emmajane's blog

The planning for the first-ever HICK Tech started in 2006. At that time I thought I was developing a one-day technology conference. In reality the project has grown into something much bigger. This year I have been asked to speak at four international conferences about the successes HICK Tech has seen. I am also in the process of writing an article for Linux Pro Magazine on the steps it takes to run your own community technology conference. This Web site will continue to host information about the local projects I'm involved with but also the broader ideas of community and rural and technology.

In its new incarnation I will be adding more of my own photographs (and maybe there will be some guest photographers as too). I've started with a photograph of Owen Sound's grain elevators. I have a feeling future photos will include things like power lines and cell phone towers and mill dams and water towers and other definitions of rural and technology. The series is inspired by RG Daniel's photograph of a steer in front of a wind turbine on the Bruce Peninsula. It was the graphic used for HICK Tech 2008 promotional material (albeit tinted orange).

Thank you to everyone that has supported HICK Tech to date. I look forward to growing with you.

At our final tally, the day of the conference consumed the following power:

Air travel (three round trip flights): 5.06T CO2
Car travel (fifteen round trips, total distance of 4390km. Some speakers car pooled.): 0.85T CO2
Electrical consumption at the Bayshore (multiple rooms with varying use and a dishwasher, 1069.57kWh consumed): 0.32T CO2

These 6.23T of CO2 emissions have been offset to the Gold Standard using PlanetAir's offset credits program.

HICK Tech was once again a brilliant success. People left energized and empowered to learn more and to do more with technology. I can't thank everyone enough for their participation in this event. But I especially want to thank Everus Communications for their sponsorship. This event could not have happened without them. The costs this year were much higher than last year. New costs especially included local food (wasn't it AMAZING?), an energy audit of the Bayshore, energy offset credits for the travel and power consumption during the day, and a professional sound technician. This could not have happened without you, Everus. Thanks!!

If you didn't come to HICK Tech this year, what did you miss? Well... bag pipes, the Mayor, an outstanding presentation by Heather Champ of Flickr, me having to bend to the will of a room hanging off every single word of Darryl Peddle from Yahoo! Canada (all slides that I receive will be uploaded on the Schedule page, scroll to the bottom for the attachments), a panel discussion led by CBC's Nora Young (Huge round of raucous applause when she mentioned her program Spark. In fact I think she may have blushed.), Bobby Dean Blackburn singing beautiful tunes, birthday cake, beer from Neustadt (what's that? you didn't know there was going to be beer?! I had to have some surprises for my registrants), the list goes on and on. I don't have any favourite moments from the day. It was all amazing.

I look forward to hearing some of your favourites moments. Please leave a comment here, or a link to your write-up of the event. If you uploaded pictures to flickr, please tag them with "hicktech" (no spaces). Some have already started to report on the day. My first registrant was also my first blogger and of course there were photos onto flickr almost immediately as well. In fact there were so many photos on flickr that Francesca had to take advantage of one of the flickr pro accounts that was gifted to her as a participant at HICK Tech (all participants took home two one-year flickr pro accounts, thanks flickr!). The Sun Times also did a wonderful article about the day.

Only ten days 'til HICK Tech is upon us! All of the little last minute details are being wrapped up and the excitement is getting overwhelming. Early this morning I picked up the official HICK Tech mugs from local potter Vince Bowen. They are absolutely beautiful.

I am so in love with them that I want to keep them all.

On Friday I also dropped by The Horse Habit and picked up my custom ordered cowboy boots. Bill and I compared boots today at the Owen Sound Home and Cottage Expo. At least we would have compared boots if he was still wearing his (apparently an ankle injury a few years back has made it impossible for him to continue wearing his trademark boots).

I am so in love with the boots that I want to wear them all the time. In fact I gardened in them this evening because someone accused me of having too-clean boots today.

I also wanted to clarify one thing about the conference: this is a technology conference. Not just an Internet conference. We have sessions on food chain management, home solar energy and wind power IN ADDITION to the computer/Internet focused sessions. Even if you hate computers it's very possible you'll still love this conference. I look forward to seeing you at HICK Tech I know it's going to be an amazing day!