otherwise we will miss out on knowing
how much food we need/childcare/teachers, etc.

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Jacqueline Homan
[image: http://]about.me/jacqueline_homan
http://about.me/jacqueline_homan

[jdantonio]

We have a few UAkron interns at VHT and one of my coworkers teaches at UAkron part-time. I'll talk to them about spreading the word.

I recently met the founder of the Akron Software Developers Guild (dev boot camp). I'll reach out to him.

I'll also spread the word in the tech groups I'm part of.

[pzula]

Thank you @jdantonio! That will help us a bunch!

[mfjenn]

Hi Everyone! Yeah, I would not do a FB event. It’s better to funnel everyone to the Bridgetroll site to get an accurate count. I announced it on my own Twitter feed @maryfjenn & also on the RailsBridge Facebook page. I’m guessing whoever is manning the @railsbridge twitter account these days will pick it up and retweet it.

On Aug 3, 2014, at 10:09 AM, Persa notifications@github.com wrote:

Thank you @jdantonio! That will help us a bunch!

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[jacqueline-homan]

I backed off from doing a Facebook event page when I saw that Facebook now
charges you to do that. So instead, I've been posting the flyer and the
link to the Bridge Toll page in every FB group I am in. And made a status
post about it on my own wall page. I set my status post to global so that
it is tweeted on my Twitter thingie. If Railsbridge has a Twitter, I'll
grab that and retweet that, too.

On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 11:14 PM, Mary Jenn notifications@github.com wrote:

Hi Everyone! Yeah, I would not do a FB event. It’s better to funnel
everyone to the Bridgetroll site to get an accurate count. I announced it
on my own Twitter feed @maryfjenn & also on the RailsBridge Facebook page.
I’m guessing whoever is manning the @railsbridge twitter account these days
will pick it up and retweet it.

On Aug 3, 2014, at 10:09 AM, Persa notifications@github.com wrote:

Thank you @jdantonio! That will help us a bunch!

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[image: http://]about.me/jacqueline_homan
http://about.me/jacqueline_homan

[joelbyler]

I'll make sure this gets on cleveland tech events. Are we keeping a list of
which meetup groups we've contacted so we aren't trying to contact them
more than once?

On Monday, August 4, 2014, Jacqueline S. Homan notifications@github.com
wrote:

I backed off from doing a Facebook event page when I saw that Facebook now
charges you to do that. So instead, I've been posting the flyer and the
link to the Bridge Toll page in every FB group I am in. And made a status
post about it on my own wall page. I set my status post to global so that
it is tweeted on my Twitter thingie. If Railsbridge has a Twitter, I'll
grab that and retweet that, too.

On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 11:14 PM, Mary Jenn <notifications@github.com
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','notifications@github.com');> wrote:

Hi Everyone! Yeah, I would not do a FB event. It’s better to funnel
everyone to the Bridgetroll site to get an accurate count. I announced
it
on my own Twitter feed @maryfjenn & also on the RailsBridge Facebook
page.
I’m guessing whoever is manning the @railsbridge twitter account these
days
will pick it up and retweet it.

On Aug 3, 2014, at 10:09 AM, Persa <notifications@github.com
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','notifications@github.com');> wrote:

Thank you @jdantonio! That will help us a bunch!

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<
https://github.com/railsbridge/organizing/issues/35#issuecomment-51014031>

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[image: http://]about.me/jacqueline_homan
http://about.me/jacqueline_homan

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[jdantonio]

I've reached out to the founder of the Software Craftsman Guild in Akron (@SWCGuild) and also a few coworkers with ties to UAkron. Hopefully they'll help spread the word and generate some additional interest.

[pzula]

@joelbyler Let's keep the list of Meetup groups contacted here on this issue. Thanks!

[pzula]

I am contacting Akron Women in Tech Meetup Group :)

[pzula]

I have posted on Akron.io. Also, just to let you know, the domain name now resolves to a more fleshed-out site regarding the event: http://clevelandrailsbridge.org.

[pzula]

@joelbyler I haven't seen this posted on Cleveland Tech Events yet -- any way we can get it on there soon?

[joelbyler]

I've contacted the Canton Web Meetup, Canton Software Craftsmanship Meetup, and Cleveland Python Users Group.

[joelbyler]

Also, Cleveland Agile User's Group and Cleveland Lean Startup Circle

[joelbyler]

I've got this on Cleveland Tech Events awaiting for Sarah's review.

[joelbyler]

Whoa, great work guys! It looks like we have 24 students signed up now! :)

[pzula]

Wow! That is awesome! We should keep promoting, though, as there is a waitlist option and as people's plans change, we can still ensure we have a full course. Also, we're at only 5 volunteers right now. If you all could also spread the word to your co-workers about volunteering to help out in this massive effort. It will be hard for 5 people to pull this off!

Here are details about what a volunteer can assist with: http://clevelandrailsbridge.org/volunteer/

Thank you all again for your help spreading the word! This is exciting! 👍 😸

[mfjenn]

Persa, can you Skype or call on thursday 10 am CST?

On Aug 11, 2014, at 3:43 PM, Persa notifications@github.com wrote:

Wow! That is awesome! We should keep promoting, though, as there is a waitlist option and as people's plans change, we can still ensure we have a full course. Also, we're at only 5 volunteers right now. If you all could also spread the word to your co-workers about volunteering to help out in this massive effort. It will be hard for 5 people to pull this off!

