photo cred: Adam Silver (http://silverliningphotography.net)
As organizers, it can be tough to look past all the hiccups, the things that didn’t go the way we expected, and the stuff we planned that didn’t end up happening. But, in spite of all that, I’ve heard nothing but compliments and good things about the experience all of you had this past weekend as our guests at WordCamp Los Angeles.
Sure, we organized it. We led the charge and oversaw everything. But this event would never have happened in a million years were it not for the support and help of everyone in the community. I speak, of course, of the amazing and talented speakers who traveled at their own expense to Los Angeles to present unpaid to our audience. I speak of the sponsors who gave us the funds to pay for venues, food, tshirts, printing, and more. I speak of those who volunteered to help us out. Those who pitched in and made the event something really extra special. And I speak of all of those who bought tickets and gave up their weekend to attend WordCamp.
It’s no small thing to announce that you’re going to try and pull off some wild and crazy caper only to find hundreds of people, some of whom you don’t even know, offering up support and encouragement in any way that they can. In the weeks leading up to the event, we had volunteers pitching in every which way to make sure things were taken care of. Not once did anyone turn us down when we asked for help. Not once did anyone drop the ball and not follow through.
All weekend long, people came up to us and offered help. And sometimes, guys, the stuff we needed help with was not the most glamorous. We needed help setting up a couple hundred folding chairs, we needed help sorting and handing out hundreds of tshirts, we needed help cleaning up trash and recycling hundreds of lemonade bottles. And every single time we asked, people pitched in and helped – and they did so cheerfully and happily. We didn’t hear a single grumble, a single complaint.
It takes a community to pull off what happened here in Los Angeles this past weekend. It takes hundreds of people who understand that they’re going to get back way more than they put in, people who are happy and thrilled to be a part of something larger than themselves, people who are selfless and supportive and giving. It was an absolute honor to be a part of making an event this wonderful and amazing happen, and we can’t think of anything better to say than thank you from the bottom of our hearts and SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
I had a GREAT time and the organization of this event was superb. Thanks to all the volunteers and the organizers.
Gene
THANK YOU…My first time at a conference in a long time, my first time around others “live” that love WordPress too..It was very valuable, already implementing much of what I learned and planned to continue the journey. Gonna get out more and attend meetups…You guys rocked it!
Thank you to all of the organizers, promoters, and speakers who spent hours of their own time putting on a wonderful event.
I only attended Saturday, but it was invaluable. Lots of good topics covered, and tips and tricks shared. I received some great advice from the wordpress bar in room one, and I loved the Keynote speech…. great job.
I was too busy listening and didn’t take down the location of the reference materials and presentations… is there somewhere I can get all of the presentations?
Thanks for the kind words! We’re glad to hear that you had a good time 🙂
We will be putting together a list of links to speakers’ slides shortly. In the mean time, if you’re looking for slides from a specific presentation, you may want to see if the speaker has already posted them on their own site or Twitter.
You all did an amazing job! We really enjoyed ourselves and much appreciated the willingness of everyone to give of their time and talents to help others. Thank you so much organizers, sponsors, volunteers and amazing WordPress peeps!
It was a fun, educational and inspiring event. You all did a magnificent job putting it all together. I’m looking forward to attending the next one! Thank you!!! ♥
Natalie – So many awesome WordPress enthusiasts from LA to Orange County to San Diego and beyond. Masterful balance of content for all levels of expertise. Humorously billed as the “WordCamp to the Stars” – but seriously – you and Alex Vazquez deserve Oscars!
This was a great event! Thanks Natalie and all organizers! – Brian
Just wanted to post my personal appreciation for all the hard work by both the organizers and their volunteers……you delivered a terrific event which provided valuable information and which enabled a lot of useful networking. Also, thanks to the sponsors whose contributions make this possible – you too are very much appreciated.
It was an AMAZING event. It will take me a year to absorb all I learned. Thank you to all who worked so hard.
I’m not a developer. I’m not a designer. I’m a terrible blogger. What I am though, is a HUGE supporter and fan of this community. My involvement in it comes from the viewpoint of a WordPress wife. I started attending events simply to 1) spend time with Jason while he was out doing wordpressy things and 2) to meet the people he’s always going on about. What I’ve gotten are real, actual friends who don’t seem to care that I’m “just a wife” of a WP Developer. No one dismisses me because I’m just a wife and not a contributor to the WP world. That is what makes the WP community one of the best communities around.
Also, as one who doesn’t understand most of what is going on at any given WordCamp presentation, I can tell you there were many engaging speakers. I always pick up a nugget or 2 of information I didn’t know about. It doesn’t matter that I’m not a WP person myself, I simply went anyway to be with the husband and had a great time surrounded by great people.
Natalie, Alex, every single volunteer, you guys killed it. Great job!
On behalf of Nathan, Ryan, Natalie and this guy, it’s our pleasure Jen. Thank YOU! A community really is a village and there’s a bazillion ways in which one can support that community and you really do it in the most important ways possible. Showing up, bringing people together, like you did this summer and even more importantly supporting one of the true pillars of our community, Jason Tucker. And remember, that WP Guy is YOUR Hubby; your property. Don’t be bashful. Remind him. =)
Jen, I think I met you by the bathrooms 😉 And you said the same thing to me, “you’re just a wife”…I thought about it after you walked away, there is no such thing as “just a wife”. And now, that I know you’re Jason’s wife…that hold even more truth. Jason does so much for the WP Community and the fact that you are there supporting him at Camps of all places — where they are talking about things you don’t relate to — says volumes!
Cheers to you and your obvious support for your hubby 😉
Thanks to all the wonderful organizers, volunteers, speakers and the whole WP community. It was a very useful event and I learnt several new things and made some friends ! It was well worth my weekend and more !
Ditto! Thank you, thank you all around, Dear Organisers & Volunteers!
Same time, next year? Will definitely consider volunteering to a worthy cause…
Quick question, will any of the videos be uploaded somewhere, say http://wordpress.tv/category/wordcamptv ? Bet the world would get a kick out of Chris Lema… Angelenos, Represent!
Yes, Zoe, the videos will be uploaded. We have to do quite a bit of editing first, but we’ll make sure those are available as soon as possible.