Re: Crisis Camp Chicago - Question from Benji Hertel

[Benji Hertel]

See responses below.

2010/1/21 dshaddon <dsha...@comcast.net>

There are other folks in contact as well that are already shaping up some ideas on projects, as I can't get to twitter from work (and don't have my personal laptop today to connect to public web) I can't follow it, maybe you could subscribe my email to these too so I can see what is coming across?  I'll forward you some other stuff in a bit too so you can see...planning on doing the conference call tonight, we can make a post about that later..

I have full access to anything while at work (it pays to work for the IT dept ;) ) so anything that you need me to do on the sites (facebook, twitter, eventbrite, wiki, etc) let me know.  The twitter account is linked to crisis...@gmail.com.  If you want I can setup a foward to your email, but it might get hairy when we start using the google group for email distribution.  What's the info on the con call.  Again, I have access to some cool web conferencing stuff @ Kellogg, but I need a heads up to get permission to use it.

 

Also, go to the main wiki and update for your twitter:http://wiki.crisiscommons.org/wiki/Main_Page, and also encourage people to register with the ebrite as well, then I can send a common email....Also, what would you recommend as the main place for discussion, google, twitter, etc., then we can start having these discussions in a forum where we can all share and discuss...and the other places, like facebook, we can direct to this central place...the reason for having those other areas is also so people can 'find' us through various channels..getting a consistent approach to how to manage all these information sources will also be key...trying to figure out a way to share admin the admin of these guys.. 

I really like the use of Google Groups.  It allows to discuss online or via email digests (like I did here.)  If you can get me access to admin the Facebook fan page, I can help get these links setup and out there.  I can make you guys (that are currently on the list) admins of the Google Group as well.  The twitter password for crisiscampchi is h3lph@1t1  Feel free to use it for announcements or to link it to facebook (so when we update facebook it tweets automagically)

 

Here is how I see this shaping up from the various fronts: ...this weekend likely we will do a mini-camp, that is more about a core-group that has shown interest, and planning and logistics of the main-camp itself and the coordination with the main groups and project structure, and general ideas...the momentum is building, but not enough at this stage that really will get us all a good cross-mix of participants that we likely need, why the focus on communication (media, social and regular) and recruitment, and a way to organize this and the message, is key...the other thing we discussed for this weekend is trying to attend remotely one of the other camps to observe their structure, execution, etc...some of the projects are already in flight from the DC camp, we can work on that, it will be important to understand how to work within this larger structure as well so that effort is not duplicated, etc...

I've got some friends that are gun ho to help.  Should I have most of them hold off till next week?  I agree we don't need to duplicate effort.  Have you been in touch with the CC guys in DC about what we can do? 

Susan, the other woman that has started reaching out to members of the Hatian community in Rogers Park as well to get some representation and perspective as well...she has a lot of 3rd world experience and understands a lot of the political and social aspects of the approach, considerations for things like records preservation in the long-term, etc...so there are already a lot of good ideas...

That is just awesome.  What's her email address so I can get her on the list? 

DePaul will likely work this weekend and next...trying to get alligned with their (this is a stretch but possible) online college-of-learning center to have this be online, broadcastable, replayable, white-boards shareable and integrated online, etc., so that records of the think-tank can be kept, etc.

Wow, great great stuff.  If I can help with any of that, I help support a lot of the same tech here @ Northwestern/Kellogg 

Let me know any more additional thoughts...

Deborah

This is a great start.  The key is to keep the momentum of the excitement going.  Getting the word out and keeping everyone involved.  Anyway you can use me, abuse me.  I want to help make this a success as I'm sure we all do.

Go TEAM!

Benji

 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Benji Hertel" <benji....@gmail.com>
To: "Deborah Shaddon" <dsha...@comcast.net>
Cc: "crisiscamp" <crisi...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 11:53:36 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Re: Crisis Camp Chicago - Question from Benji Hertel

Deborah,

People are contacting me over twitter due to this tweet from @crisiscamp

Chicago folks please reach out to @benjorno re: creating an @CrisisCamp Chicago #cchaiti

Can I get an update so I can help rally these troops? I'm sitting at my desk hoping to help, but I want to include all the work you have done. I also have a team of developers sitting about 40 ft from my desk I could get involved.

Let's get this wave going before we lose momentum. 

