There’s less than a week to go until LocalGov Digital put on LocalGovCamp and its Fringe events. I thought I’d write a quick post about what the run up has been like and what I’m hoping for from this year’s unconference, hack and summit.
So, the organisation. I’ve been leading on pulling the two-day Birmingham event together on behalf of the group. It’s been pretty hard to fit this in and do it well on top of the day job, rebuilding the LocalGov Digital website and keeping bits going, family and Louder Than War. It’s been really great that other people have helped out – most of all Nick Hill (of PSCSF) who not only stepped in to simplify the practical side but shared and supported with his wealth of event organisation experience.
The other sponsors and partners have been ace too – Phil Rumens partnered with Nesta to organise Friday’s hack event and Sarah Jennings (CapacityGrid) has been working with Jon Foster (FutureGov) on the Friday Leaders’ Summit, including a great line up of speakers.
Like all things LocalGov Digital there is individual effort but the power lies in the collaborative effort and I’ve been thankful to have a great network of people helping me pull the event into shape.
It’s been great to expand the event to two days and try to include aspects in the fringe that reflect the work we’ve done with LocalGov Digital over the last 18 months – practical collaboration to real local government problems with the hack day and helping leaders (both officer and councillor) more confident with the possibilities of digital and service design.
While the Saturday unconference set up is unchanged it’s been nice to be able to add a little touch here and there – I’m really interested to see whether the ‘think different, do different’ area (space in the venue full of creative and crafty tools for simple prototyping or to aid discussion) is used or adds anything positive.
As a seasoned camper has turning organiser changed the way I’m feeling about the event? Both yes and no.
Being the organiser means I feel in many ways I’m forgoing attending camp as a practitioner this time round. I’m prepared to be too busy / too exhausted to join in as much as I usually would as an attendee. As camp is about more than any one person I know this won’t matter much to how vital the day is or the ideas and collaboration that come from it but it has given me pause for thought on value to me personally as well as the council I work for.
However, seeing people start pitching ideas online this weekend has awoken the excitment, and my head and heart are full of the possibilities for the sessions, conversations and activity of next weekend. I’m really glad that I still feel that way about camp.
It’s been a great honour, and a great experience, to be the guardian of this year’s LocalGovCamp 2014 and I, along with the rest of LocalGov Digital, are looking forward to camping with you next weekend.
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If you haven’t grabbed a ticket yet details of the day and a link to the last few tickets is on the LocalGov Digital website here.
Follow @localgovcamp and #localgovcamp to see and join the discussion. Don’t forget to follow @localgovdigital too.
The amount I’ve been able to write about music has dropped recently but hopefully I’ll get caught up on the great things I’ve heard over the summer. Check out Louder Than War for my words about music.
Just wanted to say thanks for all of the hard work you and the team are putting into organising all this! I don’t think there’s a person attending who doesn’t appreciate the amount of effort that goes into making this happen at all, let alone making it the success I know it’ll be.
I hope you do get at least a little time to absorb some camping goodness, there will be lots of people willing to put their hands up to help and I’m sure more than one or two who will buy you a beer to say thanks at the end of the day!
Thanks Glen – as with all things there are highs and lows in the organising but the strong feeling of community around LocalGovCamp prevails and I’m certainly looking forward to being there. Hopefully the day pans out that I can get to some of the sessions and be part of that camp goodness. A great mix of people this year – lots of councillors, lots of first timers and lots of seasoned campers too. Should make for plenty of energy and good sessions as well as (hopefully) practical stuff that people can take back to the ranch!
But the most interesting part of your comment is the bit that reads as if the first round is on you 😉
Gutted that no one from here can make it, but we’re really looking forward to seeing what come from the makers hack day and the event – looking forward to learning lots despite missing out!
Hope it all goes great,
Dyfrig
Thanks Dyfrig!
A real shame that no-one can make it but yes, hopefully lots of great stuff will come from the hack that can be shared by the sector and lots of great ideas out of the unconference on Saturday! Keep an eye on @lgmakers, @localgovcamp, @localgovcamp and #localgovcamp.
Sarah