Volunteers
From TexasLinuxFest
We need your help to make the Texas Linux Fest a success. Volunteering is a great way to show your support for free software while helping to put on a great event (and get a free ticket!).
Currently, we need volunteers to take up ownership of the following tasks:
[edit] Wifi & Internet
Lead: Nathaniel Smith, Canitan LLC
This is a huge one. Our venue will not be equipped to handle 300 geeks all trying to tweet and download open source software. We need someone to figure out a strategy to handle this load. Ideally this person would find a local Austin wireless business willing to donate time and expertise and loan equipment to make sure that everyone stays connected. Some companies to possibly contact:
- Clear - http://www.clear.com/
- Less Networks - http://lessnetworks.com/ - these guys are based in Austin and set up free hotspots at various restaurants and cafes.
At the very least, we should have a media table set up with 8-10 wired connections when the venue's wireless goes down.
[edit] Computers
Lead: ???
We will need one laptop to drive the presentations in each session room. It should at least be able to display PDFs and OpenOffice.org presentations. If a speaker requests additional functionality, we will address that on a case-by-case basis.
We will also need several computers to help register attendees -- including any walk-ins.
[edit] Audio & Video
Lead: Tom King
Identify and get bids from various audio/video crews that can come in and set up speakers, mics, and projectors. You'll need to own this from start to finish - making sure that the company shows up on time, properly sets up and tests the equipment, and tears it down at the end of the day. This is ridiculously important.
Specifically, we will need 2 or 3 projectors, 2 or 3 podium microphones, and possibly an extra microphone or two. Zenoss has generously offered the use of one projector, however, if we contract AV out to a local company, it may not cost us a significant enough amount to justify putting Zenoss's property in harm's way.
[edit] Video / Recording
Lead: Tom King?
We would like to record all sessions; at the very least audio if not video. If you would be willing to help (and especially if you have experience), it'd be good to get involved now so that we can work with the AV contractor for a clean audio feed.
Another interesting possibility that requires some expertise is streaming the talks live; icecast can do this, but again it is much easier if you have experience working with a streaming video solution.
[edit] Printing
Lead: Various
We'll definitely need at least one large banner to hang at the entrance to the venue (???). In addition, we'll need:
- Signs naming the various rooms and signs directing people to various rooms (???)
- A poster advertising our sponsors (???)
- Schedules posted (???)
- Name badges for attendees (???), hardware for printing (???), software for printing (???)
- speaker feedback forms (???)
- The program, containing the schedule, speaker bios, and listing sponsors. (???)
The program and any large materials will need to be professionally contracted out. Door-signs and badges we can print at a walk-in print shop without arranging for lead time or soliciting quotes.
[edit] Shirts and Bags
Lead: Nate Willis
We are offering a t-shirt and conference bag with the "supporter (i.e., full-price) ticket. We have lead time, so a local vendor is not strictly required if an outside printer can get us a better deal, but we need to get quotes. The prevailing trend against wastefulness suggests we look for a reusable conference bag, rather than the all-plastic kind.
[edit] Marketing
Lead: Various
We need people to contact various local organizations and inquire about advertising, including whether or not we can get free placement as a community event:
- local radio
- KUT
- KVRX
- community bulletin boards
- newspaper calendars
- Austin Chronicle
- Statesman
- Daily Texan
- college computer clubs, LUGs, Rotary, chamber of commerce, etc.
- Houston
- Houston LUG (done, podcast)
- Ubuntu Houston Team (done, Daniel Roesler)
- Technology Bytes radio (done, Daniel Roesler)
- Rice (done, Daniel Roesler)
- Unv. of Houston (done, Daniel Roesler)
- AIU-Houston (done, Daniel Roesler)
- TxRxLabs (done, Daniel Roesler)
[edit] People Power!
Lead: Banio Carpenter
On the weekend of the event, we will need volunteers to help with:
- preparing the location (signs, stuffing swag bags, setting up AV and networking)
- staffing the registration desk, putting name cards into badges, and handing out shirts and bags
- working as room monitors, to intro speakers, hand out feedback forms, and troubleshoot AV problems
- teardown after the event
- much more fun!
Please sign up at the Day of the Show Volunteers page and we'll get back to you as we get closer to the event!
