EduGeek Conf 2010- 2nd June, Chorley

[beeswax]

P.S. For those new members here I forgot to add that the conf is free to attend as we pick up all the bills. All you have to do is get yourself here, but please note that it costs us around £35 per head, so there is no dropping out at the last minute unless you want a bill!

 

As quoted from DB himself. As the man says, Edugeek picks up the hotel tab (forget the mini-bar), but there have been some cases where people say they're coming, Edugeek book a room for them, then they don't turn up. IIRC there was a case a couple of years ago where ten people who said they were coming didn't turn up, which cost Edugeek £350.00. That money could have been put to better use.

[GrumbleDook]

The earlier conferences tended to be held in locations where there was minimal (or no) charge for the venue, and where sponsorship could be got for the food, etc. Corby and London went ahead due to some fast talking with sponsors. To be honest, the Corby one wasn't meant to be a conference ... it was meant to be a get together of geeks to just have a general chat and share ... the same way the stand at the BETT show was just meant to be a meeting place ...

 

The Bristol conference did not go ahead as we could not get commitment from schools for a venue and there was a minimal budget (£0 to be honest) and there was a certain resistance at the time from the local councils due to the BSF stuff going on.

[GrumbleDook]

As quoted from DB himself. As the man says, Edugeek picks up the hotel tab (forget the mini-bar), but there have been some cases where people say they're coming, Edugeek book a room for them, then they don't turn up. IIRC there was a case a couple of years ago where ten people who said they were coming didn't turn up, which cost Edugeek £350.00. That money could have been put to better use.

 

EG made a contribution to the hotel bill for people (not the whole lot), laid on a coach for travel from hotel to the conference centre and then provided food at the conference centre ... it only works out cost effective if people turn up.

[SimpleSi]

1. Chorley is not "up north" - its doon sooth - howayyerbuggarmarrah

 

2. I think its a good sign when people complain about having to go somewhere else apart from Earl's Court/ the NEC

 

3. Obviously as the closest person to the Chorley conf centre - maybe I shouldn't get a vote

 

Si

[john]

1. Chorley is not "up north" - its doon sooth - howayyerbuggarmarrah

 

2. I think its a good sign when people complain about having to go somewhere else apart from Earl's Court/ the NEC

 

3. Obviously as the closest person to the Chorley conf centre - maybe I shouldn't get a vote

 

Si

 

Didn't know you were that close Si! I can't complain its only about 50 minutes away from me Nice trip to Lancaster for the Motorway and blast down it or across the Clitheroe and down that way The joy of living on the Yorks / Lancs border

 

As for hotel, I suspect it will be get in there and get booking yourself, they did one year try to get a group discount sorted but that was a couple of years ago now, we usually run a coach from the Hotel to the Conference Centre and back each day though so don't worry about how do I get from Preston to Chorley and back etc... The Train Station in Preston isn't that far away from the Hotel so taxi's are cheap and people on here were good at sharing last year and sorting themselves out

[Ric_]

Unfortunately we cannot afford to pay for accomodation but the Ibis is pretty cheap. We did manage to provide a subsidary one year but that was with the kind sponsorship from RM.

 

We will provide travel to/from the conference from the Ibis, hot/cold refreshments all day and there will be a buffet lunch. We will also see about subsidising food in the evening... hopefully with the help of a kind sponsor

[Soulfish]

Cheers Ric - wanted to double check there wasn't a block booking at the hotel or similar before I went ahead and booked my room .

[Ric_]

Cheers Ric - wanted to double check there wasn't a block booking at the hotel or similar before I went ahead and booked my room .

 

Of course you could just move close

 

Nearer the time, we will also set up a thread to ask if people are car/taxi sharing. There also tends to be people travelling from around the Preston area for the evening stuff (for instance I live on the way to Kirkham) so there will be scope to share taxis and keep costs down.

[Soulfish]

But I actually like the south!

[SimpleSi]

JFI - there are 2 train lines a couple of miles either side of the conf centre.

 

1. Chorley which is on the Preston-Manchester line

 

2. Euxton Balshaw Lane which is on Preston-Wigan (Main West Coast Line)

 

So if people are arriving in the morning and going direct to conf (and then onto hotel afterwards or back home if just staying for the day) I'm more than willing to come and pick you up from either station and run you to the conf centre and back to either station afterwards.

 

If you need this facility, PM me for my mobile/home number.

 

regards

 

Simon

[john]

Thanks for your excellent generosity to our members as ever Si

[Dos_Box]

Just to address a few comments:

 

1. You pay for your own hotel room and food outside of the conf. If you are lucky a sponsor will pay for your evenign meal and a few beers. We pay for the conf, conf food and the coach to get you to and from the gig.

