The first media release has gone out. I sent three variations of the main release. The first was generic and went to general news purveyors, the second was specific to food & agriculture organizations and news purveyors, and the third was specific to the environment. In total I've sent over 200 media releases. Let me know if you see the story in your local paper!
-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, food & ag style --
HICK Tech 2008, the annual rural and modern technology forum, will be held Wednesday April 30 at The Bayshore in Owen Sound. The full day of speakers and workshops will highlight the appropriate use of technology for everyone using computers and the Internet for personal and business applications. The keynote breakfast speaker, Heather Champ, Community Manager for Flickr, will be traveling from San Francisco to speak on community engagement.
HICK Tech will feature twenty workshops in the areas of Business, Community, Food & Agriculture and Technology; speakers will include Brian Sterling (On-Trace) on food traceability; Steve Snider (Ritchie
Bros Auctioneers) on how to participate in a Ritchie Bros farm auction; Freeman Boyd (Food Link Grey Bruce) on using Web technologies to promote local producers; Megan Langley Grainger (Bereskin & Parr Law Firm) on plant breeders' rights; and Sean McGivern (Grass Roots Organics) on growing and processing grains locally.
Nora Young, host of CBC Radio show Spark, will host the panel discussion at the end of the day and will also be recording sessions for future use on CBC Radio. Details on all speakers are available at www.hicktech.com.
This year, HICK Tech’s additional commitment to the environment includes the purchase of carbon offset credits for all speakers and meals featuring locally grown food prepared by MarketSide (coffee will also be served).
Conference organizer Emma Hogbin is delighted with the response to HICK Tech 2008. “We have speakers coming from three countries to Owen Sound to explore rural and appropriate technologies. To date, our registrants include everyone from adult literacy workers and aquatic ecologists to swine geneticists and web site developers. We’re already well ahead of last year’s registrations and expect to sell out.”
Only in its second year, HICK Tech has significantly grown with the support of Premier Conference Sponsor Everus Communications and the on-going support of the City of Owen Sound and The Owen Sound Sun Times. Delegates are coming from within Grey-Bruce as well as Toronto and beyond to learn and network at this unique event. “When I moved back to Owen Sound two years ago I had no idea something like this could happen in my own home town,” says Hogbin.
To learn more about and register for HICK Tech please visit the conference Web site at: www.hicktech.com.
