Starfish Community

Please put the 2010 Starfish Community Expo on your calendar! The event will be:
September 16-18, 2010
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

Many of you were at the first Expo in October 2009, and I think it was a really productive time of sharing good ideas and making key connections. The relationships from that event have already proven effective in disaster response events like the Haiti Earthquake and in the dozens of other projects that all of us are involved in every day.

Some of the highlights from last year:

• More than 20 different countries from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe were represented.
• Breakout sessions focused on specific skill sets, like agriculture, integrated with breakout sessions focused on specific regions, like Southeast Asia.
• Instead of spending a lot of time in large, plenary sessions, the schedule was intentionally designed to allow more time for networking with other participants.

I hope you'll make plans to be at the 2010 Starfish Community Expo. If you have recommendations for the event, you are welcome to share those in this thread. If you were at the first Expo, and can think of three or four other people who would have really benefited from being there, make sure they see this announcement. Let's make the 2010 event even better than last year!

All the best,
Kyle

The Save the Date Announcement is attached to this post in Microsoft Word and PDF formats, so it can be easily downloaded and forwarded to anyone you wish to invite.

Attachments: 2010 Expo Save the Date.doc 2010_Expo_Save_the_Date.pdf

This post was edited by the author March 2010.

We'll be spending the next two weeks working on the agenda for the 2010 Expo. Make sure to contact us through this thread or through email if you have any suggestions.

Also, be sure to check out the video below. Bernard Auton is a logistics specialist who attended the 2009 Expo, and was struck by how the focus of the event was on cooperation and not control. These are two of the traits that make this event unique. The caliber of people attending, like Mr. Auton, and the deliberate focus on building practical partnerships that transform communities.

Videos:

Why the Starfish Community Expo is different

Bernard Auton talks about his impressions of the initial Starfish Community Expo in October 2009.

This post was edited by the author March 2010.

I think Bernard's comments are solid.... and if you've not listened to it, I recommend it.

-Matt W

Do you know when an agenda will be available?

Hi Jan,
We are working on the agenda and hope to have it available online soon. One of the big pieces we are working on is how to take feedback from last year's conference and incorporate that. September is closing in on us quickly, so I will get that agenda out as soon as I can.
-Kyle

As I said above, we are reviewing and finalizing the agenda for the 2010 Expo. If you have any requests or recommendations, I would love to hear them.

What would make it better?
What would you like to avoid?
What are some ways to build momentum coming out of the event?

This event is centered entirely around the attendees, so we want to hear any comments you might have about format, content or the overall experience.

thanks!
Kyle

Thank You Kyle for the updates. I look forward to another successful expo with thought provoking conversation and connecting with others involved in Information Communication Technology around the world.

I couldn't make it last year so hope I can get there this time.

I'd love regional breakout groups as well as topical breakouts. Id go to ICT breakout (radio in disaster).

It would also be great if we can plan some joint training exercises. I'd love to help plan some joint group training events that would line up with our next planned disaster response radio workshop.

Mostly it'll be great to meet up and have time to talk with other like-minded people.

Hi Mike-
I hope you'll be able to join us this year. We'd certainly love to have you.

The Rapid Response Radio Unit is a unique capability, so come prepared to show that off.

The breakouts are a key piece of the interaction, and there will absolutely be time for more of those this year.

Also, in case anyone missed it, the 2010 agenda is online here. Your input is a big help as we try to shape this event into something that is productive and effective to all of you who are out there making a difference in the world.

SHARE A ROOM??

I see that the package deal at the Heritage Conference center is cheaper if you share a room. I'm coming on my own but would love to share a room with another (Male) conference participant.

Its also a benefit to get more time to network and talk.

Send a message via starfish if interested.

Mike