Thanks

Benji

On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 8:32 AM, Deborah Shaddon <dsha...@comcast.net> wrote:

Great!! question about the facebook, we already have a page setup, just want to make sure for no duplication since it could get confusing...we've also got a free conference bridge service setup already that we can use on-demand, and move to web-ex type...I'll send you the number later, I won't be online for a couple hours...we are also working on a press release so that the local media can help to get word out and also report on activities of the group itself.

Its pretty probable the space at DePaul will work out for maybe the next couple weekends, its at the downtown campus which is also (somewhat) centrally located, the dean and I have been in contact already last night and he is contacting folks for this morning about the logistics, the wifi, white boards, etc, to be part of this so I'd like to continue that path since I've already reached out to him, this should be confirmed up this morning.  This will likely be a longer term venture and we will need additional venue options.  And the universities are also great places to recruit individuals as well, a mix of corporate and academic would be a great mix.

Thanks,
Deborah

On Jan 21, 2010, at 8:13 AM, Benji Hertel wrote:

> Deborah,
> I already have the twitter and facebook accounts created.  If you need the user/passwords just let me know.  I work for Kellogg School of Management at NU and can talk to a lot of folks today about a space, warm bodies etc.  I can get a conference bridge setup as well for tonight.  I'll send you the number once I get one from work.
>
>>> http://twitter.com/CrisisCampCHI
>>> crisis...@gmail.com
>>> http://www.facebook.com/pages/CrisisCamp-Chicago/260308558835 (will be live tomorrow)
>
> On Jan 21, 2010, at 7:30 AM, Deborah Shaddon wrote:
>
>> Benji,
>>
>> Thanks for the info, Susan and myselff just started organizing in the past day ourselves, we think this weekend we might want to gather a forum of folks together, plan an actual Camp next week once we can recruit enough able bodies.  We're going to try to conference call around 9:00 tonight.  We started to get the ball rolling here to start to attract folks like yourselves.  We are still feeling the ropes ourselves.
>>
>> So far I've setup the eventbrite and updated crisis commons wiki with the info...I believe that DePaul University might help us with some organization/venue for this weekend and next, I expect some additional info on that today, I've been in contact with the Dean of the Computer Science department, hopefully that will also mean some volunteers.  Another option is to try to attend remotely one of the other crisis camps this weekend to understand how they operate, etc.
>>
>> I encourage you and your friend to both register at eventbrite, I see that you are, so we can track the emails.  Also, we have a crisis camp chicago facebook group as well, will get twitter going today.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Deborah
>>
>> On Jan 21, 2010, at 1:11 AM, Benji Hertel wrote:
>>
>>> Benji Hertel <benji....@gmail.com> has a question for you about your event.
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I am contacting you to inquire about the possibility of organizing a CrisisCamp event in Chicago.
>>> I submitted a form on your website, and also wanted to try a more direct means of contact, as
>>> another interested party and myself would be interested in getting this going right away if
>>> given the opportunity.
>>>
>>> I have been discussing the idea of organizing this event with a fellow Chicagoan; I am a web and
>>> graphic designer and Benji is a back end server technician with Northwestern University.
>>>
>>> Upon reading your Crisis Camp Organization Guidelines on your website, we feel that we are
>>> well qualified to organize such an event.  Benji's connection with the University provides him
>>> with access to a large atrium/event space which could be reserved for free and also is equipped
>>> with wireless internet access.
>>>
>>> I have experience organizing events, as I was on the board for an event to raise funds for
>>> Architecture for Humanity, which raised $15,000 for New Orleans shortly after Katrina and
>>> had 500 attendees.  Additionally, I have experience using event planning websites similar
>>> to Eventbrite to organize such events.
>>>
>>> Please feel free to contact us with any further questions, and if we are given the opportunity
>>> we would be very excited to jump on organizing this event immediately.
>>>
>>> Thank you for your time.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Erinn Huttas and Benji Hertel
>>>
>>> We sent this email to crisi...@gmail.com before I noticed the eventbrite page.
>>>
>>> I have created the following to help get the word out.
>>> http://twitter.com/CrisisCampCHI
>>> crisis...@gmail.com
>>> http://www.facebook.com/pages/CrisisCamp-Chicago/260308558835 (will be live tomorrow)
>>>
>>> Let me know how else I can help.
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
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>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>
>