What did you think of Word Camp RI?

We just wrapped up our 5th annual WordCamp RI!  What a fantastic turn-out!  Enlightening speakers! Thank you New England Tech for being a great host!  Please take a moment and fill out our survey.  What should we repeat next year?  What thoughts and suggestions do you have to take WordCamp RI to an even higher level next year?  Here’s the link to the survey.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeJ5MSEib46UDlLD-iJOF2n8IdNoYA9oaVcaiQ3iFnbcL3A/viewform

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

5th Annual WordCamp RI

5th Annual WordCamp RI

keynote wc4 wc2 IMG_9691 CtnIDsoW8AEEgNv_newLinchpinTees CsesqBNWIAA1_Cm_EmagineGetsReady 14435155_1305177479506696_8292616957111137340_o_AjayColettaOn Ch12

What Will Happen at WordCamp RI 2016?

WordCamp RI is two days loaded with information and tips and tricks for using WordPress.  It takes place at New England Tech in East Greenwich on Friday and Saturday, September 30 and October 1.

Here’s what’ll happen:

Workshop Day  –  Friday, September 30 – Bring your laptop

  • There’s a beginner’s workshop that will take you from no-website to Your Website!
    • Great for those who want a portfolio,
    • A blog, or a
    • Website for small businesses and non-profits.
  • The intermediate track is for those who already have a website and want to have it noticed by Google.
  • The Contributor Day’s workshop is for those who want to work on projects to make WordPress even better.

Happiness Bar (aka Help Desk) – Both Days

Volunteers will be at your service at the Happiness Bar, giving you one-on-one help with your WordPress website.  Bring your laptop and your questions!

Keynote – Saturday, October 1

We are very excited to have John Maeda, former President of RISD, as the Keynote Speaker at the 5th Annual WordCamp RI. His talk is ” From STEM to STEAM to Startups and Dreams.”  He’ll talk about bringing advanced design to the advanced technology of WordPress. He’s in a position to know about that.  Maeda is now the Global Head of Computational Design + Inclusion at Automattic, the people behind WordPress.

Seminar Day – Saturday, October 1 – (Bring your favorite note-taking device(s) – be it laptop or pen and paper)

  • Check out the sessions for beginners on how to improve your website, portfolio or blog
  • Come to a more advanced session for intermediate WordPress users
  • Learn ways to make sure Google notices you
  • Absorb best-practices for your business
  • Attend a session on making your site look good

After-Party

We’ll have a private tent on the waterfront of East Greenwich at Finn’s Harborside.  Need we say more?

Get your tickets! – $20 gets you

  • Admission on both days
  • Lunch on both days
  • Access to the Happiness Bar both days
  • In-depth Workshops on Friday
  • Seminars on Saturday
  • The After-Party on Saturday

Really – can you afford to stay home???  See you at the 5th Annual WordCamp RI!

 

Walk in with Your Laptop – Walk out with a Website

Create a portfolio at WordCamp RI

Create a portfolio in one day at WordCamp RI on September 30.

WordCamp RI has a variety of sessions lined up for the 5th annual WordCamp RI on Friday and Saturday September 30 and October 1.

You might also like

  • “20 Tips to Improving Your WordPress Site for Beginners” or
  • “Why Did You Do That!? SEO Mistakes All Developers Make” or
  • For a more advanced session “Avoiding Catastrophic Plug-In Failure: Best Practices are Born During Fire Drills.”

WordCamp RI will be held at New England Tech in East Greenwich.

Take a look at the schedule:

https://2016.rhodeisland.wordcamp.org/schedule/

Tickets for both Friday and Saturday are only $20.  That includes all the sessions you want to attend both days, one-on-one help at the Happiness Bar (aka Help Desk), lunch both days, and the After-Party on Saturday.

Get tickets at:

https://2016.rhodeisland.wordcamp.org/tickets/

 

Automattic’s new Global Head of Computational Design + Inclusion — Keynote at WordCamp RI

Keynote – John Maeda

Computational Design and Inclusion.

John Maeda has a vision and goal: that what you see and what you don’t see will work together well.  Especially when it comes to websites.  Especially when it comes to WordPress websites.  Because it’s not a case of “what you see is what you get” but rather what you don’t see determines what you will get.

Quoting from his blog, Maeda, in 1996, “co-founded the Aesthetics + Computation Group (ACG) along with a talented group of people who seamlessly bridged the wide divide that existed back then between engineers who could design and engineers who could code. ”

John Maeda is an American executive spearheading a new convergence across the design + technology industries. He recently joined Automattic as Global Head of Computational Design + Inclusion. Automattic is the company behind WordPress.

Maeda says “Being at MIT for close to 20 years shaped how I saw the world …. But it was my years leading Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) that shaped how I saw the world through artists’ and designers’ eyes.”

WordCamp RI is excited and honored that Maeda has said “yes” to our request that he be our Keynote Speaker on October 1.

Maeda previously served as Design Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a world-leading venture capital firm. An internationally recognized speaker and author, his books include The Laws of Simplicity, Creative Code and Redesigning Leadership. He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering + Computer Science from MIT, an MBA from Arizona State U, and a PhD from University of Tsukuba in Japan.

WordCamp RI is being held Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1 at New England Tech in East Greenwich.  You can get tickets:

https://2016.rhodeisland.wordcamp.org/tickets/

 

Google Analytics Boot Camp

Are you wondering how to get the most traffic to your WordPress website?  Wonder where the traffic you have is coming from?

