From Teaching Open Source
[edit] First planning conversation
Placed here as an example of what a POSSE planning convo looks like - all 45 minutes and 144 lines of it.
21:43 < kwurst> So, what was the result of the conference with Greg and Ralph.
Is Trinity going to become a full POSSE? Or do we want to have
one in Worcester?
21:43 <@mchua> kwurst: Trinity is not going to be a full POSSE.
21:44 < kwurst> OK, so you want to do one in Worcester?
21:44 <@mchua> Sorry about not sending that to the list earlier - we were going
to figure out how to talk about what it /is/ going to become,
but I should have just told you right away.
21:44 <@mchua> Yes, I'd love to do one in Worcester.
21:45 < kwurst> OK, let me put up the list of dates I had sent earlier so we
can talk about that - if you think that's the first order of
business.
21:45 <@mchua> kwurst: Yep, that sounds like the first order of business. I'll
pull up your email, too.
21:46 <@mchua> kwurst: I've got 24-28 may, then 1-5, 7-11, and 21-25 June.
21:47 <@mchua> kwurst: I have a preference for 1-5 june or 7-11 june - did you
have any in particular you liked more than others?
21:50 < kwurst> mchua: I think the 7-11 June date looks best. 1-5 June has the
Memorial Day/ need to go to Saturday problem.
21:51 <@mchua> kwurst: Ok - gimme a moment to doublesanitycheck that date to
make sure that works, but I think we've got ourselves a date.
21:51 <@mchua> kwurst: Location: your place, I presume. :)
21:51 <@mchua> kwurst: What sort of permission (if any) do we need to make that
happen?
21:51 < kwurst> mchua: I just need to make a room reservation.
21:52 <@mchua> The way this usually works: the host location provides space,
chairs, wifi (need open ports for IRC and SSH as well as normal
port 80 for getting online).
21:52 <@mchua> If we get the +1 budget sponsorship from Red Hat, that covers
instructor expenses, the big community dinner on Thursday, swag
for everyone, and some random snacks (mostly on Sunday night).
21:53 <@mchua> And attendees bring their own computers and figure out their own
transport/lodging/food.,
21:53 < kwurst> mchua: if we have less than 24, we can use one of our
classrooms. It is stepped seating, three rows, 4 on each side
of the aisle, projector in front.
21:53 < kwurst> mchua: I've already asked about wifi and IT says I just need to
tell them how many guest accounts at least one week in advance.
21:54 <@mchua> kwurst: Perfect.
21:55 < kwurst> mchua: I've already solved the IRC problem because I couldn't
get on - they were blocking the port. I know that SSH to the
outside works too. (Although I should make sure that this all
works on guest wifi accounts as well.)
21:55 <@mchua> kwurst: We'll use the TOS infrastructure for the class mailing
list, IRC channel, etc. so no worries there.
21:56 <@mchua> kwurst: How do you want to handle publicity - how do you want to
describe this? Co-sponsored by your dept, or... ?
21:56 * mchua will check and see if we can get RH funding.
21:56 < kwurst> mchua: Co-sponsored by the Computer Science Dept is fine.
21:57 < kwurst> mchua: how is lunch usually handled? Do people go out?
21:58 < kwurst> mchua: I'll see if I can get some funding for mid-morning and
mid afternoon break snacks, but it may be hard - state
institution, budget cruch, etc.
22:00 < kwurst> mchua: How long do we hold registration open - in other words,
when will I know numbers of attendees. That will be important
if I want to ask for some funding.
22:00 <@mchua> kwurst: Yeah, people usually self-organize for lunch, or
sometimes we all chip in $5 and someone makes a Quiznos run, etc.
22:01 <@mchua> kwurst: We open registration at the start of March when we make
the Big POSSE Announcement, and hold it open until - I was
thinking April 20 at the latest.
22:01 < kwurst> mchua: RE lunch: OK, the reason I ask is that there's not too
much w/in walking distance.
22:01 <@mchua> However, it /is/ rolling admissions (and you and I would be the
ones picking attendees) so if they fill up sooner than that, we
can cap it when you're ready.
22:01 <@mchua> kwurst: Gotcha.
