Two reminders: 2009 participant survey, and 2010 steering committee
May 30 is a deadline for two things…
1) If you have not completed the 2009 participant survey, please do so. Only 28 people have responded so far, which is less that one fifth of the total number of people who participated. So please share your feedback; without it, we cannot know if there’s an area that you loved and work to maintain it, or an area that you hated and work to change it. Please share as many details as possible in the survey, even if you have already shared your thoughts in the Google group. Access to the survey will close on May 30.
2) If you have participated in two Sex 2.0s and would like to be on the steering committee for 2010, please inform me of your interest by May 30. After that date, membership on the 2010 steering committee will be considered closed. You can read more about the steering committee’s function here. And I am still looking for feedback from the group on areas of responsibility that I mentioned about a week or so ago on the Google group.
Video: Melissa Gira’s keynote
Finally! We have video of Melissa Gira’s “This American Life”-esque keynote at Sex 2.0 2009, w/ Audacia Ray playing Ira Glass from the back of the room:
Sex 2.0: Keynote from Melissa Gira on Vimeo.
Notes from Melissa on her Tumblr:
Our program was produced by ten hours notice that the original keynote speaker was horribly sick, $4 hotel coffee, 2 laptops, and adrenaline. Introduced and assisted by Audacia Ray, with contributor Melissa Gira Grant. Special thanks to our lead organizer Match. Sex 2.0 management oversight by our founder, Amber Rhea, who is likely right now “brainstalking you on Twitter.”
Best keynote ever!
2010 conference location, organizational structure, and more
Here is the message I sent to the Google group last night:
—
First of all, I am thrilled to announce that Sex 2.0 will be in Seattle next year, and the venue will be the Center for Sex Positive Culture! The director of the Center, Allena Gabosch, is super excited about Sex 2.0 and is behind our mission 100%. I can’t think of a more perfect venue. You can read all about the Center at their web site, http://www.sexpositiveculture.org. They’ve been open for ten years, which is pretty freakin’ awesome.
We do not yet have a date, but it will be sometime in summer 2010. It will definitely be after the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival. As always, we’ll work to make sure we minimize conflicts w/ other events as much as possible.
I also have a strong lead on a block of rooms at the super-cool sex-positive Hotel Max: http://www.hotelmaxseattle.com. They offer “kinky kits” in their rooms, among other things. Perfect tie-in, right? (Argh… no pun intended!) I’ll keep everyone posted on that, of course.
Yay for Seattle 2010!!
Next up: It’s been said that a conference’s third year can make it or break it. Sex 2.0 is growing, and as you know from the discussions we’ve had here on the list over the past two weeks, we all share the concern over how to manage that growth and keep Sex 2.0 the unique event it is. So, going forward into year three, we’re making a few changes.
First of all, we’re dropping the word “unconference” from the description, since that seems to ruffle some people’s feathers. Sex 2.0 will remain community-driven and committed to our core ideas of everyone having something to teach and something to learn; this event will continue to be what you make of it, with everyone expected to contribute something to get the experience they want. I’m not willing to keep fighting a battle over the word “unconference,” though, so we’re nixing it. It’s more important that we have a great time, rather than what we call it!
Next, in planning for the 2010 conference, Sex 2.0 will have a steering committee. This was the logical decision after listening to feedback from participants for the last two years, including goals and questions for next year. The steering committee’s reason for existence is to help in the guidance of the event: the direction in which it moves and grows, and what we want to offer as a safe, social and educational gathering. In no way does this committee reflect on the planning of events in various cities, but rather it exists to ensure the spirit of Sex 2.0 remains consistent. Each year, a team of local organizers will be responsible for on-the-ground logistics, planning, and implementation in whatever city the conference is taking place.
Input from everyone is always needed, but in having this committee, it lessens the need for the planners of the event itself to be so burdened. Sharing the stress is always good – it’s ensures that no one is overwhelmed; and personally, I feel that an important part of a supportive community is taking care of each other and being accountable in this way.
Membership on the steering committee is open to people who have attended at least two Sex 2.0s. This requirement is to ensure that committee members have a good grasp on the mission and history of the conference. These are not permanent positions nor set in stone in any way; membership will naturally change from year to year. The maximum number of people for the committee is 13 – because that’s how we do it at Sex 2.0, we subvert societal paradigms that arbitrarily label some numbers “unlucky!” If you would like to be on the steering committee this year, please reply to the group or email me.
Finally, remember, if you have not taken the survey yet, please do; even if you have given your input on the group, please include as much feedback as possible in the survey, so it will be there in delicious analysis-friendly format. Access to the survey will close May 30, and you can find it here: http://sex20con.com/2009/05/16/2009-sex-20-participant-survey/
SlideShare: Internet Famous, but Conference Shy?
Here are the slides from cunning minx’s session, “Internet Famous, but Conference Shy?” (alternate title: “How to Get Some at Cons!”) Not all of the cool animations are preserved in the SlideShare version, but you still get 99% of the awesomeness, short of actually being at the session in person.
2009 Sex 2.0 Participant Survey
If you attended Sex 2.0 this year, please take a few moments to complete this survey. The more detailed your responses, the better! This will help ensure that Sex 2.0 continues to meet the needs of the various communities that support it.
Please complete the survey only once. Access to the survey will close on Saturday, May 30.
Thank you!
UPDATE: Access to the survey is now closed.
Video: Gender and Technology
Video by Miss Calico
Video: Revenge Porn
Videos by Miss Calico
Video: Sex Work in the Time of Obama
Video by Miss Calico
Video: Building bridges and alliances between sex worker communities, researchers & clients
Video by Miss Calico
Audio: Revisiting Naked on the Internet
The audio from the Revisiting Naked on the Internet panel at Sex 2.0 has been posted as an episode of (un)ConCast on the Georgia Podcast Network. Listen below or download it here.
