News

WordCamp US 2020

Posted on by WordCamp US

Where is WordCamp US in 2020?

Wapuu Louie
Wapuu Louis!

WordCamp US will be back in St. Louis next year. We will have the WordCamp US 2020 website up shortly. Look for it at https://2020.us.wordcamp.org/ Once that website launches, it will have a timeline of key items like calls for organizers, speakers, sponsors, etc.

What are the 2020 WordCamp US Dates?

We’re excited to share that the dates for WordCamp US 2020 have been announced! WordCamp US 2020 in St. Louis will be October 27th to October 29th!

We are changing things up for 2020 and WordCampUS will be Tuesday through Thursday instead of on the weekend as we have historically had it.

What’s the best way to learn the latest WordCamp US News?

Follow us on Twitter!

Please subscribe to the WCUS 2020 website to get updates as new information is released.

How can I get WordCamp US and WordPress swag?

We didn’t have an on-site swag store this year, but WP Mercantile has a discount for you: Use code WCUS2019 for 25% off your next purchase at http://mercantile.wordpress.org Offer expires November 15, 2019.

They carry former WCUS swag items and WordPress themed items year round. Check them out.

Find a WordCamp and WordPress Community near you.

Want to connect with other WordPress folks near you on a regular basis? There are thousands of WordPress Meetups listed on Meetup.com (search in your area). These groups usually meet monthly.

There are hundreds of local WordCamps each year. You can find the schedule of upcoming WordCamps on WordCamp Central.

See you next year in St. Louis!

Join the WCUS 2020 Organizing Team!

Posted on by WordCamp US
Sandy & Connie, 2019 WCUS Organizers || Photo by David Needham

Tldr; We’re looking for a group of dedicated and community-focused organizers to join the WordCamp US 2020 organizing team. If you’re interested, fill out our Call for Organizers form.

We are preparing for WordCamp 2020 in St. Louis, MO, and we need you to help make this the best event possible. Please apply by January 10, 2020!

Organizing Team Structure

Leadership Squad

Having a core leadership structure that included three lead organizers worked well for us this past year. Our “Leads Trio” or LT, will work together to keep WCUS planning on track, and work with all organizers to ensure a smooth planning process.

Squads

Our organizing team will be assigned to different squads, responsible for addressing the different facets that make WCUS a reality. Each Squad will be led by a Squad Captain, who provides project management, sets regular meetings, assigns tasks, and reports on Squad goals and progress to the organizing team.

The Squads are as follows: 

  • Local Activation
  • PR/Communications
  • Photography
  • Design/Web
  • Programming
  • Youth Programming
  • Attendee Experience
  • Contributors
  • Sponsors
  • Volunteers

Before applying, please review these descriptions and listed responsibilities for each Squad

2019 Sponsorship Team || Photo by David Needham

Should I apply?

If you enjoy WordCamps and want to give our community more opportunities to connect and learn from each other, we’d love to see you get involved. All WordCamp organizers must follow these requirements. In addition, we’re looking for the following:

  • Passion for the WordPress community
  • Collaboration and teamwork
  • Past WordCamp planning experience, either as an organizer or volunteer
  • Residence within the Americas
  • Time commitment
  • Onsite availability*

Regarding time commitment, WordCamp US planning does require more time than local WordCamp planning! The organizing team will start onboarding in January 2020, and in addition to event planning tasks, squads will have weekly or bi-weekly meetings leading up to WCUS in October 2020. Squad Captains will have an additional weekly meeting with the LT. The time commitment will increase as we get closer to the event. While on site, all organizers will be assigned scheduled volunteer shifts, and will have a volunteer shift at WordFest (our after party event).

*If you would like to organize but don’t think you can attend for financial reasons, please apply anyway and let us know by emailing us@wordcamp.org. Any information you share with us regarding your financial status will be held in the strictest confidence.

Timeline and Next Steps

Call for Organizers is now open! Please apply by January 10, 2020. Everyone who applies will hear back from the LT by the end of January 2020. 

All organizers are expected to participate in a WordCamp orientation with the LT, and will need to sign an organizer agreement. 

Interested?

You can apply to join the team on our Call for Organizers page. For more information about Squads, check out these descriptions and listed responsibilities.

Questions? 

