Announcing formation of VCF steering committee: Call for Members

[Sellam Ismail]

At the prodding of a small group of dedicated VCF fans and friends, I've 
decided to form a VCF "Steering Committee" to henceforth assist in 
producing all VCF events, in particular the main west coast event.

Here are the roles that are currently open:

Speaker Booker/Manager (filled: Jack Rubin)

   Handles the overall coordination of the speakers; researches and 
   identifies potentional speakers for regional events; interfaces with 
   the speakers to ascertain their equipment needs; plans the speaker 
   schedule.

Exhibitor Booker/Manager

   Handles the coordination of the exhibitors; designs the exhibit area 
   layout; answers exhibitor inquiries; interfaces with the exhibitors to 
   ascertain their space and power requirements.

   Additional roles (local to event):

   Designs the power distribution system in the physical exhibit layout; 
   helps exhibitors setup ensuring each exhibitor has the required space 
   and services; remains in the exhibit area during most of the event to 
   cater to any exhibitor needs as well as to help watch over the exhibits.

   The additional roles can and most likely will be separated out to a 
   sub-manager local to the event locale who will coordinate and report to 
   the Exhibitor Booker/Manager.

Vendor Booker/Manager (filled: Jack Rubin)

   Handles the coordination of the vendors and designs the marketplace 
   space; interfaces with the vendors to ascertain their equipment 
   requirements (i.e. table rentals); answers vendor questions; designs 
   the marketplace space layout.

   Additional roles (local to event):

   Assists vendor setup (shows vendors to their space and ensures they 
   have requested equipment and services); remains available to the 
   vendors during most of the event to cater to any needs; collects any 
   fees due.

   As with the Exhibit Booker/Manager, the additional roles can and most 
   likely will be separated out to a sub-manager local to the event.

Workshop Booker/Manager

   Researches and contracts designers of vintage computer projects to 
   help create Build-It-Yourself workshops suitable for the VCF; assists 
   with workshop attendee bookings, including answering questions and 
   coordinating with the workshop designer/instructor.

Marketing Director

   Liason to media; creates and disseminates press releases; creates and 
   posts advertising for events; general public relations.  This is an 
   obviously important role.

Art/Design/Theme Director

   I used to be creative, but these days I'm subject to sudden bursts of 
   random brilliance punctuated by aeons of arid and infertile thought 
   processes.  Too many distractions, I reckon.  Anyway, I need someone to 
   design the look and feel of any given VCF event, including logos, 
   t-shirt designs, slogans, event programs and signage, promotional 
   brochures, etc.  Someone good with an illustration application and some 
   spare time.

Sponsorship Shark

   This role entails securing sponsorship in the form of money from 
   companies for name placement, or collateral materials (books, posters, 
   etc.) to give away at VCF events.

Special Events - Nerd Trivia Challenge Researcher/Manager
Special Events - RetroCode Challenge Manager

   I like to have fun side events at the VCF.  It's hard to fit them in, 
   what with all the other chores to handle.  This role will be assigned 
   on an event by event basis to design and implement special side 
   attractions at specific VCF events.

Web Maestro

   Every organization needs one: so too, the VCF.  This is mostly managing 
   the superficial VCF website elements through the custom management 
   system (I still handle all the coding and development), i.e. creating 
   new events; editing user submissions; creating photo galleries of past 
   events; managing mailing lists; etc.

Special Projects Liason

   This role is special.  It requires a strategist, thinker and doer, all 
   combined into one.  It is someone who will help me promote and pursue 
   special VCF projects.  I have all sorts of crazy ideas for neat things 
   to do surrounding the VCF but a seemingly diminishing amount of time 
   with which to pursue them.  I need a creative person with lots of 
   energy to put these various projects into motion, which could range 
   from building fun retro things (Commodore 64 Supercomputer for 
   example), to designing new VCF events and experiences, to coordinating 
   development of standards, practices and services that benefit the 
   vintage computing community (FutureKeep, Binary Athenaeum, a Prize for 
   Excellence in the Pursuit of Vintage Computing, etc.)  You know who you 
   are.  Contact me.

Jack Rubin is also going to fill the role of supervisor of each 
sub-manager, and I will of course be the VCF Overlord and general 
ass-kicker.

The role will mostly be for glory and possible profit-sharing if certain 
minimum revenue thresholds are met on any given event.  I've been 
experimenting with "franchising" the VCF over the past several years, with 
regional events being handed off to autonomous individuals or 
organizations, such as Hans Franke (VCF Europa) and Mid-Atlantic 
Retro-Computing Hobbyists (VCF East).  The regional coordinators are 
responsible for financing their local events, while I still ultimately am 
responsible for financing of the main VCF event in the Silicon Valley.

Even though this is a primarily voluntary role, I need people who will be 
dedicated and, when it comes to crunch time (i.e. 6-8 weeks prior to any 
given event), will be able to reserve anywhere from 4-6 hours per week on 
their assigned role.  In other words, a serious disposition is mandatory.

Please e-mail me directly if you would like to apply for a particular 
role.

The VCF has a solid foundation of a decade of events all around the 
(Western) world.  With the participation of a dedicated team of 
like-minded nerds, the next ten years will prove to be more wide-ranging 
and more exciting than the first.

Thanks!

-- 

Sellam Ismail                                        Vintage Computer Festival
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