WordCamp Rochester: Our First Year

by | Aug 12, 2016 | WordCamp

It’s my pleasure to be the lead organizer of WordCamp Rochester. Especially since four years ago I had never even heard of WordPress.

I often joke that when I built my first WordPress website that it was then that I drank the “WordPress Kool-Aid.” While that may sound a little extreme, it’s true that I became hooked on creating through this amazing medium.

In the past few years, I have attended many WordCamps and learned so much from so many speakers, attendees and sponsors. I have also spent this year organizing and speaking at WordCamps all over my region (from Buffalo, NY to Ottawa, ON and places in-between).

And this October we will host the first ever WordCamp Rochester.

  • I’m excited.
  • I’m encouraged.
  • I’m terrified.

OK, maybe “terrified” isn’t exactly right. There are expectations when attending a WordCamp, and I really want us to not only live up to them…but maybe even exceed them a little. So there is some pressure, even if it is self-imposed.

So, in the effort to hit it out of the park, here are some of the things we’ve been working on (numbers are relevant one week after opening the website):

  • We already have 9 speaker applications (several from out of state and Canada)
  • And over 15 attendees have registered
  • We have 10 volunteers
  • Two local monetary sponsors, one venue, and one event sponsor
  • University of Rochester, Simon School is hosting us (and not charging us rent – thank you UR!)
  • We’re working on our speaker dinner location
  • We’re working on the after party location
  • Lunch has been determined
  • So has breakfast/coffee
  • We’re working on a signature non-alcoholic beverage for the after party — the “Hello, Dolly”
  • Social media is up and running and starting to gain some traction
  • Our logo is in place
  • Our t-shirts have been selected
  • We’ve reached out to sticker giant

And there is still so much to be done.

Maybe Rochester is in your back yard, or maybe it’s on your bucket list, or maybe you only know we’re the birthplace of Kodak and the seat of the suffrage movement back in the 1800’s. Whatever your relationship with Rochester or your knowledge of us, plan to come to our WordCamp October 15, 2016. Attend. Speak. Sponsor. Enjoy!

We can’t wait to see you.

Questions?

Email me or use the form in the sidebar to submit your ideas and questions, and they may show up in a future post.

Michelle Ames, smiling in a tiaraOverextended, overcommitted, entrepreneur, volunteer, and social butterfly. Avid Scrabble player. Tea snob. Mom. School board member. Marketing fanatic. 11th hour expert. WordPress Meetup Coordinator. WordCamp speaker. WordCamp organizer. Frequent WordCamp attendee.

I am the owner and marketing diva at Marketed by Michelle.

Follow me on Twitter @michelleames.