Chicago Organizer Meetup is On: 01/23 10am-6pm, ITA 200 South Wacker (and Conf Call tonight 8:00pm)

[Deborah Shaddon]

I toured the facilities today for ITA and met their president, Fred
Hoch. It is an awesome facility. I've got the badge to get us in,
I'm submitting these names to get on the security list tonight, you
will need an ID. We also are on the calendar all day next Saturday
for the actual camp. Depaul was very accommodating, but this will
give us more opportunity to be flexible.

Deborah Shaddon
Susan Cothern
Benji Hertel
Joel Vender Weele
Erinn Huttas
Steve Caputo
Raymond Reinhardt (already a member, and will show us the ropes,
although I got a pretty good sense today).
*Let me know your ETA, call me when you are downstairs, I am at:
630-747-3573. Ray is a member that will be joining us.

Logistical Details:
*200 South Wacker, across from Sears tower, 15th Floor, it is Illinois
Technology Association.
*Once there, lets setup an IRC channel for crisiscampCHI to allow
collaboration and communication with each other, as well as any other
parties in Chicago that want to ping us about what is going on but are
not part of this group...this includes anyone here not able to
attend.
*Ray also reached out to some media...we may jump start this process,
attempt to get them there tomorrow ahead of formal press release, but
we should still be pursuing that.
*lets do same conf call time/# tonight, as well as on IRC
crisiscampCHI

Thanks,
Deborah

Contact Info for ITA:
Fred Hoch - President
312-924-1062 office
312-804-2183 mobile
fh...@illinoistech.org

[Darkest Storm]

How flexable is the parking?  

[Deborah Shaddon]

I should have mentioned transportation: Its in the loop, so you would
have to google-maps for parking, but theres a couple within a block (I
suggest more west of the tower for price, by Clinton). More easily
accessible by public transportation, .5 blocks from Union Station, 3
from Oglive, 2 blocks from the El: Brown/Orange/Purple/Pink line,
Quincy stop, west 2 blocks.

On Jan 22, 11:50 am, Darkest Storm <darkstorm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> How flexable is the parking?
>

[Darkest Storm]

Yea, I prolly wont be paying 15 - 25 for parking and then needing to walk blocks to get to a venue, Ill be on Skype and IRC for this gathering

Whilst there may only be 5 - 8 ppl now, the bigger picture may have an interest base of a much broader spectrum that reside themselves outside the city where as it may be easier to get to the location VIA public transportation, that may not always be the best option for everyone.

I have ran and organized technology based user and interest groups for the past decade, so I know the challenge of finding a central point that is both accommodating and easily accessible by all, but I also know that if its not, you risk the chance of isolating yourselves from future potential members

[Susan Cothern]

Fabulous that you toured the site, Deborah, and found it to be one that will be
workable both short and long term for our group.

What time did we agree to begin tomorrow? 9 or 10 am?

I'll be on the call tonight.

S

[Benji Hertel]

Do we really need to be there from 10-6 tomorrow?  I'm all for it...but seems like a long time to commit for a day we're not actually running a camp

[Deborah Shaddon]

10 is what I told him today....I will be early since I am badge
bearer...

On Jan 22, 12:35 pm, "Susan Cothern" <journeychic...@comcast.net>
wrote:

[Benji Hertel]

I agree with Steve here.  We should talk to the parking garage folks and see about getting some parking donated to us for the events.

[Susan Cothern]

Personally, have to agree with Benji.  Think the length of time is overkill for our purposes at tomorrow’s initial planning meeting.  If we are organized re our objectives and on point re our discussions/brainstorming, think we should be able accomplish what we need to within 2-3 hours max.

[erinn huttas]

Perhaps a small amount of free parking will be helpful for people who deem it necessary, but since we are an aid/socially active organization with a global view, I think it is important that we promote the utilization of public transportation rather than our cars.

[Susan Cothern]

Donated, i.e. free parking in the City of Chicago?  Hmmmm….interesting and unfamiliar concept.  I’ll reach out to a couple of people, including some aldermen, and see if there’s any possible way we can make that a reality. 

 

From: crisisca...@googlegroups.com [mailto:crisisca...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Benji Hertel
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 12:56 PM
To: crisiscampchicago
Subject: Re: [CrisisCampChicago] Re: Chicago Organizer Meetup is On: 01/23 10am-6pm, ITA 200 South Wacker (and Conf Call tonight 8:00pm)

 

I agree with Steve here.  We should talk to the parking garage folks and see about getting some parking donated to us for the events.

[Deborah Shaddon]

I understand your position, we'll setup an IRC tomorrow too and work
the phone/skype so folks can participate remotely.

