TristateLUG - a roundup
Category
Sitting in Terminal 4 in JFK waiting for my flight to Dublin. I land at 5am local time so will pop into see (sleep at) my mums before going to a few meetings that day. THEN, heading to Belfast and going home. TristateLUG was my last trip this year to the USA. Its funny now how a transatlantic flight feels like a short hop these days. Comparing it to my travels this weekend coming to the Philippines, it really is.
TristateLUG was worth it at every level. On a very limited budget, Kathleen McGivney and Mitch Cohen ran a full day, 3-track event in a great location, to schedule and had everyone fed and watered, followed by free beers. Most people I spoke to were amazed that a UG event like this had never ran in Manhattan before, and I am sure it will become a more regular placement in their diaries in future. I met all new people and it gave some battle weary notes professionals a "shot in the arm" of enthusiasm. Some of them really needed it. As ever the "usual suspects" of speakers came to the event and presented in their typical fashion. The exception to this is Mr Rob (travel weary) Novak who ran his free beer session without beer. As no alcohol is permitted in the IBM building, he went with Root (route ;) ) beer instead. Never tried root beer before. Won't be trying it again.
Bob Picciano gave an excellent session covering the Lotus market place and as ever engaged the audience both in his session and afterwards. He continues to impress me every time we meet. I also saw "Lotusknows" advertising in NYC. Not timesquareesq Windows 7 advertising, but nonetheless a good start in getting the message out.
Finishing my speaking engagements for the year on TristateLUg was an excellent opportunity, and I hope to see TristateLUG, IamLUG and the Midwest UG collaborate and assist each other with date co-ordination in the future. That will give the US THREE strong events every year, aside from view conferences and Lotusphere.
Note to IBM - If possible, run the Lotus Comes to You events more like the usergroups. I think they would be much more popular that way (my 2c).
Sitting in Terminal 4 in JFK waiting for my flight to Dublin. I land at 5am local time so will pop into see (sleep at) my mums before going to a few meetings that day. THEN, heading to Belfast and going home. TristateLUG was my last trip this year to the USA. Its funny now how a transatlantic flight feels like a short hop these days. Comparing it to my travels this weekend coming to the Philippines, it really is.
TristateLUG was worth it at every level. On a very limited budget, Kathleen McGivney and Mitch Cohen ran a full day, 3-track event in a great location, to schedule and had everyone fed and watered, followed by free beers. Most people I spoke to were amazed that a UG event like this had never ran in Manhattan before, and I am sure it will become a more regular placement in their diaries in future. I met all new people and it gave some battle weary notes professionals a "shot in the arm" of enthusiasm. Some of them really needed it. As ever the "usual suspects" of speakers came to the event and presented in their typical fashion. The exception to this is Mr Rob (travel weary) Novak who ran his free beer session without beer. As no alcohol is permitted in the IBM building, he went with Root (route ;) ) beer instead. Never tried root beer before. Won't be trying it again.
Bob Picciano gave an excellent session covering the Lotus market place and as ever engaged the audience both in his session and afterwards. He continues to impress me every time we meet. I also saw "Lotusknows" advertising in NYC. Not timesquareesq Windows 7 advertising, but nonetheless a good start in getting the message out.
Finishing my speaking engagements for the year on TristateLUg was an excellent opportunity, and I hope to see TristateLUG, IamLUG and the Midwest UG collaborate and assist each other with date co-ordination in the future. That will give the US THREE strong events every year, aside from view conferences and Lotusphere.
Note to IBM - If possible, run the Lotus Comes to You events more like the usergroups. I think they would be much more popular that way (my 2c).
Comments
Posted by Declan Lynch At 00:12:51 On 11/11/2009 | - Website - |