Call For Speakers: Applied XML Dev.Conf. 5

Are you interested in presenting a 45-minute talk on some applied XML or Web Services topic? It doesn't matter which platform or OS you're targeting. It also doesn't matter whether you're an author or vendor or professional speaker or a developer in the trenches (in fact, I tend to be biased towards the latter). We're after interesting and unique applications of XML and Web Services technology and if you're doing good work in that area, then I need you to send me a session topic and 2-4 sentence abstract along with a little bit about yourself.

I'll be taking submissions 'til the end of June, but don't delay. Passion and a burning story to tell count twice as much as anything else.

And don't be shy about spreading this announcement around! I've got good coverage in the .NET and Windows communities, but don't know very many folks in the Java or Unix or hardcore XML worlds, so if you're in that world, let those guys know! Thanks.

BTW, the conference itself is likely to be in Oregon during the 2nd or 3rd week of September, 2004, but we're still working the details out. One of the fun things that we're thinking about this year is to have the Dev.Conf. in Sunriver, Oregon, a resort and spa town in central Oregon where sun is plentiful and rain is scarce. There are no major airports there, so we'd provide bus transportation from Portland, OR for anyone that wanted it. It'd be a 3.5 hour road trip. What do folks think about that?

How about having it in Redmond, WA? :)

That's a possibility, but it's the MS company town, so I'd prefer to have it on neutral ground so that IBM, Sun, BEA, etc, will come.

Do speakers have to cover their own travel arrangements and accomodations?

I prefer something closer to a major airport, a 3.5 hour busride after 10+ hours of flying doesn't sound attractive.... but a resort filled with xml-die hards does sound like fun.

I think I'm w/ PaulB. Flying accross country to sit on a but is a downer, even if the destination rocks.

Agreed. No bus ride please.

You locals may be a little bored with Portland but it's a huge plus for everyone else.

Speakers should expect a small honorarium to cover travel.

Will the bus have WiFi? :-D

I think Chris had said that he was going to try to get all of us on the same bus, so the travel time from airport to event wouldn't be bad since it would basically be an extention of the conference (as long as we had some beer on the bus).

Don

A bus would be a nix for me! But I'll use any excuse to avoid a conference ;)

I agree, the bus thing for 3.5+ hours sucks. Why not just have it in Portland somewhere?

Personally, I think that Sunriver would be a great place to do it. It's a scenic spot, with great biking, hiking, golf, paddling, etc., and lots of sun.

And although probably it wouldn't qualify as a 'major' airport, Redmond (RDM - in Oregon, not Washington!) has direct service from Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco, and is only 30-40 minutes from Sunriver (less than driving from PDX to Beaverton!).

I'm with Andy. Sunriver would be an awesome place to have a DevCon.

I certainly prefer Phill's suggestion...

I'm strongly in favor of Portland as the venue. Not only do I live in this amazing city but September is one of the best months of the year here. O'Reilly did their Open Source Convention here (Marriott, right on the riverfront) last year and Portland was so popular that it was a slam dunk for them to do it again this summer in Portland.

My 2cents.

Any chance of scheduling this event on the East Coast, or at least the Chicago area to minimize the travel pain for everyone?