Kids Expo 2008 Madison, WI

[sanjito]

Ok, so this is just an idea, but a good idea none the less. I ead this article (http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8288) and and thought I need to quit thinking about getting my other system up and running for my boy. Granted he is only 3 he, is always getting into my chair playing around. But then I had another idea. Why not have a booth at the kid expo in Madison. I take my son to it every year and it is pretty cool. Not only would we be introducing Linux to kids, but also to parents. And what parent does not love free educational items. I am checking into what the cost of a booth would be for this. The expo is marhc 15-16, so there is plenty of time to talk about this. But I think a good version of Ubuntu would be the Edubuntu of course. I my self have no experienec with this one, but it is what I am planning on installing on my sons system.

[Ek0nomik]

Ok, so this is just an idea, but a good idea none the less. I ead this article (http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8288) and and thought I need to quit thinking about getting my other system up and running for my boy. Granted he is only 3 he, is always getting into my chair playing around. But then I had another idea. Why not have a booth at the kid expo in Madison. I take my son to it every year and it is pretty cool. Not only would we be introducing Linux to kids, but also to parents. And what parent does not love free educational items. I am checking into what the cost of a booth would be for this. The expo is marhc 15-16, so there is plenty of time to talk about this. But I think a good version of Ubuntu would be the Edubuntu of course. I my self have no experienec with this one, but it is what I am planning on installing on my sons system.

This sounded like an excellent idea sanjito, so, needless to say, I'm looking into it right now. :)

I just sent an e-mail to their "Contact Us" address. When I get a reply I'll let you know the details I received.

[Wiebelhaus]

Dans Gaurdian would be a nice thing to speak to the parents about , all of them are worried about the kids surfing into the wrong places.

[Ek0nomik]

Dans Gaurdian would be a nice thing to speak to the parents about , all of them are worried about the kids surfing into the wrong places.

It could be something to mention. I think there are two arguments on each side of Internet safeguarding.

[Ek0nomik]

I received a response from Mr. Meyers.

Here is the .pdf he attached to the e-mail: http://webpages.charter.net/muznic/KE_ExhibitorAgreement.pdf

The results weren't as good as I was hoping.

Here is what we're looking at as options:

$1595 (Gold Package)
$1,395 (Silver Package)
$895 (Standard Package)

From the e-mail: "Starting November 1 the price will increase by about 10%."

Does anyone have any ideas for fund raising? How about a "sponsor"? I thought this was a great idea, unfortunately it's quite a bit of money to throw out for two days of time.

I'd be willing to throw out some money for it, but not $895. :) I'll keep thinking of ideas, and I'd like input from the rest of you too.

Hope you're all having a good Monday.

Cheers!

[lifewithryan]

Incredible Idea!

i've actually been wanting to do a presentation on internet safety for parents. I could "clean up" the idea a bit for the kids expo, (originally it was planned to be a no-holds barred shock and awe type of presentation, but it wouldn't have to be for this).

Granted what i was working on wouldn't have had a linux focus, linux would have been mentioned and been used for the presentation.

Ryan

[Wiebelhaus]

I received a response from Mr. Meyers.

Here is the .pdf he attached to the e-mail: http://webpages.charter.net/muznic/KE_ExhibitorAgreement.pdf

The results weren't as good as I was hoping.

Here is what we're looking at as options:

$1595 (Gold Package)
$1,395 (Silver Package)
$895 (Standard Package)

From the e-mail: "Starting November 1 the price will increase by about 10%."

Does anyone have any ideas for fund raising? How about a "sponsor"? I thought this was a great idea, unfortunately it's quite a bit of money to throw out for two days of time.

I'd be willing to throw out some money for it, but not $895. :) I'll keep thinking of ideas, and I'd like input from the rest of you too.

Hope you're all having a good Monday.

Cheers!

How much would you folks need for computers,your time,food and stuff on top of the admin fee of 1,000?

[Ek0nomik]

How much would you folks need for computers,your time,food and stuff on top of the admin fee of 1,000?

Computers, $0.00.
Time, $0.00.
Food, Depends. I'm sure I could find some cheap Vietnamese place or something.

I have 4 computers. I have no problem brining one or two to show off.

[sanjito]

Computers, $0.00.
Time, $0.00.
Food, Depends. I'm sure I could find some cheap Vietnamese place or something.