Here are details about what a volunteer can assist with: http://clevelandrailsbridge.org/volunteer/

Thank you all again for your help spreading the word! This is exciting!

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[pzula]

@mfjenn Yes! Let's do Skype on Thursday at 10am CST!

[pzula]

@mfjenn Hey MaryJenn! Are we still talking today?

[mfjenn]

Yep! Just signed in to Skype.

On Aug 14, 2014, at 10:00 AM, Persa notifications@github.com wrote:

@mfjenn Hey MaryJenn! Are we still talking today?

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[pzula]

@joelbyler I'm thinking of changing the RSVP limit from 25 to 30, given that there will likely be at least 5 people that do not show up (from talking to other RailsBridge organizers). Do you mind if I do that?

[jdantonio]

If we have people on the waitlist I vote +1 to increasing the limit. I have never been to an event where everyone who RSVP'd actually showed up.

[joelbyler]

@pzula @jdantonio I'm on board, I'm sure we have plenty of room on the boat for everyone. We should talk about food and sponsors sometime soon. Are there other sponsors signed up besides LeanDog yet? Do we have any idea for what we should budget for food? There is actually a kitchen on the boat now so we could cook something if we need to. Ideas?

[jdantonio]

@joelbyler @pzula I'll talk to the powers-that-be at VHT about sponsoring. No promises, but I'll see what I can do.

[mfjenn]

Were you able to get more volunteers? The turnout stats have historically been about the same as the student turnout and I would suggest having at least one teacher & one TA for each class. Especially if they are going to be >5 students per class.

On Aug 18, 2014, at 8:00 AM, jdantonio notifications@github.com wrote:

If we have people on the waitlist I vote +1 to increasing the limit. I have never been to an event where everyone who RSVP'd actually showed up.

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[jdantonio]

@pzula @joelbyler How much money is needed for a company to sponsor a meal? I don't know that I can make it happen, but a ballpark-number would help.

[mfjenn]

There are BridgeFoundry funds available for you to use as well.

Mary F. Jenn
maryfjenn@gmail.com
tel: 415.290.0587

www.maryfjenn.com
skype: mfjenn
twitter: maryfjenn
Github
LinkedIn

On Aug 19, 2014, at 10:36 AM, jdantonio notifications@github.com wrote:

@pzula @joelbyler How much money is needed for a company to sponsor a meal? I don't know that I can make it happen, but a ballpark-number would help.

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[pzula]

@jdantonio Sorry, I've been dealing with an internet/Time Warner fiasco for the last couple days and haven't been able to get all of my ducks in a row. I'll work on figuring out how much food will be tonight/tomorrow

[jdantonio]

@pzula I may have found another teacher volunteer. My friend @rbeiter may be joining us.

[rbeiter]

Yes - I'm in if there's room for another teacher. Looking forward to it!

[joelbyler]

cool, @nwallace has signed up as well :) I think we lost @jrgifford though? At least he's not signed up on bridgetroll

[jrgifford]

@joelbyler - yeah, you lost me. Had something come up with my new gig. :-(

[jdantonio]

Welcome to the team @rbeiter and @nwallace!

[nwallace]

Thanks @jdantonio , I'm excited to be here! Is there anything I can be doing to prepare?

[pzula]

@rbeiter and @nwallace, I will be sending out Volunteer information by this weekend to give you an idea of how to prepare. The idea, in general, is to actually do the curriculum once over yourselves, as to understand all of it when students might have a question. Here is the Friday night Installfest instructions: http://docs.railsbridge.org/installfest/ and here is the Saturday all-day Workshop: http://docs.railsbridge.org/intro-to-rails/

Getting familiar with those documents will be important for all of the TAing/teaching volunteers.

Also, if you know other people that would like to help, we can certainly use help with things like checking in people as they come in, or volunteers to help set up the food area, clean up, etc. (Non-programming help :) )

[pzula]

@joelbyler Do you have any good pizza place suggestions around LeanDog? Want to make sure that it's good for Friday night's InstallFest

[pzula]

@rbeiter Can you please sign up as a volunteer on this page: http://www.bridgetroll.org/events/105 It will help as I start sending email communications to everyone through the BridgeTroll app :)

[pzula]

@jdantonio and @mfjenn, I have the food broken down as such:

Friday night, Guy's Pizza for 35: (pizza, salad, breadsticks): $90
Saturday morning, Panera for 30 (bagels, coffee, OJ, fruit, parfaits): ~$250
Saturday lunch, Qdoba make-your-own Mexican for 35: ~$440

That makes food about $780, and I'm probably going to pick up pop & water, so we're going to estimate about $800 on food

[pzula]

@jdantonio @mfjenn Here is the food estimate spreadsheet (without tax/tips): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_gVuifM9ciUytXFMEFYm2Fb6IDlDcPhd2Y5OcEtF0Rw/edit?usp=sharing

[rbeiter]

@pzula I'm all signed up!

[pzula]

Woohoo! Things are getting checked off of the checklist! I've ordered the food, scheduled a teacher training, and am super excited to connect with all of you volunteers tomorrow morning! This is going to be great!

[lilliealbert]

@pzula -- how'd the workshop go? we'd love to hear about it on the organizer's mailing list ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

[pzula]

@lilliealbert It went great!! Here is a recap! https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/railsbridge-workshops/83Dzv5SiyZA