Hacker Lounge -- HELP WANTED!

[Igal Koshevoy]

Thank you for participating in yesterday's town hall meeting. We had a good discussion about how to operate the Hacker Lounge.

I made a page on the planning wiki describing how we'd like this to work and tasks that volunteers can easily help us with:

    http://opensourcebridge.org/planning/teams/logistics/hacker_lounge

I've pasted the text of this new page at the bottom of this email for archival purposes.

Operating the Hacker Lounge will be a Logistics function, so please join and discuss this on the Logistics mailing list:

    http://groups.google.com/group/osbridgepdx-logistics

I'm CC'ing the Technology mailing list because most of those involved in the discussion were members of that group, but PLEASE use the Logistics mailing list to discuss this.

DISCLAIMER: Kelly Guimont is the Logistics lead, not me, so please follow her instructions. I merely lead discussion on this topic at the town hall meeting and wanted to be bold and provide this wiki page's content as a starting point for organizing this important effort.

-igal

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Hacker Lounge

The Hacker Lounge is a space open 24-hours that attendees can hang out, hack, have code sprints, etc. The Lounge will be at the old Alexander restaurant in the Hilton. This page is for describing tasks and leads for managing this space. As Open Source Bridge organizers, we should provide just enough structure so that community leads can self-organize sessions and help attendees participate easily.

Volunteers: If you'd like to help, (1) replace the “HELP WANTED” text with your name for the task you want to coordinate, and (2) announce your interest on the logistics mailing list.

• Layout: It's a large, wide open space that can be configured as needed. Igal thinks thinks capacity is ~120 if using large, round tables based on an earlier event with ~80 people that didn't use the far wing and had a large podium area. HELP WANTED: Work with person coordinating furnishings to determine actual capacity.
• Furnishings: Attendees should be able to sit at couches, chairs and tables. The tables should be set at comfortable typing height and seat ~6-8 people. Kelly will talk with the Hilton about what they can specifically do and how much it will cost. HELP WANTED: Work with Hilton to research options/costs, coordinate setup.
• Provisions: Attendees should be able to get food and drink.The Hilton's room service menu is quite expensive, we'd like to find more affordable alternatives. HELP WANTED: Work with Hilton to find out what the rules for bringing provisions in are, coordinate with vendors to provide it.
• Table identification: Attendees should be able to see signs on tables identifying what people there are working on so they can more easily join in. HELP WANTED: Recommend and procure cheap, simple way for labeling tables, e.g., A-cards, dry erase boards, card stands, etc.
• Projectors and screens: Attendees should have access to 1-4 projectors and screens. HELP WANTED: Work to find donations or rent projectors and screens, work with person coordinating the space layout to effectively place the equipment.
• Session listing and details: Attendees should be able to see a list of sessions and times they're held, register new ones, and see subpages describing the projects, instructions for setting up a development environment, tasks, etc. HELP WANTED: Write instructions on the attendee wiki describing the Hacker Lounge, how to participate in sessions, how to add new sessions and detail subpages, provide an example session that can be used as a template, etc.
• Outreach to pre-seed hacking sessions: Open Source Bridge should contact larger communities represented in the accepted presentation sessions, and work with them to setup hack sessions so that the listing will have some content early on to attract interest, and make it easier for other communities to add themselves in without help. HELP WANTED: Work with communities to get them to agree to sprints and assist them with providing information on the site. Work with Marketing to publicize big sprints.
• Directions to space: Attendees should be easily able to find the Hacker Lounge. HELP WANTED: Be an advocate to make sure instructions for finding Lounge are prominent and publicized, maybe get these printed on back of attendee badges.
• Staffing: HELP WANTED: Supervise activities in the Hacker Lounge, assist incoming people, help with projects, make sure projectors doesn't walk away, etc.