A few people wondered why, with so much focus on social media, we still use the word PodCamp. It’s not just legacy or brand, though those are two considerations. There’s also a vitally important legal reason.

Terms like Social Media Club, Social Media Breakfast, Social Media Camp, Social Media Bar, Social Media Meetup, etc. all have failed in part or in whole the trademark process. The reason is that Social Media is a generic term, like toothpaste or lawyer. Organizations have in the past tried to register these terms and been told that they can’t, as the term is too generic.

Last year, Chris Brogan, Whitney Hoffman, and I kicked in some cash and made PodCamp a registered trademark as part of our incorporation. The PodCamp Foundation is a legal entity, an S-Corporation registered as a business in the state of Delaware, and the primary purpose of the PodCamp Foundation is to enforce and defend the trademark of PodCamp.

We did this primarily so that someone can’t arbitrarily start PodCamp Microsoft or PodCamp General Motors, and use the PodCamp name and community goodwill to promote a specific brand. It also gives us the ability to selectively approve or disapprove the use of the PodCamp name, in case someone chooses not to adhere to the six rules of PodCamp and the PodCamp Foundation License.

If we want to change the name of an event itself, that’s fine - we can always do “PodCamp presents…” or something along that vein. However, the PodCamp name and associated legal rights are an important part of keeping PodCamp owned by the community that started it.

Next Steps:

Incredibly proud of the PodCamp community

PodCamp Boston 3 wrapped just hours ago, and I miss it already. The folks who attended made it one of the most amazing PodCamps yet, in terms of energy, passion, and excitement. I’m incredibly proud…

… of you. You made it to PodCamp Boston 3, made it your own conference, made some incredible discussions and shared amazing knowledge. I picked up some fantastic tips for my own work from my peers and shared as I could, but you made it happen. Plus, you helped raise just about $1,000 in cash for the Greater Boston Food Bank. The most amazing thing of all was your energy. Everywhere I went, there were intense, energized discussions, conversations, sing-alongs, and collaborations. Everyone made use of the venue and opportunity exactly as I’d hoped, to engage each other, to share their passion for new media and for making a difference in the world and our communities. As a presenter, I was happy to see more empty seats than normal, because it meant that people were out working together, collaborating, and making the conference their own.

… of my team. The PodCamp Boston 3 organizers - Chris Brogan, Chel Pixie, Sooz, Steve Sherlock, Doug Haslam, Whitney Hoffman, plus a TON of great volunteers all made PodCamp Boston 3 happen. I want to send three special shoutouts to Chel, Sooz, and Steve, who sat registration and skipped a LOT of the conference experience so that all of us could enjoy PodCamp Boston 3. They deserve tons of acknowledgement and recognition for their sacrifices and their dedication to PodCamp Boston, year after year.

… of our sponsors. Instead of raw shilling or crass commercialism, I was so pleased to see premium sponsors Blue Sky Factory and mDialog, plus sponsors Mzinga and Utterz, and sponsors Marketwire, MarketingProfs, Matchmine, ooVoo, Blip.tv, and Blubrry integrate themselves into the event. I saw frequently that sponsor tables were simply unmanned or abandoned, which meant that instead of trying to sell something, the sponsors were participating as part of the community, which was wonderful. I’ve been to a TON of conferences in the last year and a half, all around the world, and I have to say that the companies that step up and support the PodCamp community get it - they understand that community and business opportunity are not mutually exclusive.

… of our venue. Harvard’s team, largely behind the scenes, did an amazing job making sure everything was right, on time, and as promised, except for a technical problem beyond their immediate control. While I can never tell what the future holds, I’d have no trouble recommending or using Harvard Medical School as a conference venue again. The venue was well sized, well laid out with plenty of casual seating, included parking for attendees, and was overall a real treat.

… of my employer and wife. A special shout out to the Student Loan Network, because honestly, how many other companies out there let ANY of their employees create a conference while on lunch break? (incidentally, to my coworkers, that’s why I’ve been so anti-social at lunch the last week or two - sorry!) A double special shout out to my wife, whose husband has been working the equivalent of a second job for 3 months now. Honey, I’m home!

I hope you take to heart the message that Chris Brogan and I promoted this entire weekend. The time for talk only is over. New media, social media, whatever you want to call it, is an incredible power, the likes of which we as humans have never had before. We can affect events at great distances, see beyond walls, know the thoughts of others, influence millions without getting out of our chairs. I hope you take a step back, realize the power you have, and make something of it. I hope you DO something, whether it’s volunteer with a local charity, raise money for a food bank, help homeless kids, whatever your passion is, I hope your PodCamp Boston 3 experience has given you the means to begin improving your part of the world.

As Peter Parker’s uncle famously said, with great power comes great responsibility, and I hope you take advantage of the power you have while you can, while opportunities abound.

Thank you again, so much, for your energy and for making PodCamp Boston 3 such a memorable experience for me as both a participant and an organizer. I can’t wait to see what you do with what you got at PodCamp, and I hope to see you next in Philadelphia for PodCamp Philly.

