Hi
Only 41 days left till FOSS4G starts, the organising team are either going on holiday or getting frantic or even both! What about you?
Please take time to read this mail as there is important stuff in here to help you make the most of FOSS4G and if you don’t then don’t say we didn’t tell you.
Opening up the Map
Thanks to neat technology and the efforts of our Map Gallery organiser Ken Field we have been able to extend the deadline for submitting your map to 6th Maptember. So there is no excuse not to sift through your projects and submit your work here
t-shirts
Thanks to everyone who gave us t-shirt sizing info. We have to get the orders out by the end of the week so if you haven’t done so yet please go to http://2013.foss4g.org/t-shirts/ and tell us your size preference (including whether you want women’s or men’s style) and it will help us to get the mix right.
Volunteering
We had a great response to our request for volunteers last week but we still need more (I think I will still be saying that on the morning we start the conference)
Whatever your skill or interest in helping, please have a look at http://2013.foss4g.org/volunteering-at-foss4g/ and sign up, then you can add the snazzy “I’m volunteering at FOSS4G” badge to your mail signature and we will give you a mention in the programme book if you sign up by 9th August plus a special gift.
Dressing for FOSS4G
Last week I suggested it would be fun if loads (actually all) of the delegates were wearing some item of Robin Hood clothing. There are loads of items for UK based folk here and I am sure the non-brits among you are enterprising enough to get something together.
Entertainment
On Wednesday night at the Ice Breaker we have Mike Parker the author of Map Addict whose mum said to him “Why did you have to swear in a book about maps?” It is going to be a great evening, you can still book a place here
We’ve updated the entertainment section of the web site with some video and sound tracks of The Nerds and Chris Conway our two headline acts for the Gala Night on Thursday (included in a full 3 day conference pass)
On Friday night you are on your own, you need to make some plans. We will have a list of pubs, clubs and restaurants for you to choose from. We have also organised an evening out at Nottingham Greyhound Stadium (yes in the UK we race dogs)
Going to the dogs
On Friday, escape the conference centre for a trip out for a social evening interlaced with the drama of racing. We have arranged dinner and a race card in the restaurant box at the Nottingham Greyhound Stadium (http://www.nottinghamdogs.com). The cost of the evening will include entry, a three course dinner with tea & coffee in an informal setting with table service, a race card for the greyhound races & for those that wish, the ability to place bets from the tables. The box is glass fronted and newly refurbished with panoramic views over the racetrack and screens around the box showing the odds, race results and video feed of the races. You can also leave the box to go down to the trackside to watch the races up close. The main race card starts at 7:15pm.
Menus are available online (http://www.nottinghamdogs.com/dining.php - the menu for 20th September will be available shortly). You can order from this on the night, no need to specify in advance. The restaurant can cope with different dietary preferences but these should be expressed at the time of booking.
Places on this evening are limited as we’ve reserved just 100 spaces. Please book directly with the stadium by phone on +44/0 (115) 910 33 33 and choose option 3 for restaurant bookings. If you’re phoning out of hours please leave a name and contact number and they will ring you back. The cost of the evening is £19.80 per person. There will be a booking fee of £1 per reservation. You’re encouraged to book together in groups if you can as each group can then be sat together, and you only get charged one reservation fee between you. It’s also fine to book singly and find a space in our block of tables on the evening. Please mention that you are part of the University of Nottingham group when booking to make sure we are sat together.
We expect this to be a fun evening out in a different setting, and hope to see you there.
Queries relating to the menu & booking system are best addressed to the Stadium, but you can also direct queries about the event to Jeremy Morley, jeremy.morley@nottingham.ac.uk
Bring your talents to Saturday Night’s Closing Party
Not everyone will be rushing off after the closing plenaries on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday night we are going to have a chilled evening in the GeoCamp with speciality beer tasting, pizza and improv. We’ve got a microphone, we’ve got a stage, now all we need is you to bring your talents. If you can sing, play a musical instrument, tell a joke, recite your favourite bit of Shakespeare, organise a game or do anything else Mark Iliffe wants you to contact him. You can still book a place at the closing party here
Accommodation
I know I have mentioned this before but every week there are new people who have signed up so i think it is worth repeating. Our records are showing that a lot of people have not booked accommodation through our system. That’s fine if you have made other plans but please note that accommodation is not included in any delegate passes.
You need to book your accommodation either through our registration system (you can log into your booking if you already have one and book university or hotel rooms) or you need to book accommodation directly.
That’s it from me for this week. I am getting very excited about making the #BestFOSS4Gever in Nottingham in September.
Remember to follow us on twitter to get the daily news on FOSS4G, we are @FOSS4G
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Cheers
Steven