I have 4 computers. I have no problem brining one or two to show off.

I think the only other cost would be for either
1. purchasing blank disks to burn copies for parents
2. purchasing disks disks from the Canonical store
(200 CD's @ 33.49 = 334.88)

My other idea is to see if we can get support from Wisconsin LUG's. Maybe see if they would like to help sponsor/donate funds so we can purchase a larger booth. I am willing to give a 100.00 for this myself, as well as donate my time and 2 system. If we were to purchase disks from Canonical, I have another 100.00 to add to getting 200 disks.

[Ek0nomik]

I think the only other cost would be for either
1. purchasing blank disks to burn copies for parents
2. purchasing disks disks from the Canonical store
(200 CD's @ 33.49 = 334.88)

My other idea is to see if we can get support from Wisconsin LUG's. Maybe see if they would like to help sponsor/donate funds so we can purchase a larger booth. I am willing to give a 100.00 for this myself, as well as donate my time and 2 system. If we were to purchase disks from Canonical, I have another 100.00 to add to getting 200 disks.

I don't think we should get to ahead of ourselves with the pricing information yet. We could try to find someone at Canonical to communicate with to perhaps supplying us with Ubuntu CD's specifically for the event. It may not be out of the realm of possibility.

So if you are willing to donate $100 to this, that brings us down to (for now) $795.00. I don't know how much I would be willing to throw out. $50.00 for sure, I could maybe go higher. Contacting other WI LUG's could be beneficial. Mike Putnam (sgtd) would probably be our best contact for that.

I could potentially get some of my friends to throw a little money our way, but probably not much.

I know lifewithryan was interested in this idea as well, so we should keep the brainstorming going and try to make this happen.

[mikeputnam]

I think it would be wise to further flesh-out the details of what exactly the Wisconsin Ubuntu Team would be presenting. What exactly would be demonstrated? How would the parents be "sold" on the idea? How do you keep (possibly several) kids interested @ a booth while getting a message across to the parents? I will be happy to contact Linux User Groups (LUGs) regarding this, but I'm sure they will want to know the answers to these questions.

Mike Putnam
http://wisconsinlinux.org

[sanjito]

What exactly would be demonstrated?

My original idea for this was to have systems setup with Edubuntu for the kids to play with. And while the kids were messing around with it, we could talk to the parents letting them know that this is a free OS (probably not using those words) but that it can be run from the cd


How would the parents be "sold" on the idea?

Again, I think the idea that you do not need to install it to make it work. I know that my mom hates installing stuff on her system for the grandkids because "It makes it slow", and this may also appeal to other parents. I have also been reading the documentation for Edubuntu, and taking notes on the finer points that may appeal to parents. I was thinkg that this may be a nice little supplement to hand out to explain what Edubuntu is and the nature or idea behind it. Also how to get it if the parents do not take a disk if we have them available.


How do you keep (possibly several) kids interested @ a booth while getting a message across to the parents?

I think the main thing is to make it hands on. That is really what this expo is all about. Let the kids touch and feel the product for themselves. If they show interest the parents will be more than likely to get it for them. Especially if it is educational, not to mentio free.

[lifewithryan]

Not to mention that many parents are interested in keeping there children out of "danger" on the internet as well. If we speak a bit about that, (someone mentioned Dans Guardian) we can educate the parents some.

Again, we wouldn't NEED Ubuntu to talk about Internet safety, but it could be something that parents will want to get information on and will get them to the booth.

[herteljt]

I am naive to Kids Expo, but I was wondering if there was any way to get the registration fee reduced.

[lifewithryan]

I doubt we can get it reduced...

did anyone happen to notice that they charge extra if you need electricity in your booth...(with a max wattage of 1000 watts I believe?) Thats an extra $65.00.

Again, I need to talk with my bosses, perhaps they'll pony up some dough if they get to put their logo somewhere. (I'd rather not go through them, but my moonlighting gig just doesn't have enough dough right now...and if I sponsored the booth, and someone from my 8 to 5 job saw it...I'd be fired in a heartbeat).

Anyway...I'm still thinking of a way to do this.

[Ek0nomik]

I am naive to Kids Expo, but I was wondering if there was any way to get the registration fee reduced.

I agree with Ryan, I don't think we can get it reduced.

Such an expensive event to show kids cool stuff. McDonalds was able to get in...