I am pleased to announce the date for Desert Code Camp 2010.2, aka Nov2010 code camp.  It will take place Saturday, November, 13th, 2010.

There are a few changes for this camp.

New Web Site

The web site have been changed to accommodate history in the Desert Code Camps. This means that each Code Camp will have it’s own url, so you can see what sessions have taken place in the past.

This Desert Code Camp’s, 2010.2, url is http://nov2010.desertcodecamp.com and is ready to accept sessions.

May 2010 Desert Code Camp, 2010.1 Desert Code Camp, is http://may2010.desertcodecamp.com. I am in the process of adding in the Desert Code Camps from 2009. You can go to http://desertcodecamp.com to get the list of Code Camps that the site has.

New Location

Chandler – Gilbert Community College, will be hosting the event on their Pecos Campus.

• This facility is right off of the Loop 202 (SanTan Freeway) and Gilbert Road at the intersection of Gilbert Rd and Pecos Rd, in Chandler, AZ.
• The facility provides plenty of free parking
• There is free wifi with no requirements or software installed on your pc.
• There is a student center for socializing and networking.
• Modern facilities. In fact, Desert Code Camp will most likely take place in their brand new Ironwood Hall (IRN).
• Larger room sizes.  We will be able to hold several 120+ sessions.

Speaker Dinner

I am going to try and have a speaker dinner also at this Desert Code Camp.  The speaker dinner will take place on Friday night, pending a sponsor. More information will be provided when we get closer. If you want to sponsor the speaker dinner for about 40 people, send me an email at jguadagno @ sevdnug.org.

After Party

We are working with the City of Chandler, and local businesses downtown to have several after parties going on in Downtown Chandler after the Code Camp.  Downtown Chandler is approximately 3 miles away from Chandler – Gilbert Community College.

If you want to help, shoot me an email at jguadagno at sevdnug.org.

It’s time for the 7th iteration of Desert Code Camp (my second one as director).  Desert Code Camp will be held on May 15th at DeVry again.

DeVry University
2149 W Dunlap Ave (Map)
Phoenix, Arizona 85021

The Desert Code Camp website has a new design and logo thanks to Gabriel Utasi and a few new features.

Sign-up to give a talk today.

Follow Desert Code Camp on Twitter @DesertCodeCamp

Join us for our 2nd social mixer of the year at Brunswick Zone in Gilbert for two hours of bowling and socializing taking place on Monday 2/22 at 6:00 PM.

We got a few lanes, a few shoes, some appetizers and some drinks sponsored by Comsys*.

Registration will be limited!

Register at: http://sevdnug0210.eventbrite.com

* The sponsor will cover a certain amount of the cost.  You might be required to purchase some of your own food and drink.

 

MSDN Events: Take Your Applications Sky High with Cloud Computing and the Windows Azure Platform

February 23rd

Join your local MSDN Events team as we take a deep dive into cloud computing and the Windows Azure Platform. We’ll start with a developer-focused overview of this new platform and the cloud computing services that can be used either together or independently to build highly scalable applications. As the day unfolds, we’ll explore data storage, SQL Azure, and the basics of deployment with Windows Azure. Register today for these free.

Register at: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032438178&Culture=en-US

MSDN Events Presents: From Zero to XAML in 4 Hours

March 23rd

Learning XAML for use in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) or Silverlight can be a little daunting. This seminar will introduce the basic concepts of XAML and show you how to get started quickly and easily. You wil be given an overview of XAML tools such as VS.NET 2010 and Expression Blend. If you are new to Silverlight and WPF you need to attend this seminar to see how to move to these powerful new platforms. The focus on this seminar is using XAML to build business applications.

Register at: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032439056&Culture=en-US

These are free events.  I would register while there is still room!

The Southeast Valley .NET User Group is looking for some speakers for 2010. The meetings are held monthly typically on the fourth Thursday of the month, although we can move the meeting to make it easier for speakers.  The meetings are held in Chandler, AZ about 20 miles south of downtown Phoenix, AZ. 

This year we had Tim Rayburn and Alan Stevens speak at the user group.  Add your name to the list, contact me at jguadagno @ sevdnug.org

Here are some of the topics that the community is looking for…

ASP.NET

Entity Framework

LINQ

Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF)

Windows Communication Framework

Windows Presentation Framework

I hope to hear from you!

I recently sat down with some other community evangelists in the Chandler / Phoenix area to talk about some of the events that I plan to put on in the coming year. 

To get updates on these events follow me on Twitter @jguadagno and the Southeast Valley .NET User Group @SEVDNUG and continue to watch this blog.

Putting on an event is time consuming, any help I receive is appreciated.  If you are interest let me know… jguadagno @ sevdnug.org

Here is the list, please note that the dates are not set in stone yet.

 

Weekly Events

Tech Lunch South

A weekly technology agnostic lunch meeting open to all.

http://www.techlunchsouth.com

Every Tuesday.

