GR8 in the US workshops

[Bill Turner]

Hi All,

1) At the conference we are planning to have some 3-4 hour workshops
in addition to the more traditional one hour presentations and panel
discussions (we are also planning on other forums). We think this will
set our conference apart from most, and make it more compelling. We
are actively encouraging our local members to develop workshops. We
are skeptical that the national presenters will make such proposals.
These workshops will mean that attendees will be developing along
with you (I am using developing in the broadest sense, here). We do
foresee that workshops could mean two people are presenting. Workshops
could be just about anything, it just has to be targeted to hands on
participation of the audience. Perhaps things like "Beginning Groovy",
"Groovy Scripting", "Testing Java with Groovy", "Beginning Grails",
"Creating and Deploying to the GAE", "Using Stand-alone GORM in Your
Java Apps", or any other thing that might make sense. If all goes
well, we will begin accepting proposals Monday evening (effectively,
Tuesday). Brainstorm, and maybe talk with someone else, and come up
with workshop proposals!

2) In addition, we will need volunteers willing to sit in on workshops
that will help the audience members with any troubles they may be
having. We are thinking two volunteers per workshop. You would not be
considered part of the presentation team, though, for your volunteer
efforts, will be given a free pass to the conference. Please let
either Shaun or I know if you are willing to volunteer in this
capacity.

Thanks,

Bill