22:02 < kwurst> mchua: Do we make housing suggestions? Should I be trying to
get a hotel room block?
22:03 <@mchua> kwurst: It depends on how many non-local attendees you think
we're going to get.
22:03 < kwurst> mchua: Even better question - is this written down already, so
I don't have to ask you all this?
22:04 <@mchua> kwurst: There is the beginning of a horrible stub of a wiki page
that is outdated,
http://teachingopensource.org/index.php/HOWTO_plan_a_POSSE, but
it's mostly useful for "ah! the horror! better documentation
needed!" at this point. ;)
22:04 <@mchua> kwurst: This conversation is extremely useful because I'll be
taking the logs and turning them into the next version (much
slimmer) of how to plan a POSSE.
22:04 < kwurst> mchua: So, first step, I guess is for me to make the room
reservation. I can do that tomorrow morning.
22:05 <@mchua> kwurst: So, yes - housing/transport suggestions are good - we
can add those to the wiki page for the POSSE just about anytime.
22:05 <@mchua> kwurst: Also, June 7-11 is great, just checked.
22:06 < kwurst> mchua: Should I wait for the Big POSSE Announcement before
contacting locals?
22:07 < kwurst> mchua: re dates: Great! I just took the question mark off the
entry on my calendar!
22:07 <@mchua> kwurst: Telling people about it in advance is *awesome.* Just
note that registration won't open 'till the Big Announcement
(but if they join the TOS list, they'll hear about it).
22:08 <@mchua> kwurst: if they send in a
http://teachingopensource.org/index.php/POSSE_application in
advance, they just won't hear back and we won't be looking at
them until after the Big Announcement, that's all.
22:09 < kwurst> mchua: OK, I'll start getting emails together for the Chairs of
the CS Depts in Worcester and surrounding areas. Not sure how
directly I'll target schools farther out like Boston - there's
a lot there.
22:10 < kwurst> mchua: If I'm not getting much response locally, I can start
doing the work to target in Boston.
22:10 < kwurst> mchua: I have at least 3 (maybe 4, could be 5) in my own
department here.
22:11 < kwurst> mchua: So, what else should I be doing right away other than
room reservation and local publicity?
22:12 -!- balor [~balor@gimili.plus.com] has quit [Ping timeout: 276 seconds]
22:12 < kwurst> mchua: I know I said this before, but I want to be sure you
know this is a CS-oriented POSSE, so you can choose the right
instructor.
22:15 <@mchua> kwurst: Yep. Pretty much all our POSSEs to date have been
CS-oriented, so that won't be a problem. :)
22:15 <@mchua> kwurst: Right now: let me throw up a wiki page for you, and then
you can add any other notes you come up with there.
22:16 <@mchua> kwurst: Housing, getting the room reserved - those are the big
things. Figuring out how you want to spread the word to get
attendees in.
22:16 <@mchua> kwurst: On my part, I'll find instructors, and how much budget
we can allot for this one, and let you know.
22:16 <@mchua> kwurst: And both of us should keep the TOS list up to date, in
general.
22:17 < kwurst> mchua: I'll see if the college has any deals with local hotels.
We'll have to figure out some sort of ride sharing arrangement
for any non-locals since none of the hotels are particularly
close and public transit's not that great.
22:18 < kwurst> mchua: OK, will you post the date/location to TOS, or do you
want me to?
22:19 <@mchua> kwurst: Go ahead and pull the lever. :) I'll get your wiki page
up in the meantime.
22:21 < kwurst> mchua: I'll post tomorrow, after I have confirmation on the
room reservation.
22:23 <@mchua> kwurst: Sounds good - I threw up a stub at
http://teachingopensource.org/index.php/POSSE_Worcester_State
for whenever you're ready.
22:23 < kwurst> mchua: Anything else I need right now?
22:23 <@mchua> kwurst: I'll list us under "tentative" until you get the room
confirmed and I make sure we have instructors, but I think we're
looking very good.
22:24 <@mchua> kwurst: Nope, I think you're all set. so long as we're in shape
to announce it as a definitely-is-going-to-happen thing on your
side by the start of March, we're set.
22:28 <@mchua> Thanks, kwurst!
22:28 <@mchua> Looking forward to it.