Announcing PUG Challenge  Americas!

Our  Goals

Ultimately  it is all about content, technical content, geeky content. But aside  from content (and more content) there a few other attributes  that we  want this conference to have:

• Inexpensive.    
  • The venue (hotel)  should be affordable.
  • No "resort fees" and intenet access  charges!
  • Transportation should be affordable.
  • The  conference cost should not be prohibitive.
  • An online option for  people who cannot attend in person.
• Easily reached --  the location should be easy to get to.
• Provide "networking"  opportunities.    
  • Plenty of peer networking opportunities.
  • Receptions  where one can actually have a conversation.
  • Lots of chances to  mix and mingle with PSC developers &  product managers.
  • An  open and engaging "expo" with low barriers to entry.
• Hands-on  workshops.
• Broad and deep, technically oriented, coverage of  all Progress  products.    
  • No marketecture presentations --  just real stuff.
  • Technical "how-to" expositions of non-OpenEdge  products.
    • Sonic, FUSE, Actional, Apama, Savvion...
    • Virtualization,  "The Cloud" etc.
  • A mix of the old and the new -- not  just this year's new  release.
• Did we mention that it  should be technically oriented?

Discussion Forum  Created

We  have created a Discussion Forum for  everyone interested in what is happening or who is wanting to help  organize and plan this event.

Unfortunately spammers descended on it  immediately so a registration  and confirmation process has become  necessary. It is, however, as painless  as we could make it and anyone  with an interest is welcome!  Register today so that we have your  contact information and can keep you up to date as  this event unfolds!

Many of you  have participated in one or more discussions. Thank-you!  And keep up  the good work.  Make your voice heard!

Status Summary

This is all  preliminary -- you can still make your voice heard!

The "Early  June" time-frame looks fairly good. Specifically June  6-7-8. The  reasoning behind this is that it is nicely offset from other events  in  the community (Virtual Exchange, PUG Challenge and Virtual  Interchange);  as well as being sandwiched between Memorial Day and the  start of summer.

We have emerging consensus regarding the "shape" of the  event.  Something similar to this is probably where we will end up:

• At  least 2 days, hopefully 3.
• Roughly 4 parallel "technical"  tracks.
• A "commercial" track.
• One hour sessions.
• Some  "workshops".
• An "expo", probably continuously offered and with a  low barrier to  entry.
• A focus on content over fluff.

The  discussion regarding location and venue has been very productive.  No  hard decision has been reached but a consensus does seem to be forming   that there are many persuasive reasons to favor a "Boston Area"  location. A  big part of the rationale behind this is that we would be  local to The  Mother Ship (Progress HQ) which would make it very easy  for Progress personnel  to participate.

In light of that preliminary proposals from several potential  venues have been solicited and  received. Highlights:

• We are being offered room rates of less than  $100/night.  With  free internet.
• Flexible meeting space is  available -- we can confidently host an  event with anywhere from 50 to  500 attendees.
• The meeting space is suitably professional.
• Menus  are flexible and affordable -- but food is definitely the  biggest  cost.
• The responding venues are accessible to good airports.
• Airport  shuttle service is available at reasonable rates.
• Alternative  super-economy hotels are nearby.
• The venues are close to The  Mothership.