All posts by Jessica Estes

Have you heard of WordCrash?

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WordCrash allows traveling WordPressers to view a list of friendly folks across the globe who are willing to offer free accommodations, and start a conversation with any of them about visiting their town. Save money, see the world, meet people, make friends.

With WordCamp OKC just about six weeks away the timing seemed perfect to encourage our local WordPress fans to consider signing up to be a host. WordCrash.net provides all the info you need to decide if it looks like a good fit for you and has a convenient form to use to sign up if you’re ready to enter the conversation.

WordCrash.net was built by the Ann Arbor, Michigan WordPress meetup group as a fun group project. In less than a year there are already over 20 hosts. Let’s see if we can add some Oklahoma City options to the list!

A bit more from Kyle Maurer, WordCrash co-founder:

I love the WordPress community and have been fortunate to be able to travel to numerous WordPress events in the past few years including WordCamps, meetups and more. The best part about traveling to these new places is getting to meet and spend time with new people and WordCrash is great for facilitating that. I’ve consistently found that when I travel and stay with a local host rather than a hotel, I have an overall better experience. I have someone to share rides with who can show me around. I don’t end up getting lost in the worst part of town (which I have a knack for) or missing out on the city’s noteworthy sites. I create new or strengthen old relationships by spending less time alone in a hotel room. I also save a lot of money!

So if you’re open to conversations with travelers who want to experience Oklahoma City, I encourage you to sign up on WordCrash. It’s a simple site that serves only to facilitate introductions. Anything that happens after is up to the host and the traveler and WordCrash is no longer involved. You are not required or even expected to open your doors to everyone who happens to contact you. You should only do so if you feel comfortable with it.

Call for Volunteers

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Are you excited about WordCamp OKC and want to help make it happen? We need volunteers at the event to make it all work. Whether you like to keep things running smoothly, greet people, help serve food, answer WordPress questions, or something else we have a place for you.

Check out the volunteer roles below and submit the form if you can help. We’ll be in touch soon to work out all the details.

Oh, and be sure to look over the Volunteer Agreement just to be sure you know a bit about what you’re getting into 🙂

Registration
Are you a morning person? Show up an hour early and help the check-in process run fast and friendly, so we can all start on time.

T-shirt handout
Do you want to have a very brief conversation with most of the attendees? Handing out shirts could be the job for you. Just grab the right size and hand it over with a smile while checking a list.

Room Video
Rather watch the presentation on a screen?  No, not on the iPad of the person in front of you. On the viewfinder of the video camera at the back of the room! We shoot video of every talk and send it in. Eventually, it winds up on WordCamp.tv.

Happiness Bar
Do you know the difference between a filter and an action, or an em and a rem? Come help answer questions and help show off the friendliness of the WordPress community. Some say it’s our best feature!

Food/Beverage
Do you appreciate good meal service? You can help serve lunch, keep the snack area ready for snacking, and generally help make sure all the food stuff is good to go.

Green Room Guard
Are you willing to hang out in one place for an hour or two? Having a safe place for speakers and volunteers to leave their stuff while they run around is important. We need people to stay in this room for an hour or two at a time to guard everyone’s stuff.

Emcees
Are you comfortable in front of a crowd and good at keeping track of time? You could be a perfect emcee. You’ll introduce speakers/sessions and keep things running on time. Keep an eye on the clock and give speakers a heads up when they are down to 10 and 5 minutes, and let them know when their time is up. Brevity and wit a must.

Room Runners
Do you like to help keep things on track? If so, this is the job for you. The room runners work with the emcees, video people, speakers, and everyone else working in the room to keep things running smoothly. Make sure there’s water for speakers, and provide support as needed for other event staff.

Airport Pickups
Do you have a car and like driving? Some speakers may be flying into OKC and need to get from the airport to a hotel. While many will rent a car, for some a ride from a friendly community member would be a nice way to begin their WCOKC weekend.

Hotel Shuttle
Are you willing to pick someone up  on the way to WordCamp? Some speakers may need transportation from a hotel to WordCamp. If you have a car and don’t mind picking up someone on the way to WordCamp, this could be perfect for you.

Miscellaneous
Are you a friendly person who just likes to help? If so, this could be a perfect fit for you. We’ll plug you into whatever slot needs someone.

Ready to volunteer?

Submit the form below and we’ll be in touch.

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Thanks to our venue sponsor – Francis Tuttle Technology Center

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One of our first steps for WordCamp OKC (just like any WordCamp) was finding a venue. This was a great opportunity for the OKC WordPress Users Group to work together and explore our city while researching the perfect site to host a WordCamp. Several members of our group have connections to places that could be options and it was interesting (though time-consuming) to consider all the sites brought to the table.

Members of our organizing team visited several sites, which helped us create and refine our wish list as we went. Just as we were feeling like the time to decide was upon us, one more venue became an option. One of our Meetup members is an instructor at Francis Tuttle Technology Center and suggested checking out their location for the WordCamp.

Very early in our visit to the Bruce Gray Center at their Portland Campus the three of us making the site visit knew that this was the place!

Here are some of the things that made it obvious this will be a great venue for our event:

  • great location in town, easily accessible from major roads
  • plenty of free parking right at the site
  • all on ground level
  • a conference room that has plenty of space for our sessions
  • a big hallway for important “Hallway Track” visiting
  • it has a catering kitchen for lunch and snack prep
  • plenty of space for lunch
  • Wi-Fi provided
  • bathrooms and water fountains near the main event
  • room for sponsor tables and swag
  • vending machines available

We are honored to be hosted by Francis Tuttle Technology Center, and deeply appreciate their sponsorship of WordCamp OKC by providing a fantastic facility for our event.