Necss 2010

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Speakers list posted today. Looks like another great lineup! Except for Rebecca.

http://www.necsscon.org/speakers/

 

[GlobalGlenn]

...although I don't think there's much of a solution...

... To have George Hrab do a lunch time concert, in a theater that didn't even allow us to bring in water, let alone other food and drink was unfair to Geo, and I missed that entire part of the conference.

I have to agree. Being a diabetic, I can't simply skip meals. Geo is great and I was sorry to have to miss him.

I'll still be there though. Any opportunity too see SGU live is a must.

 

[Sc00ter]

I have to agree. Being a diabetic, I can't simply skip meals. Geo is great and I was sorry to have to miss him.

I'll still be there though. Any opportunity too see SGU live is a must.

I didn't even think about people that need to eat due to medical reasons. They haven't released the schedule yet, but I'm assuming because it's one day, around the same amount of speakers, and in the same theater, that it's going to be about the same...

I'm very torn if I should go or not. In some ways I don't want to because of the issues I described earlier that don't seem like they're getting fixed, but I kind of should go since I run the Granite State Skeptics and that's in the North East.

Of course, being in NH and having regulars from VT makes me slightly annoyed that I wasn't even approached, even as a courtesy, for this conference... Some people seem to think the North East stops at the northern Massachusetts border. I know we're a newer group (2 years active) but still.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I was hoping to spend more time with Dr. Rachie, but she got taken to her speakers dinner and didn't get out of that until very late and I was zonko. Part of the nice thing about these conferences is networking and I feel that aspect was squandered.

I missed this earlier. Dr. Rachie was at the pub the night before. Also, some of the speakers went out Sat night.

So get there Friday night this year, if possible.

 

[ricklesgibson]

I didn't even think about people that need to eat due to medical reasons. They haven't released the schedule yet, but I'm assuming because it's one day, around the same amount of speakers, and in the same theater, that it's going to be about the same...

I'm very torn if I should go or not. In some ways I don't want to because of the issues I described earlier that don't seem like they're getting fixed, but I kind of should go since I run the Granite State Skeptics and that's in the North East.

Of course, being in NH and having regulars from VT makes me slightly annoyed that I wasn't even approached, even as a courtesy, for this conference... Some people seem to think the North East stops at the northern Massachusetts border. I know we're a newer group (2 years active) but still.

The lunch thing is a killer. No food or drink in building = fail. We could just smuggle in snacks

But seriously, the thought of calling up some catering trucks and telling them to meet us outside isn't a bad idea, is it? Hell, maybe a few people want to chip in & we could get a bunch of 6-foot subs delivered? We don't necessarily need/have time to go to a restaurant for a full meal, but sandwiches might work, no?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

No need. There's a little grocery store next door that has sandwiches and a salad bar.

 

[SkepticScott]

That store was very popular with NECSS last year, albeit a little crowded.

 

[Reager]

The detailed schedule will be released in a few weeks, but I can tell you now that George's slot will be at the end of the lunch break. That will leave approximately an hour to grab some food and still catch the entirety of his performance.

We will be trying a couple of different things to give some more opportunities for socializing (e.g. more breaks, vendor tables in a different location, letting folks in earlier).

Attendees will also be able to purchase tickets to the Speakers Dinner, which will give more opportunity to socialize with the presenters.

Mike

 

[Sc00ter]

but I can tell you now that George's slot will be at the end of the lunch break. That will leave approximately an hour to grab some food and still catch the entirety of his performance.

That's good to hear at least.

Attendees will also be able to purchase tickets to the Speakers Dinner, which will give more opportunity to socialize with the presenters.

I'm sorry, this is quite lame. It would be better to just skip that and let them do whatever.

 

[Sc00ter]

I'm sorry, this is quite lame. It would be better to just skip that and let them do whatever.

Let me just clarify this a bit, and I guess I have to see how it's officially pitched before I really judge.. But it smells a bit elitist the way it's mentioned in the thread. That's the thing I liked about TAM was the ability to rub elbows with people. If there was more opportunity to do it without having to pay extra it would be nice. I also feel that unlike TAM where you just end up hanging out with people this will feel a bit forced because the people paying will feel like they deserve some of the speaker's time, and the speakers will feel obligated because these people paid.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Of course, if there were no speaker's dinner, some of them might just split.

 

[Sc00ter]

Of course, if there were no speaker's dinner, some of them might just split.

And you would want to hang out with people that have no interest to hang out with you why exactly?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

And you would want to hang out with people that have no interest to hang out with you why exactly?

I wouldn't.

Some of the speakers also go out to the pub.

 

[SkepticScott]

...I can tell you now that George's slot will be at the end of the lunch break. That will leave approximately an hour to grab some food and still catch the entirety of his performance.

Yay!

 

[KingMerv00]

Let me just clarify this a bit, and I guess I have to see how it's officially pitched before I really judge.. But it smells a bit elitist the way it's mentioned in the thread. That's the thing I liked about TAM was the ability to rub elbows with people. If there was more opportunity to do it without having to pay extra it would be nice. I also feel that unlike TAM where you just end up hanging out with people this will feel a bit forced because the people paying will feel like they deserve some of the speaker's time, and the speakers will feel obligated because these people paid.

TAM had a speakers' dinner too. They have it because it generates money, not to be elitist.

 

[Sc00ter]

TAM had a speakers' dinner too. They have it because it generates money, not to be elitist.

I didn't see this last year. There was the SGU dinner, and the "Dinner with Randi" thing, but neither of those I would consider a "speakers dinner". Also, there's TONS of time to mingle with the speakers in between talks. Of course TAM has the benefit of being multiple days and being in a venue that works better for that. But it's been said that they are trying to correct those issues with the current venue for NECSS.

 

[SkepticScott]

In the past there have been fund-raising dinners at TAM, with Randi and several of the speakers. That might be the "dinner with Randi" event you mentioned. There were several tables, and Randi and the speakers would shift from table to table over the course of the dinner, so everybody got to sit with them.

 

[Sc00ter]

I've noticed that NECSS hasn't filled up nearly as quickly as last year. After speaking with many other skeptics that went to NECSS I there seems to be the common thread that nothing really has seemed to be "fixed" with the issues during the last one (with the small exception of moving George's interlude to the end of the lunch break).

I think if it was communicated what else was being done to improve things over last year, more might be willing to come.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I didn't know anything was broken. The conference was great - wonderful speakers, great auditorium, etc.

 

[Sc00ter]

I didn't know anything was broken. The conference was great - wonderful speakers, great auditorium, etc.

The speakers were great, but there was a LOT of complaints about the venue. From the lack of cell service for twittering, to the seats being cramped (even for Liz who's TINY), to not enough breaks, to no food or drink allowed in the auditorium (including water).