January 22nd, 2010
After a short winter hibernation, Ignite is ‘warming’ back up <groan></groan>
Here is what we know now:
- 10 speakers
- April
- Wilmington
- Great time
If you have a topic to speak on, please send a highlight to ignitewilmington@gmail.com. We hope to ‘crowdsource’ the selection and let everyone vote on the potential speakers.
Ignite is all about creative energy! We really would love to see some talks that are a bit off the beaten path. Want to share your love of Helvetica, jQuery or even composer John Adams? We want to hear it!
We are shooting for a Wilmington bar/restaurant that can hold 200 people for a night of fun. Got an idea, let us know!
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October 13th, 2009
Not much to say, except to say that this is going to be fun!
Doors open at 6, talks start at 7.
See you there!
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October 12th, 2009
We are busy putting all the presentations to bed with hopes of Twin Lakes Beer running through our heads. Ignite Wilmington #2 is tomorrow night! The DuPont Theatre will open its doors at 6pm and the fun begins at 7pm.
Special thanks to Wilmington’s latest restaurant, Public House, for providing some vittles for everyone to enjoy. It should all pair nicely with the Twin Lakes beer provided by MySherpa!
Ken Grant, an IW1 veteran, has agreed to fill in at the last minute and speak about the Newark Freeze event with Nat Measley.
Here are the rest of the confirmed speakers:
- Julie Van Blarcom – Delaware Children’s Museum “Bringing the Delaware Children’s Museum to Lifeâ€
- LeRhone Walker – The Archer Group – “Why Drupal?â€
- JoJami Tyler- Fashion Alliance of Delaware – “Tweak Your Chic, Wilmingtonâ€
- Minister and Fighter Pilot, Jon Boulet – Hockessin Baptist Church “My Bi-vocational Lifeâ€
- Brian Sowards – Delaware Film Company – “The Delaware Film Initiativeâ€
- Lee Mikles – The Archer Group – “Bob Archer – The Man, The Myth, The Legendâ€
- Whitney Hoffman – “Unconferencesâ€
- Bill Taylor – The Light Up the Queen Foundation “Communityâ€
- Laura Novak – Laura Novak Photography – “Behind the Scenes: Weddings 101â€
- TwitterQueens – “Empowering Women through Social Mediaâ€
See you there!
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September 21st, 2009
Ignite Wilmington #2 is in October, and if it is anything like IW1, it will be a kind of festival, so leave it to the folks at MySherpa to make the connection and come aboard as a sponsor of IW2 by providing Twin Lakes beer, Oktoberfest no less.
MySherpa is a great regional computer systems support organization that keeps many regional businesses humming by making sure that the business systems are protected, back up and nicely polished (well maybe not the polished part). MySherpa has been very supportive of IgniteWilmington, so be sure to show them some IW love in return.
The speaker lineup has been posted, and the speakers are all properly procrastinating the preparation…just like last time!
If you haven’t signed up for IW2, register now! Just like IW1, the event is free, but pre-registration is required and ‘supplies are limited’. If you wait too long, you could be forced to press your face up to the window and look at the rest of us enjoying our Twin Lakes beer, brought to you by MySherpa!
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September 14th, 2009
We got a lot of really cool submissions, but we had to nail it down to 12+1 (as an alternate) so hard choices had to be made. We have a great mix of people who have one thing in common, they are passionate about something in Wilmington!
In no particular order:
Julie Van Blarcom – Delaware Children’s Museum “Bringing the Delaware Children’s Museum to Lifeâ€
LeRhone Walker – The Archer Group – “Why Drupal?â€
JoJami Taylor- Fashion Alliance of Delaware – “Tweak Your Chic, Wilmingtonâ€
Minister and Fighter Pilot, Jon Boulet – Hockessin Baptist Church “My Bi-vocational Lifeâ€
Brian Sowards – Delaware Film Company – “The Delaware Film Initiativeâ€
Leslie Kosek – Best Buddies Delaware – “Creating a Non-profit in Delawareâ€
Lee Mikles – The Archer Group – “Bob Archer – The Man, The Myth, The Legendâ€
Whitney Hoffman – “Unconferencesâ€
Bill Taylor – The Light Up the Queen Foundation “Lighting up the Queen Theaterâ€
Laura Novak – Laura Novak Photography – “Behind the Scenes: Weddings 101â€
TwitterQueens – “Empowering Women through Social Mediaâ€
Scott Johnson – Solar Dock – “My Tesla – the first electric sports carâ€
IW1 Veteran Jeff Schaller is currently at his art show in Switzerland, but agreed to speak again!
