Hi
7 days until the tribes start to gather, you must be getting excited by now?
The FOSS4G Team are in overdrive focussing on the mass of logistics for a colossal conference with over 800 attendees, that is a very large number of delegates to feed and water, present to, accommodate, entertain and network with.
This may be the last delegate mail that I send to you before the event kicks off with workshops on Tuesday 17th Maptember in Mappingham (note that the coordinates of the venue are unchanged, just a new alias for the location city) and there is quite a lot of important and useful info included, so please do read through. If you have missed any of my previous delegate mails you can read them at http://2013.foss4g.org/about-foss4g/delegate-info/
Presenters
If you are a presenter or are running a workshop or giving a keynote please have another look at http://2013.foss4g.org/information-for-presenters/ even if you have previously had a look as some details may have changed. It is probably a good idea to check back at this page a couple of times before your session.
Travel for visitors from overseas
If you are planning to make part of your journey to Mappingham via rail you can save a lot of money by preordering your tickets beforehand and picking up at the station before you travel. Remember that some of the cheaper options restrict you to travelling at the time for which you have booked so allow for some flexibility. You can search for cheap fares and timetables at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ but do search for Nottingham as National Rail have not yet recognised Mappingham as a destination 
Parking on the University of Mappingham Campus
You must get a free parking voucher and display in your windscreen to park on the campus.
If you are staying in halls – when you arrive for the first time park in the EMCC car park, go to the registration desk where you will get your delegate pass and other goodies and be directed to your hall of residence. The porter at the reception of the hall will give you a car park pass along with your room key.
If you are staying in the hotel – park in the hotel car park and request a voucher from reception when you check in.
Program
Inevitably there are some changes to the program in the last week or so (presenters are ill, plans get messed up) after the program book has gone to the printer. The program changes as of today are summarised at http://2013.foss4g.org/programme-changes/ and we will update this throughout the conference if anything further changes. The interactive program on the website will also be kept up to date with any changes (if you download to an iCal or usng the Android app then you won’t get the changes automatically).
We will have a daily changes sheet for those of you who prefer paper.
No Unconference
Unfortunately the person coordinating the unconference session on Friday afternoon is not able to get to FOSS4G so we will not be running an unconference.
The GeoCamp is a massive space that will support multiple spontaneous activities including Birds of a Feather http://2013.foss4g.org/programme/birds-of-a-feather-sessions/ and lightning talks if you want to take the initiative.
Photos
If you are taking photos or video that you would like to share with the community then please post to flickr with the tag FOSS4G2013. There is a FOSS4G group on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/foss4g/ which makes it easier to view all of the content from the event, if you can please apply for membership before the event as we may be a bit busy during the event to deal with group admin.
We would like to make a collage of photo and video from the event to use in the closing session, if you want your stuff included please upload to the group. If you want to volunteer to help build the collage or create a funky sound track then please mail volunteers@2013.foss4g.org
OSGeo Live DVD
You will receive the latest release OSGeo Live DVD http://live.osgeo.org/en/index.html when you register for the conference or a workshop. There will be recycling boxes in the conference centre, if you do not want the DVD or if you have multiple copies please recycle the DVD so that we can use them for future events and for teaching purposes.
Make a pledge
Have you made a pledge yet? If not have a look at http://2013.foss4g.org/conf/pledge/ and make one or more pledges, you can also show your approval for other peoples’ pledges. The FOSS4G Team will be making some small awards for the pledges that inspired us, made us laugh or which we thought were incredibly ambitious.
Getting out and about in Nottingham
Travel information and taxi phone numbers are at http://2013.foss4g.org/map/nottingham/getting-around-nottingham/
Some of the locals’ favourite bars and restaurants are at http://2013.foss4g.org/map/nottingham/bars-and-restaurants/
You may need this info to plan your Friday night entertainment if you are not going to the dogs. If you want a restaurant, I encourage you not to leave your planning until Friday late afternoon or you may find everything is sold out.
Robin Hoodware
Have you got your hat or other item of Robin Hoodware? It’s not compulsory but ….
If you are coming to the Icebreaker you will have a chance to make your Robin Hood hat and you may want to swat up on Robin Hood history/mythology as I think there might be the odd question in the quiz.
#tags
If you are a twitterer the #tags will be #FOSS4G2013 or #FOSS4G13 or if you feel so inspired #BestFOSS4Gever, lets leave #FOSS4G (without date) as it has a broader use than just the conference
Phew that was a long one! Time to get back to the preparations now.
I can’t wait to welcome you all to the #BestFOSS4Gever in #Mappingham on 17th #Maptember
–
Cheers
Steven Feldman
On behalf of the FOSS4G Team
