At CreateBaltimore you'll join nearly two hundred people building creative community in our city.  Already, the response from registrants and sponsors has been inspiring.  Now the real fun begins.

We'll be updating the schedule in real time at this website and at http://lanyrd.com/2011/createbaltimore/ 

A few words on what to expect at CreateBaltimore:

*Be Punctual

The program will begin at 10am promptly.  If you're early, you can help us set up.  If you're on time, you'll get an awesome T-shirt, delicious donuts, and Zeke's Coffee.  If you're late, you'll miss out on all of that and one of the most interesting parts of the day.

We will all introduce ourselves.  Be prepared to say your name, an affiliation, and three words (no more) that define what you're passionate about.  If you want to lead a session, give a one sentence description.  That's all.  If we all stick to that, we can hear from everybody and still have time to listen to Ellen Lupton's inspiring keynote.

*You Own This

The volunteer organizers and very generous sponsors have created a space and an opportunity.  The rest is up to you.

The success of CreateBaltimore is in your hands: pick up litter… share session notes online… help a presenter connect a VGA cable… step up to organize a session around your vital topic… be a social catalyst.

* Take Initiative

A number of people have already suggested a fascinating array of sessions they're prepared to lead, but nothing is settled until the schedule planning session.  

As we plan, don't be afraid to jump right in with your own new ideas.  You don't have to be an "expert." You might simply facilitate a discussion, or you may have a brief presentation to make before inviting conversation.  You might end up leading a session with someone you've just met for the first time.  Barcamps can be most electrifying when things like that happen.

* Speak Freely and Listen Deeply

We will be running four or five sessions concurrently during each hour-long block.  If you've joined a session, and it turns out not to be what you are looking for, just leave and check out what's happening down the hall.  It's no reflection on the session leaders, it's peer-to-peer education in action.

Throughout the day, we encourage you to take notes, tweet, blog, photograph, sketch, record audio and video, question, argue, and code.  You are the ones keeping a record of any sparks of genius flying here today.  Share everything you can… flickr, YouTube, Facebook, etc.  Where appropriate, use the hashtag #CreateBmore.  You can also post "coverage" at  http://lanyrd.com/2011/createbaltimore/

You'll find some extremely accomplished people around you, but we all have something to learn from one another.  In discussions, at lunch, at the after-party, be sure to seek out people you don't know and be curious.

* Bring your Gadgetry

You are encouraged to bring a laptop, smartphone, power strips, mifi hotspots, audio and video recording devices, projection equipment, and any other gizmos you think might be helpful.  For internet access, we will rely on MICA's ample (but not infinite) wifi bandwidth.

* Stick Around

After the sessions are finished, we will have an important discussion summarizing what we've learned from one another and what our next steps should be as a community.  We'll also have some fun prizes to give away before marching over the bridge to Joe Squared for celebration and socializing.

* Suggestions for Further Reading

People working in public media host a huge PubCamp in Washington each fall.  Here's their helpful guide to "getting the most out of Pubcamp."  Much of the advice applies to participants at CreateBaltimore too.

The "official" barcamp website has a lot interesting info: http://barcamp.org