California here I come
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 06:21AM A morning at home, a drive to the airport, a longish flight to LAX and then a week of learning, presenting, and reconnecting with old friends. I'm heading to ALA and ISTE. Yeah!
My stay in Anaheim will be brief. I'm giving the half-day workshop tomorrow morning, Libraries in the Clouds. I've done breakout sessions on this topic a lot, but this will be the first time I've had the luxury of spending time discussing, demonstrating, and asking for small group work on the topic. One of the challenges of doing a workshop that introduces some online tools is that usually there are participants that range from beginner to expert in the group and knowing and finding a happy place is tough. I usually go for the middle so I know that half the group is bored and the other half is frustrated. Just trying to be fair.
Tomorrow evening I fly to San Diego for that great love-fest to all things that go beep, ISTE, the conference formerly known as NECC. I'm doing a 4 minute "Smackdown" at the Affiliate meeting on Saturday afternoon (this will be weird - I hope I get to smack Gary Stager) and a breakout session on Monday afternoon, Changed But Still Critical: Brick and Mortar Libraries in the Digital Age. I hope at least a couple people show up.
Looks like there will be a great SIGMS (Special Interest Group Media Specialists) Forum on Tuesday afternoon. It's a ticketed event (but I've never known anyone who just shows up to be turned away). Topic is social media and libraries with several speakers, including Steve Hargadon who puts together the Library 2.0 conference. SIGMS is hosting a number of events. Be sure to stop by booth on Sunday afternoon before the opening session for a little meet and greet.
I have a tendency to grump about the commercialization and soullessness of the giant ISTE conference, but I would not miss it for the world. If I were king of the universe, I would require that a person had to be a conference chair at least once before he/she could ever complain about any conference. Little things like room temperature, walking distance, overfilled rooms, number of handouts, wi-fi strength, number of outlets in a room - there are just a bunch of things out of any organizer's control.
Since I am traveling alone and on my own nickel this trip, I will be staying in, ahem, budget accommodations. Zaby's Motor Court in Anaheim and Motel 6 Downtown in San Diego. I suspect they will have character. I am also not wearing a sports jacket for this conference. I gave up the speaker's necktie a couple years ago without any seeming repercussions. Now in sunny California, I am hoping a nice pair of dress slacks and a short sleeve sports shirt will be appropriate. Still debating about wearing socks.
See you in California!
Reader Comments (6)
Have a wonderful time...
Thanks, Sheri. I always do!
Doug
One day, when I grow up.... Maybe I will get to go. Have fun and learn (and blog) tons!
Socks - yes
Socks with sandals - NO!
Remember "June Gloom" - cold and misty on the mornings, then best weather ever in the afternoons
Eating tip - try to get an In & Out burger...
Have a great time, Doug! Hoping to see you there next year!
Thanks for the SIGMS plug and for showing up at our booth. You know I love to give you a tough time, but thank you so much for all you've done for the profession! It makes me proud to be a Minnesotan! UFF DA!