Christopher S. Penn
Lead Organizer, PodCamp Boston 3

Next Steps:

If you’re driving to Podcamp Boston 3, you can park for free in the conference center’s parking garage. Look for the signs next to the Joseph Martin Conference Center.

Please spread the word. We have reached the maximum number of attendees for PodCamp Boston that the fire marshal will let us have; as a result, we will NOT be able to accommodate walk-in registrations.

Due to being near the capacity of 480 people, we have moved the sessions from room 214 (the smallest room) to the Bray room. The freeform Pecha Kucha and Battle Decks will be in room 214; also, if you’re presenting and want to practice, and the room is empty, you can do so in 214.

Due to no food or drink in the Amphitheater, the continental breakfasts for both days have been moved to the Rotunda/BrainTorrent area on the third floor.

After registration, head up the stairs or elevators to the third floor for breakfast.

If you have your own power strip, please bring it. There are lots of spaces for collaboration, but if everyone has a laptop, you’ll need more electrical outlets. The Elements Cafe area and Second Floor Collaboration Lounge have lots of spaces for getting together informally.

A few last minute details for PodCamp Boston 3 as you begin your travels. Save this email and bring it with you!

Twitter

First, if you use Twitter, http://twitter.com/pcb3 is the official event account. You can follow it for updates at the event. Be sure to check the blog from time to time as well at http://www.podcampboston.org/blog

Contest

There’s still time to enter the drawing for an 80 GB Zune, web cams, and other giveaways. Visit http://www.podcampboston.org/contest for details.

Schedule

The session schedule continues to evolve a little. We’ll have printed copies at registration of just the schedule, but it’s subject to change. You can always find the latest, most up to date version of the schedule at: http://www.podcampboston.org/schedule

Guide

If you haven’t downloaded the PDF guide, you should! However, for the schedule, see above. http://www.podcampboston.org/pcb3guide.pdf

Sessions

A few folks have asked about the abstracts for the sessions. You can read those at: http://www.podcampboston.org/details

Meetups

We’ve also made a message board with the informal spaces in the conference center if you want to plan meetups and more casual, non-session conversations: http://www.podcampboston.org/informal

Amenities

VERY Important! We purchased shirts, catering, etc. based on where the participant list was about two weeks ago, which is when we had to get our orders in. Since then, we’ve had a MASSIVE influx of people (44 signed up on Wednesday alone!) but our contracts are already final. Thus, if you want a shirt and the other amenities, you MUST be on time for registration! Everything will be first come, first served.

Friday Party

If you’re in town Friday night and looking for something to do (forget about The Dark Knight, every theater in Boston is sold out), there’s a Tweetup: http://prepodcamptweetup.eventbrite.com/

We Love You

As always, a HUGE shout-out to our sponsors (including YOU), who made this event possible. Please check out their services during the breaks in the Rotunda room area to see how they might be of help to your new media efforts.

Premium Sponsors

• mDialog : www.mDialog.com
• Blue Sky Factory : www.BlueSkyFactory.com

Plus Sponsors

• Mzinga : www.Mzinga.com
• Utterz : www.Utterz.com

Sponsors

• Blip.tv : www.Blip.tv
• Blubrry : www.Blubrry.com
• ooVoo : www.ooVoo.com
• MatchMine : www.MatchMine.com
• MarketingProfs : www.MarketingProfs.com
• MarketWire : www.MarketWire.com

Thank you, and see you in Boston TOMORROW!

Christopher S. Penn Lead Organizer, PodCamp Boston 3 and the PodCamp Boston Team www.PodCampBoston.org

Next Steps:

A few late breaking changes…

We’ve got currently 442 people registered for PodCamp Boston 3, well over the 300 estimated. As a result, we’re moving Pecha Kucha and Battle Decks to the Bray room and moving sessions from Bray to the auditorium.

Please download an updated copy of the PodCamp Boston 3 Guide; the schedule pages have changed to reflect some speaker cancellations the move from Bray to Auditorium.

Make sure you’re following pcb3 on Twitter, as additional late changes may appear there.

After clearing up some logistical details, and asking the online community, we’re pleased to announce that there WILL be late registration/on-site registration tickets available, up to the maximum limit specified by the conference center.

Details:

Late registration tickets are $99 each. 50% of the ticket cost will be donated to the Greater Boston Food Bank as a charitable contribution to help deal with the fact that Boston’s food banks are running on empty in the face of 10,000 new mouths to feed each week.

On site registration tickets will be the same price, $99 with 50% going to the food bank. We will not be able to accept cash or checks at the door. There will be a laptop with Internet access at registration, and you are welcome to use a debit or credit card at the door.

NO CASH OR CHECKS AT THE DOOR. CREDIT/DEBIT ONLY.

Late registration/on-site registration folks are not guaranteed shirts, food, or other amenities, due to orders for catering and other supplies having been submitted some time ago.

Next Steps: