I just registered for this year's Nonprofit Technology Conference, which will be held in New Orleans. It's a city that I've never visited, and one that, ever since Hurricane Katrina, has often been in my thoughts.
Here are some items on my NTC in New Orleans wish list:
An opportunity to see the work of the Gentilly Project first hand. I met the project director, Quintus Jett, about a year ago, and was deeply impressed with his plan for using geographic information systems to speed the work of rebuilding a New Orleans neighborhood that otherwise might have been overlooked.
A highly congenial room mate. Last year, I shared a room with Deborah Strauss, but she says she probably (sob!) won't attend this year. Debby is not only a fun and considerate buddy in the confined space of a hotel room, but has a magical ability to ascertain where all the most interesting conference attendees will be getting together and a very gracious way of inviting her room mate along!
Lots of free-ranging conversations with clients and colleagues. I especially value the opportunity to build new relationships on a face-to-face basis.
A conference hotel layout that fosters a high "bump rate." The ideal is a hotel with only one major entrance, so that one can sit in the lobby and see virtually everyone else coming and going. It would also have plenty of easily identifiable lounges and hospitality suites, so that it's easy to say, "I'll been in the Blue Room between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. - meet me there."
An agenda format that makes it easy for me to see all of the events that are happening during each time slot. As 10:00 a.m. approaches, I need a quick reference that tells me about all of the affinity groups, workshops, and other activities that will be in session. Please don't make me look in three different places to find out what's in session, and then search in a fourth place to determine the locations!
Lots of conference goers using Twitter to find each other and organize impromptu activities.
A strong circuit rider presence. In recent years, many of the circuit riders (also known as eRiders) have stayed away from the Nonprofit Technology Conference. These are some of my oldest buddies in the field of nonprofit technology, and I miss them acutely. In many cases, these are folks who signed on to this work because they were committed to justice and positive social change; if they feel that the NTC as organized by NTEN doesn't put enough emphasis on these values, they won't attend.
An opportunity to do my bit on the Day Of Service. Last year's DOS was pure pleasure!
A highly congenial room mate. Last year, I shared a room with Deborah Strauss, but she says she probably (sob!) won't attend this year. Debby is not only a fun and considerate buddy in the confined space of a hotel room, but has a magical ability to ascertain where all the most interesting conference attendees will be getting together and a very gracious way of inviting her room mate along!
Lots of free-ranging conversations with clients and colleagues. I especially value the opportunity to build new relationships on a face-to-face basis.
A conference hotel layout that fosters a high "bump rate." The ideal is a hotel with only one major entrance, so that one can sit in the lobby and see virtually everyone else coming and going. It would also have plenty of easily identifiable lounges and hospitality suites, so that it's easy to say, "I'll been in the Blue Room between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. - meet me there."
An agenda format that makes it easy for me to see all of the events that are happening during each time slot. As 10:00 a.m. approaches, I need a quick reference that tells me about all of the affinity groups, workshops, and other activities that will be in session. Please don't make me look in three different places to find out what's in session, and then search in a fourth place to determine the locations!
Lots of conference goers using Twitter to find each other and organize impromptu activities.
A strong circuit rider presence. In recent years, many of the circuit riders (also known as eRiders) have stayed away from the Nonprofit Technology Conference. These are some of my oldest buddies in the field of nonprofit technology, and I miss them acutely. In many cases, these are folks who signed on to this work because they were committed to justice and positive social change; if they feel that the NTC as organized by NTEN doesn't put enough emphasis on these values, they won't attend.
An opportunity to do my bit on the Day Of Service. Last year's DOS was pure pleasure!
More academic researchers in the mix. Naturally, I hope that my friend John McNutt will deign to attend, and that we'll have a chance to tour some lighthouses and other maritime landmarks - but beyond that, I'm convinced that serious researchers can inform and be informed by what serious practitioners in nonprofit technology are doing.
So...those are my wishes. Let's see what happens!