I think the risk is valid, but one we will have to take a tradeoff
here, particularly since remote participation is also an option for
some. This facility is a technology incubator and innovation center
for Illinois-Chicago, with members ranging from IBM, Orbitz, to
entrepreneurs...they have everything for us to use from large and
small break out rooms, copiers/printers, open wifi access,
presentation rooms, even coffee breakroom with a fridge...and they are
letting us use this for free, and for a recurring and extended period
of time, which will provide some consistency, and a base. They also
will help us in our networking efforts to reach into these
organizations, and have committed to doing so, and one of their
members is joining our group and will be our facilitator/concierge,
and help with logistics, another important function. Another benefit
is our proximity to the technology based-universities in the loop, and
the resource potential that they can provide...

I live in the western burbs myself, but have had good success with
helping organize large technology events downtown in the past when I
was a consultant with IBM, the WebSphere and Lotus User groups got the
best attendance when they were held downtown, as well as other
Symposium type events. We had ok attendance when they were in
Oakbrook too, but those offices were not be accessible via public
transportation, and so some were completely isolated. In this
situation, at least there is a choice and an option, and we can make
the choices that work best for us individually, with an option to join
remotely.

On Jan 22, 12:31 pm, Darkest Storm <darkstorm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yea, I prolly wont be paying 15 - 25 for parking and then needing to walk
> blocks to get to a venue, Ill be on Skype and IRC for this gathering
>
> Whilst there may only be 5 - 8 ppl now, the bigger picture may have
> an interest base of a much broader spectrum that reside themselves outside
> the city where as it may be easier to get to the location VIA public
> transportation, that may not always be the best option for everyone.
>
> I have ran and organized technology based user and interest groups for the
> past decade, so I know the challenge of finding a central point that is
> both accommodating and easily accessible by all, but I also know that if its
> not, you risk the chance of isolating yourselves from future potential
> members
>

[Benji Hertel]

The parking garages are not owned by the city of chicago.

There are 2 garages within a short distace of 200 s wacker.InterPark Online

However we really should stress that people use public transpiration and or carpool.

[Deborah Shaddon]

I should have been clearer...we have the facilities from 10-6, they
have a calendar that they maintain and needed to block out the
time...it is most important that we start on time, we don't have to
meet all 8 hours if we don't need to, but the extended time gives us
options if we find we need to...for instance, if we are on the calls
an opportunity actually presents itself right then, maybe we run with
it...I wanted to have the option either way...but if we stick to the
original goals, maybe 3 or 4...

On Jan 22, 12:57 pm, "Susan Cothern" <journeychic...@comcast.net>
wrote:

> Personally, have to agree with Benji.  Think the length of time is overkill for
> our purposes at tomorrow's initial planning meeting.  If we are organized re our
> objectives and on point re our discussions/brainstorming, think we should be
> able accomplish what we need to within 2-3 hours max.
>
> From: crisisca...@googlegroups.com
> [mailto:crisisca...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Benji Hertel
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 12:41 PM
> To: crisiscampchicago
> Subject: Re: [CrisisCampChicago] Re: Chicago Organizer Meetup is On: 01/23
> 10am-6pm, ITA 200 South Wacker (and Conf Call tonight 8:00pm)
>
> Do we really need to be there from 10-6 tomorrow?  I'm all for it...but seems
> like a long time to commit for a day we're not actually running a camp
>

> On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 12:35 PM, Susan Cothern <journeychic...@comcast.net>

[Deborah Shaddon]

Thats a good point, perhaps before we 'finalize' a time for start on
01/30, we'll coordinate with the major metra train arrival times
too...if the main ones don't get in until 9:15, no point starting at
9:00...I'll check it out....

On Jan 22, 1:03 pm, erinn huttas <ehut...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Perhaps a small amount of free parking will be helpful for people who deem
> it necessary, but since we are an aid/socially active organization with a
> global view, I think it is important that we promote the utilization of
> public transportation rather than our cars.
>

> On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 12:56 PM, Benji Hertel <benji.her...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > I agree with Steve here.  We should talk to the parking garage folks and
> > see about getting some parking donated to us for the events.
>

> > On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 12:31 PM, Darkest Storm <darkstorm...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >> Yea, I prolly wont be paying 15 - 25 for parking and then needing to walk
> >> blocks to get to a venue, Ill be on Skype and IRC for this gathering
>
> >> Whilst there may only be 5 - 8 ppl now, the bigger picture may have
> >> an interest base of a much broader spectrum that reside themselves outside
> >> the city where as it may be easier to get to the location VIA public
> >> transportation, that may not always be the best option for everyone.
>
> >> I have ran and organized technology based user and interest groups for the
> >> past decade, so I know the challenge of finding a central point that is
> >> both accommodating and easily accessible by all, but I also know that if its
> >> not, you risk the chance of isolating yourselves from future potential
> >> members
>

[Susan Cothern]

Thanks, Benji.  Good info.  I wasn’t planning on driving b/c didn’t want to pay parking either, but I’m willing to if anyone needs a ride.  I’m in Rogers Park and can head down Sheridan, Broadway or Lakeshore Drive.  If anyone want a life/to carpool, just let me know.