Image by Flickr user iMorpheus
Update October 28:
Update October 27:
The Charleston City Paper has put up a nice write-up about BarCamp Charleston that's well worth a read particularly if you don't know what a BarCamp is; read it over here.
Many excellent photos were taken during the day and you can check them out on Flickr. Live 5 News has also put up a short video.
I know a lot of you out there are sick of seeing stuff about this one, so I promise it's the last update.
Update October 24:
Today's the big, exciting day (October 24) and the group has one last round of tips for you.
Don't forget the event is at the Lowcountry Innovation Center at 1535 Hobby Street in North Charleston.
First reporting:
Whether you want to help enlighten the community, or just get a little enlightenment for yourself, be excited that BarCamp is coming to Charleston.
What is BarCamp? An open, un-conference where folks come to participate and learn about whatever folks are willing to talk about. The events tend to center on technological subjects, but discussions be about whatever. Heck, we hear that Ted's Butcherblock is going to present on bacon.
Think of it this way, it's a great chance to come learn from and connect with others from your community about things you're interested in.
The event will be Saturday, October 24, and is free. You can offer to present on whatever or even suggest a topic.
As we get closer to the event we'll update with details on the prominent topics.
Until then, check out the presentation topics and learn more about the event.
Also, for you link-phobic types, here's a press release:
VOLUNTEERS STAGING LOWCOUNTRY'S FIRST "BARCAMP" ON SATURDAY, OCT. 24
Free creativity/technology event in North Charleston encourages participants to share knowledge
NORTH CHARLESTON -- Organizers of BarCamp Charleston (a.k.a. BarCampCHS) have secured a modern, tech-friendly venue for the first-of-its-kind event in the Lowcountry.
"BarCamps have become wildly popular events in cities around the world over the past four years, but one common complaint is that the venues often aren't ideal," said event co-organizer Calvin Webster. "Getting the Lowcountry Innovation Center for our first event is a tremendous stroke of good fortune. We really couldn't have asked for a better event host."
The 40,000-square-foot Lowcountry Innovation Center (http://www.lowcountryinnovationcenter.com/), located at 1535 Hobby St., North Charleston, SC 29405-1939, was created to provide the digital infrastructure and business incubator office space required by the region's expanding "knowledge-based industries" sector. Although BarCampCHS isn't limited to technology topics, BarCamp's heritage of technology education makes it well-suited to the LIC's facilities.
The LIC will host BarCampCHS from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. Registration for the event is free and open to anyone, but will be capped to the first 200 who sign up at http://www.barcampchs.org.
"We're excited about the way this is coming together," said event co-organizer Chrys Rynearson. "Any time you introduce a new event in a community, it's always a question what kind of response you'll get.
BarCampCHS is still more than a month away and we've already registered 80 participants, secured a great venue sponsor and signed our first platinum sponsor (Collecta, http://www.collecta.com, a real-time search engine). We'll be contacting more companies about sponsorships in the next few weeks, but I think people are going to be really impressed when they see just how active this sector of our economy has become."
ABOUT BARCAMP
The BarCamp movement (http://www.barcamp.org) began in 2005 in response to an annual invitation-only technology conference called FooCamp. The name BarCamp refers to FooCamp as a play on the hacker term "fubar." BarCamps follow a format also known as an "un-conference," in which participants pick the topics and lead the sessions at the day-long events. Though often associated with its tech-industry roots, after hundreds of affiliated BarCamps around the world, the focus has broadened to whatever topics interest participants.
The convening of an area's first BarCamp is often considered a milestone event in the development of a community-based tech/creative economic sector.
ABOUT BARCAMPCHS
BarCamp Charleston is an all-volunteer group of people who are working together to produce the Lowcountry's first un-conference. Principal organizers have been active in multiple local creative and tech-based groups and are available for interviews. Because this camp is being developed for the Lowcountry, organizers are alert to touches that could reflect local tastes and deliver local flavor.
"The Lowcountry loves good food, so I suppose it really shouldn't be a surprise that the most popular session topic in the early voting has been a butcher talking about bacon," said Webster. "So, yes, there's still a strong technology component. We want to help people acquire the skills to do the things they want to do. But we also want to put on an event that anyone could enjoy."MEDIA COVERAGE
Members of the press are welcome to cover BarCamp live on Oct. 24. Television crews and digital reporters who wish to stream live from the event may do so without restriction, but should contact Keith West (keithfwest@comcast.net, 843-556-4905 ) to coordinate technical requirements. Media members will not be required to register to attend, but we can only feed and provide T-shirts to registered participants.
ONLINE
Please visit http://www.barcampchs.org