You can reach out to our team through the contact form on our website, or by emailing us at us@wordcamp.org.

WCUS Featured in Local Media

Posted on by WordCamp US

WCUS Lead Organizer Jen Swisher was interviewed by FOX 2 News today!

Check their website and watch the full interview:

https://fox2now.com/2019/10/31/st-louis-to-host-to-the-largest-wordpress-conference-in-the-nation/
Jen Swisher on Fox 2

ST. LOUIS – This year, St. Louis will host the largest WordPress conference in the nation.  WordPress is the Open Source software used to create more than 33% of the websites on the Internet.

Friday through Sunday, November 1-3, at America’s center over 1,700 from around the globe are expected to attend and have a great chance to connect with WordPress enthusiasts from around the world.

Unconference: Come and Join Us!

Posted on by WordCamp US

This year we have added an unconference session to the WordCamp US schedule.

What is an Unconference?

We are going to put our own spin on it, but here is the definition from Wikipedia:

An unconference is a participant-driven meeting… Typically at an unconference, the agenda is created by the attendees at the beginning of the meeting. Anyone who wants to initiate a discussion on a topic can claim a time and a space. Some unconference sessions (for example at FooCamp or BarCamp) are led by the participant who suggested its topic; other unconference sessions are basically open discussions of the session topic. “

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Let People On Twitter Know You’re at WordCamp US

Posted on by David Needham
Photo of a Twitter search for WCUS

WordCamp US is this week! Can you believe it? You’ve decided which sessions to attend. You’ve dressed warmly to embrace the chilly weather. And you’ve thought about what you want to do for Contributor Day. You’re ready!

All that’s left is letting everyone know that you’re here! A common trend when attending a conference is to update your Twitter display name to include a note about where you are. I changed mine to “David Needham @ #WCUS 🎃“, but feel free to do your own thing.

There are a few good reasons for this. First, when someone searches for “WCUS” on Twitter (like this screenshot to the right), they’ll find your name. This will help your friends know that you are actually out there somewhere in the sea of people at WCUS.

Not sure how to edit your display name?

Visit your Twitter profile and follow these step-by-step directions:

1. Click on the “Edit profile” button to the right.

2. Amend #WCUS to your name.

3. Click on the “Save” button.

4. Tell all of your friends!

And that’s it. We look forward to seeing you this week!

WCUS Badges and QR Codes

Posted on by WordCamp US

This year we’re adding QR codes to your WCUS badge. This will make it easier for you to share your contact information with the sponsors who have elected to use this technology. Our intention is to make it easy to share information with the sponsors you want to receive more information from while still respecting your privacy.

Your Privacy Is Important to Us

Here is how the QR codes work

The only information shared with sponsors is:

  • your name
  • email address
  • company name

This information is only accessible to sponsors who:

  • Have asked your permission to scan your badge if you have chosen to engage with them that their booth.
  • Have opted to use a specific scanner that can read the information.

Without the scanner, the QR code is a number string that does not reveal personal information.

The scanners need the QR code to be in close proximity. They can’t scan your badge from across the room.

How can I opt out?

  • When you initially bought your ticket you had a choice to opt in or out of this option.
  • In case you opted in and you did not intend to:
    • You can edit your registration information (follow the link in your ticket confirmation email) to opt out of having the QR code printed on your badge. (Edit through Thursday as these will be printed on-site.) We will supply stickers at registration that you can use to cover the QR code. Once covered, they are rendered unreadable by the QR scanners.
    • You can use a black sharpie to color over the QR code.
    • You can use any other sticker you’d like to cover the QR code.

What are other alternatives?

Remember to bring business cards, index cards, or another way to share your information for networking with other community members and sponsors, too. See you later this week!

You don’t want to miss out on WordCamp US 2019! There will be speakers, workshops, childcare, an incredible sponsor hall, the annual WordFest party, and more. Get your tickets to WordCamp US today! 

Vegetarian & Vegan Fare in St. Louis

Posted on by WordCamp US

David Needham shares his research here on the best Vegetarian and Vegan restaurants in St. Louis.

Saint Louis is a city with many distinctive culinary tastes that are accommodating to vegans and vegetarians alike. Here are some of our favorite places to nosh, broken out by distance in “Near the Venue” and “Worth the Drive.”

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