Louisville is Geektastic and So Are You

I missed seeing you at Social Media Club last night. Yes you.

But I was really glad that you, over there, showed up, I enjoyed our conversation. And you too, though I wish we'd gotten the chance to talk more.

It seems like everyday there are more and more opportunities to talk about technology, social media, web geekery as well as socialize and network in Louisville. I think this is such a great, great thing that I want to tell you about some of them just in case you don't know (and remind those of you that do).

Social Media Club Louisville is an organization that I'm very active with and I adore it. Clearly by the work I do here at Consuming Louisville and lots of my other projects you know I'm a social media participant, supporter, educator and evangelist. I don't think it's bragging too much to say that Social Media Club Louisville is doing good work in town and I really hope the organization, its events and its membership continues to grow.

Social Media Club has meetings on the third Tuesday of each Month. You missed July's main meeting last night but don't despair. Next Tuesday, July 22, 2008 we're having the first ever Social Media Club Louisville Happy Hour. The fine folks at Proof on Main are giving us 10% off drinks from 5:30PM-7:30PM. It's going to be a very low-key event. Just friends and acquaintances hanging out and chatting. If you have a particular social media related topic you'd like to discuss I'm sure you'll find someone to chat about it with. If you're just dipping your toes into social media or want to know what it's all about this is a great event to come out for and pose some of your questions to SMC members. Honestly, sincerely, I hope you come out and have a drink with us.

But wait! There's more! Though SMC is something I'm really passionate about it's not the only option for waving your geek or tech flag. The next big exciting thing on the radar is BarCamp Louisville in September which I'm co-organizing. If you aren't familiar with BarCamp it's a bit of difficult concept to explain. Here's the official definition:

A Bar Camp is an unconference where people interested in a wide range of technologies come together to teach and learn. Unfamiliar with the un-conference format? Here's the idea in a nutshell. Rather than having scheduled speakers, everyone pitches sessions the morning of the BarCamp. Those sessions are put on a schedule, and lots of little groups form for intense group learning. Everyone is expected to teach, to talk, to participate. Yeah,its different from a regular conference - but it works!

The idea of an unconference came together when people realized the best times they were having at conferences were the times between sessions - where people with like interests could meet ad hoc. The goal of BarCamp is to facilitate this type of interaction for an entire day. We supply the food, the space, the wireless, the projectors - you show up to teach and learn.

An even better definition can be found on the blog of a guy who participated in BarCamp Portland. He points out that BarCamp is not just about technology. At the most recent BarCamp he attended there were sessions scheduled on ""stitch and bitch," "bikes and geeks," and a session for DJs." And the blogger himself was presenting a session called "What's the matter with democracy? How can the Internet-enabled world participate in developing a solution?"

BarCamp Louisville can clearly be whatever you want it to be. Of course I'm interested in some technology and social media sessions but how great would it be to have some sessions teaching people to be better bike commuters in Louisville or discussing the state of electronic medical records work being done here? The options really are limitless. There are so many smart, interesting people in Louisville I personally think that BarCamp Louisville has the potential to be perfectly amazing.

BarCamp registration is absolutely free. Please, please go register. We're trying to get people to register early so we can get at least a rough estimate of attendees so we can book the space (we've got a couple good choices downtown). And please add your session ideas to the session page. The BarCamp Louisville website is a wiki, if you aren't familiar with wikis or need help registering or adding information I'll be happy to help you, just send me an email.

I'm so excited about this I can't even tell you. I hope you will be too and that you'll participate.

Thus endeth my nerd post for the day.