 

2. It is in Chorley for several good reasons.

 

a. It is close to me, in fact I used to work on the same site.

b. It is easy to find and get to by road and rail.

c. It is almost geographically in the center of the UK.

d. rying to organise a conf in other areas is very difficult due to the technical nature of ours. I would have to visit any other venue several times to ensure all criteria are met. This would be a waste of time and resources, and guarenteed something would go awry at the last min.

e. The hotel is a lot cheaper than those located in the SE or around major cities.

f. It is 2 hours by Pendalino from London and you can get off peak tickets dirt cheap. Saying it is 'too far' is no excuse. After all, Shaun comes from Aberdeen each time!!

 

Unless you have actually organised a conf you cannot imagine the levels of planning we have to go to and the logistics involved, the ones we host now are light years away from the early Corby ones, and we don't abandon you in a godless hotel one the wrong side of the A14. I'm looking at you Sheppard!

[beeswax]

Unfortunately we cannot afford to pay for accomodation but the Ibis is pretty cheap. We did manage to provide a subsidary one year but that was with the kind sponsorship from RM.

 

We will provide travel to/from the conference from the Ibis, hot/cold refreshments all day and there will be a buffet lunch. We will also see about subsidising food in the evening... hopefully with the help of a kind sponsor

 

I must apologize for my mistake in believing that rooms were still paid for. If I've caused any confusion may the ground open up and swa

[GrumbleDook]

Unless you have actually organised a conf you cannot imagine the levels of planning we have to go to and the logistics involved, the ones we host now are light years away from the early Corby ones, and we don't abandon you in a godless hotel one the wrong side of the A14. I'm looking at you Sheppard!

 

[coughcough bloody budget of £0 and I did take you for a fantastic Thai meal coughcough]

 

And for you information the hotel was not godless ... it is not my fault the the ichor god, Bel-Shamharoth, is not your preferred choice of deity to bless a hotel!

[Ric_]

[coughcough bloody budget of £0 and I did take you for a fantastic Thai meal coughcough]

 

And for you information the hotel was not godless ...

 

The conferences were good. You can't say that the hotel wasn't a major fail though! No footpath and twice the taxi journey to anywhere than back!

[GrumbleDook]

The conferences were good. You can't say that the hotel wasn't a major fail though! No footpath and twice the taxi journey to anywhere than back!

 

I did the flippin' driving ... it was the cheapest one I could get without it being closer to a prison cell.

[Ric_]

I did the flippin' driving ... it was the cheapest one I could get without it being closer to a prison cell.

 

I forgot to mention the lack of bar!

 

Sounding more like a prison cell?

 

I did admit that the conference was cracking though... I believe that was the one with the first look of the eeeeePC

[GrumbleDook]

I forgot to mention the lack of bar!

 

Sounding more like a prison cell?

 

I did admit that the conference was cracking though... I believe that was the one with the first look of the eeeeePC

 

It was indeed ... and we managed to get it onto a Cisco wireless network and remotely connect in to the school's Sun Global Desktop to access the school's TS setup. All done with the 'we can do it!' attitude.

[john]

[coughcough bloody budget of £0 and I did take you for a fantastic Thai meal coughcough]

I take it this was Pre James / Edu-Tech

[Ric_]

@GrumbleDook: I forgot about the 'can do attitude' section of the conference... a room full of techs first trying to break an eeePC and then making it connect to a wireless network and log onto SGD.

 

@john: It was indeed pre EduTech... a beautiful Thai meal that was well chosen by Tony and in fairness the hotel was well within budget and well located for the actual event.

[FN-GM]

Sorry i can't come i simily need the money.

 

Cheers

[SimpleSi]

@john

I don't know about that - have you seen my driving? - it equates pretty well to my IT skills

Si

[john]

@john

I don't know about that - have you seen my driving? - it equates pretty well to my IT skills

Si

 

Oh no I haven't, should I ensure I park well away from your car in the Car Park then at Chorley to give you plenty of room to dodgem out style hehe

[Gatt]

Speaking of driving - got 3 seats in my car (excluding the drivers seat) if anyone round my way needs a lift...

[tom_newton]

Looks like we have secured a SmoothPresence again this year - quite who/what I don't know yet Hopefully I will make it this time.

 

Perhaps we could help organise a conf in Southampton - even at the new office there's not room for 50 (well, not in one room) but perhaps I could get Dan to scope somewhere out? Can't promis owt, but if you have interest and need a hand, shout - you know I always do what I can!