*Or The Great Time Had at WordCamp Birmingham 2018*
Did you give a hoot this weekend? Did you wiggle . . . even just a little bit? Or did you strike out and throw up a turkey or two?
At WordCamp Birmingham 2018, we did all of that and so much more.
The weekend got off to a roaring start – or maybe more of a chirping good time – with the Speakers Dinner at the Alabama Wildlife Center at Oak Mountain State Park. If you have never taken the time to visit this amazing place, put it on your to-do list right now.
The Speaker Dinner is a chance for the organizers and speakers to connect and set a foundation for WordCamp. The goal for this year was to introduce folks to a unique part of our community because WordCamp is all about growing community and sharing community.
Not only did speakers and organizers learn more about each other but we learned about the local wildlife – and the presentation was fowl.
Saturday Kicks Off
Registrants began arriving almost before the coffee showed up. They gathered some great swag – from WordCamp totes and t-shirts to Wappus pins from WordCamps around the country.
Gold Sponsors, BoldGrid, BlueHost, and KnownHost, were all there sharing helpful tips and more swag!
WordCamp kicked off with a warm welcome from Lead Organizer, Nathan Ingram. Folks then headed off to their first session choices and the learning and sharing began in earnest.
The lunch break spotlighted another of our Gold Sponsors. Taziki’s provided an amazing spread for lunch of chicken, rice, Greek salad, pita chips, and their famous Taziki’s sauce. We were fortunate that table talks with the speakers helped keep the energy level high so nobody had the need for a nap.
And then our keynote speaker, Gordon Seirup, challenged us all to WordPress Wiggle – while reminding us that it’s all about people!
The great food continued with a visit from Frios for our afternoon break. It was the perfect gourmet freshness to get us through the last few sessions.
Saturday Night Strikes
The closing remarks for Day One happened in each track and everyone was encouraged to head over to Oak Mountain Lanes to have a ball at the after party. BoldGrid hosted the event by providing the food and private lounge space where attendees, speakers, and organizers engaged some more and played a little pool.
The excitement went to a new level when the WordCamp folks took to the lanes. There were some strikes, more than a few gutter balls, and lots of fun.
Sunday Amps Up WordCamp
The second day of presentations kicked off bright and early on Sunday morning, with talks on podcasting, business, accessibility tips, and content ideas.
By the end of the day, everyone was making plans to get together at future WordCamps or just getting together. The engagement and connections had led to relationships – and that is what it is all about anyway.
The last part of WordCamp Birmingham 2018 came with a catwalk presentation of the #WPYall hoodies – perfect for staying warm on a fall/spring morning in Alabama (or on an August afternoon in a chilly Civic Complex) and then LOTS of prizes for the attendees still present to win.
If you didn’t make it to WordCamp Birmingham 2018, you were missed. If you did make it this year, but are ready to get more involved in WordCamp and the WordPress community, then you can join us at a MeetUp or sign up to volunteer for WordCamp Birmingham 2019 (the 10 year anniversary edition).
We want to hear from you. Share your links to your stories and images in the comment section below or just take a moment to let us know your favorite parts of #WPYall.