You need to attend the two-hour workshop “Keeping Your Website/Blog Looking Fresh!” and “Analytics: Gaining Meaningful Data from Your Audience” on Friday, September 30 at New England Tech in East Greenwich.  Ajay Coletta, Assistant Professor at the New England Institute of Technology, along with Patrick Gleavey will be helping you maximize your internet audience.

Ajay teaches multiple courses in WordPress and enthusiastically uses the platform in his personal life as well. Bring your laptop and an eagerness to learn.  You’ll be getting a lot out of this morning’s workshop.

WordCamp RI is just $20 for both Friday and Saturday, including lunch each day and the After-Party on Saturday evening.  Get your ticket at:

https://2016.rhodeisland.wordcamp.org/tickets/

Create Your Portfolio, Your Blog, Your Website at WordCamp RI

WordPress is the perfect internet platform for you, but you are not sure how to begin.  WordCamp RI to the rescue! During the Friday workshop sessions, on September 30, there will be two beginner workshops.  One is geared to the person who likes to have some hands-on control over the coding of their website and the other workshop focusses on creating what content you need and leaving the maintenance to WordPress itself.

WordPress.ORG Basics:  Setup and Installation is being offered by Daniella Norwood of Ella J Designs.  Daniella has taught at past WordCamps and is always well-received. You’ll be able to set-up a website in this workshop or make improvements to the site you currently have.

WordPress.COM Basics: Setup and Installation is for the person who wants to create a website, blog or portfolio and does not want to worry about security updates and maintenance.  Lydia Rogers will show you how to get your website up and running with the focus on what content you’ll be putting on the internet.

Both Workshops will run for 4 hours, with a break for lunch.  Bring your laptop; WiFi will be available.

Before you arrive on Friday morning think about:

What is the purpose of this website/blog?

  • Your work/academic portfolio?
  • Ecommerce?
  • Classroom or nonprofit website?
  • Personal blog?

Now there is only one thing left to do – get your ticket to WordCamp RI!  Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1 at New England Tech in East Greenwich.  Friday is workshop day and Saturday offers you a choice of 45-minute seminars on varying topics.

$20 gets you both days of WordCamp RI with lunch included each day.  You cannot afford not to come!

Thank You to Our Speakers

by joyMarie Adamonis- Friedman

KON Asian Bistro

Did you know that every speaker at a WordCamp volunteers their time to do so? That’s right! Each and every speaker we have had the privilege of hosting at WordCamp RI has done so on their own time. Without these amazing speakers, WordCamps all over the world would not be as successful as they are. We thank each speaker for submitting talks and ultimately choosing to volunteer their efforts to help make WordCamp RI such a success.
Each year, we invite the speakers to a private party to thank them for all they have contributed to WordCamp RI. This year we are hosting a dinner party at KON where they will eat, drink and surely talk WordPress!  Speakers can network amongst themselves and also meet the organizing team! It’s always a great night and it’s something we at WordCamp RI love to do for our talented group of speakers.
Along with the organizing team, each speaker is dedicated to helping the WordPress community grow & flourish. If you think speaking at a WordCamp sounds like something you are interested in, please consider submitting a talk. We hope you are as excited about this year’s WordCamp RI as we are! Hope to see you there!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Jonathan Desrosiers is a WordPress developer who is active in the WordPress community.  He took some time to share his thoughts and advice about WordCamp RI 2016.

Q:Jon, In your professional life, when you’re not helping to speaking at WordCamp RI or attending meet ups, what do you do?  What role does WordPress play?

A:WordPress, for me, is huge. I have made my living with WordPress for over 7 years now. The WordPress community is amazing, and I always try to give back in whatever way I can. I have spoken at WordCamps and meet ups in the past, contributed to WordPress core, and even helped teach people WordPress 1-on-1. I also use WordPress for personal projects when I am trying to start my own sites. It has helped me grow both professionally and personally.

Q:WordCamp RI is two days of all things WordPress.  For someone attending for the first time, what advice do you offer to get the most out of WordCamp?

A:I recommend that you bring your favorite notebook and pen, business cards, and an open mind. WordCamps are full of information and people that you can learn from and network with. Don’t feel overwhelmed if there are a lot of sessions or get frustrated if there are two you want to see in the same time slot. The talks are recorded, and eventually make it on to WordPress.tv. But most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions! I guarantee every speaker is passionate about what they will be presenting and would love to answer any questions you have.

Q: You’ve been very active over the years as a presenter!  Tell me about that.

A: I have spoken in some form at WordCamp RI since 2012. Even though I am from southeastern Massachusetts, I see WordCamp RI as my “home” WordCamp. I went to college in Providence, have been employed in Rhode Island, and have also been very active in the WordPress RI meet ups. Rhode Island has a large number of creatives. Sharing my knowledge and helping others grow is very rewarding.

Q: After WordCamp RI is over, there is the After-Party.  What is that?  Why should I attend?

A: The After-Party is a great opportunity to network with the other attendees and speakers or ask more questions about something you found interesting in a session. I know people who have developed long term business relationships with other agencies and even gotten full time jobs because they networked at WordCamp after-parties.

Q: What’s this Happiness Bar everyone is talking about?  Why would I want to stop by?

A: The Happiness Bar is a designated location where you can go for help with a WordPress related issue you are having. Volunteers will be there to sit with you 1-on-1 and help walk you through steps you should take to try to solve your problem. They will do their best to solve your issue with you. But if they can’t, they will at least try to provide you with resources to point you in the right direction.