Thanks to all who submitted. To those who agreed to speak, start prepping now!
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September 2nd, 2009
Speaker submissions due Wed, September 9th!
We toured the DuPont Theatre yesterday to scope out how Ignite Wilmington #2 would be set up. While many liked the ’standing room only’ IW1, this time we have chairs for all, and really comfortable chairs!
There have been a lot of great talks submitted by new and returning speakers. If you have something you would like to spend 5 minutes sharing with around 200 of Wilmington’s coolest, please submit your ideas to ignitewilmington@gmail.com by Wednesday September 9th. We will review them with a goal to narrow it down and let everyone know by Friday the 11th so they have a month to prepare.
Trying to keep it real to both creative and technical types in Wilmington, we would love to have a couple of bits and bytes presenters to round everything out.
No chance of getting you on stage, sign up for a ticket instead!
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August 25th, 2009
Just before the DuPont Theatre heads into their fall season of Broadway shows, Ignite Wilmington will take the stage!
Same as before – Speakers get 5 minutes to go through 20 slides (which advance automatically every 15 seconds, whether you are ready or not, just ask IW1 Veterans) Mark Mobley of the DSO will again lend his golden voice and whitty charm to the event as the MC. 6pm start time for mingling. 7pm the talks start.
IgniteWilmington@Gmail.com has received some interesting speaking topic suggestions. Keep them coming!
In addition to the speaking ideas, we have also received a few emails that we may have already won a boatload of cash in an overseas account. If that comes through, we won’t need sponsors, but just in case, please let us know if you want to get your brand in front of a bunch of artsy-techie types.
Tickets available now. Still free! Last one sold out, with over 120 people attending. Lets see what we can accomplish with IW2.
Follow us on twitter @IgniteWilm for latest updates!
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August 18th, 2009
I hope everyone has cooled down from the hot and humid inaugural Ignite Wilmington. Between the speakers, the crowd of approx. 120 fans and the outdoor temperatures, we were close to igniting more than we bargained for.
Want to host Ignite Wilmington #2?
The buzz from IW1 was tremendous. Lets keep it going with the next one! We are hoping to have it in mid-October. Most Ignite events across the country are held in restaurants or bars, where the establishment can make a little money off of 120 people descending upon it with their thirst. Anyone who is interested, or has a restauranteur friend who is interested, please email us at IgniteWilmington@gmail.com. The location will strongly drive the exact date.
Want to speak in Ignite Wilmington #2?
If you think you can follow IW1s closing speaker, Ken Grant, with his perfect ‘How nerdy are you?’ talk, please let us know. Submit your talk ideas by September 12th to IgniteWilmington@gmail.com. Five minutes in front of a fun supportive crowd is all it is, just ask any of the IW1 speakers 
Want to sponsor Ignite Wilmington #2?
Want to get in front of a bunch of people passionate about Wilmington’s creative community? We will be looking for some sponsors to help defray costs. You get props the night of the event as well as in the emails leading up. Nice way to demonstrate to those around you how committed you are to the Tech/Creative community brewing here in Wilmington!
Want to follow Ignite Wilmington #2?
keep up to date on the site, www.IgniteWilmington.com or add @IgniteWilm to your twitter follows.
Lets keep the energy going here in Wilmington with Ignite Wilmington #2!
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July 27th, 2009
When the News Journal called to ask about coming to the event to report on it, you knew that the event had reached a certain visibility. But it is always nerve wracking to see exactly what actually gets written. Would he talk about the fun night or the blazing heat that comes from putting so many people in a confined space on a July night?
Josh Shannon of the News Journal took the time to talk to people and listen to the talks, and as a result, he wrote a great piece on the first Ignite Wilmington!
Next week, we hope to announce the date for Ignite Wilmington #2 and make a call for speakers! Start thinking about what you might want to say, or who you think should be igniting Wilmington!
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July 23rd, 2009
We have been receiving a lot of great emails and tweets about Ignite Wilmington #1. Also some great first hand accounts from bloggers who were there:
The Wilmo Wanderer “In the end, everybody had a great time, a lot of interesting ideas and points of view were advanced in a short, easily digestible format, and the keg didn’t kick until the end of the night. Good times.”
Laura Gesin’s Blog “All in all, one of the best events I’ve attended recently, well worth the 3 hour round trip drive”
Citizen Connelly “All in all it was a superb time, very refreshing and rejuvenating.”
but wait there’s more:
YoYoJoes “Perhaps the most exciting part of the event was the vibe. Yes, this REALLY was taking place in Wilmington – AFTER 5 pm”
<blush>Aww shucks</blush>
Post links to your own accounts in the comments section!
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