Hacknight *

A weekly technology agnostic event open to all.

http://gangplankhq.com/collaborative/

Every Wednesday night.

 

Monthly Events

Southeast Valley .NET User Group

http://www.sevdnug.org 

Monthly on the 4th Thursday of the month.

 

Gangplank Jr.

A monthly meeting dedicated to kids from 4 – 18 years of age. Topics include, development, robotics, drawing, photography, cooking and more.

http://www.gankplankjr.com

Monthly (the day has not been determined yet)

 

The Rest of Year

Phoenix Bar Camp

BarCamp is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from participants who are the main actors of the event.

http://www.barcampphoenix.com

February and August

 

Desert Code Camp

http://www.desertcodecamp.com

May and November

 

AZGiveCamp *

AZGiveCamp is a massive weekend event where the software development community comes together to support charities and non-profits by developing or improving their web sites and applications. It's fun, it's agile, it's geeky, and it's good for the community.

If you are interested in helping out as a volunteer, organizer, or sponsor, we would like to hear from you! Please check out our FAQs, and then drop them an email through our Contact Us page.

http://www.azgivecamp.org

March or April.

 

Gangplank Jr. Code Camp

A code camp style event for kids from the ages of 4 – 18.

no URL yet

Quarterly or semi annual

 

Startup Weekend **

http://phoenix.startupweekend.org

Spring

 

Legend:

* indicates an event that is taking place in the area that I am not running but I am part of.

** this event might need someone to organize it the area again.

And no it is not because the Yankees won the World Series (although congrats to them) it is because it has been an awesome month for me personally and professionally.

On the personal front…

My son’s baseball team, which I am an assistant coach, finished the season undefeated in regular season games (end of year tournament in next week).  My son hit his first over the fence homerun which was a Grand Slam (technically not November but pretty awesome). My daughter's softball team, which I am an assistant coach, finished the season undefeated in regular season games (end of year tournament in next week).

I get to go to fly back to NY in a few days to see family and friends and wish my mother a happy 60th birthday.

On the professional front…

I was elected to the North American INETA board of directors.

I was elected to the AZGiveCamp executive committee, VP of Operations.  As the VP I will oversee the activities of the Logistics, Sponsorship, Technology and Publicity teams.

I put together my first Code Camp, Desert Code Camp.

I am presenting a Bird of Feather session at PDC with Chris Woodruff on “How to Build and Enrich Your Technical and Local Community” on Tuesday Nov 17 from 11a – 12p.  Stop by if you want to see how to build your community.

 

That’s it for now.  Hopefully I can relax a bit in December.

My first Code Camp is done and I wanted to jot down some of the lessons I learned.

Bring EXTRA equipment! You will never now what people will want or need. Here’s a list of items that are good to have.

• Adapters
  • DVI to VGA (those MACs)
  • HDMI to VGA
  • Multiple video to VGA
• Mice
• CAT5 cables
• USB Cables
• USB Flash drive

Speakers

• Speakers will cancel.  It is an unfortunate fact.
• Don’t allow one speaker to speak at more than 3 sessions.  This reduces your risk in case of cancelation and prevents speaker fatigue.

Schedule.  Printed schedules are good to have and good to hang.  Also add speaker names to the presentations.

Name Tags. People like and want them.

Venue

• WIFI is key.  A reliable and unobtrusive WiFi connection is best.
• You need to be able handle last minute room changes

Food

• Make sure you provide the person(s) that are ordering the food explicit instructions on the food.
• Try to have more than just pizza.
• You should have vegetarian and vegan options.

 

And remember you are not going to be able to make EVERYONE happy.

Phoenix Geek Tag was a minor success so I decided to put together another Geek outing in October. Most likely October 20th starting around 6pm. I have narrowed it down to two places.

Option 1: Bowling in Gilbert at Brunswick Lanes

What’s included…

• Bowling with bowling shoes for two hours.
• Drinks (alcoholic and non) are not included.
• Food is not included.
Approximate cost: $15 / person plus food.

Option 2: GameWorks in Tempe

What’s included…

• One or two hour game card (depending on package)
• Private room for socializing and networking
• Choice of 7 different meal options
• Unlimited fountain drinks
• Each person can pay separately for their own extra food / drink.
Approximate cost: $15 - $25 a person

Leave your comments as to which you prefer. I would like to book the place on Monday.

The next Desert Code Camp is scheduled for Saturday November 7th, 2009 at DeVry University.  Great sessions, networking, food, and WIFI (yes WIFI) will be provided. So come out learn, teach, network. It will be great.

Location:

DeVry University
2149 W. Dunlap Ave (map)
Phoenix, Arizona 85021

Submit your talks, sessions, ideas for talks at the Desert Code Camp site.

On Twitter follow @DesertCodeCamp, @AZGroups, and @SEVDNUG for more information updates. Tweet up the event with the hashtag of #DCC09.