What
Texas Government 2.0 Camp (aka, txgov20) is the unconference about using social media tools and Web 2.0 technologies in local, county, state and academia to create a more effective, efficient and collaborative government in Texas.
Like it's progenitors - Government 2.0 Camp and CityCamp - txgov20 will bring together the leading thinkers from government, academia and industry to share Texas Government 2.0 initiatives already in process and collaborate on how to leverage social media tools and Web 2.0 technologies to create a more collaborative, efficient and effective government -- Texas Government 2.0.
When
March 12-15 - pre-camp Rally reception
Late April/early May
- Saturday - April 24, May 1, or May 8, day-long Camp
- Friday evening pre-Camp happy hour and organizing, for any "out-of-towners"
Where
Reception - options:
Camp - options:
- AT&T conference center - in discussion (May 8 and May 1 only)
- others?
Why?
txgov20 Goals:
- Bring together local and state government officials, municipal and regional employees, coders, designers, and journalists to share perspectives and insights
- Establish patterns that cities can use to add value to Texas citizens' lives using the Web as a platform
txgov20 explores and documents ideas, lessons learned, best practices, and patterns related to use of social/participatory media, linked open data, and "Web as platform" at the local level. A core value of CityCamp is that local data - events, actions, activities, alerts, transportation, repairs, budget income, expenses, and other key indicators - have the most direct influence and impact on our daily lives. Other goals are set by participants.
Because txgov20 is an unconference (see more about "unconference / barcamp" history and etiquette further on), the participants will decide the tracks, topics, and sessions. Desired outcomes include, for examples:
- Improved local, regional and state communications
- Improved local, regional, and state orientation and navigation
- Enhanced public safety
- Lower IT costs
- Simpler connections between citizens & communities and local & state government
- Fostered economic development
- Increased civic participation at the local level
FAQs
What is an unconference?
An unconference is collaborative learning event organized and created for its participants, by its participants.
We're using the Barcamp planning platform due to its ease-of-use and widespread recognition . . . hence, the “Camp” in the Texas Government 2.0 Camp name.
Why is this an unconference rather than a traditional conference format?
Our United States government is a democracy that is, by its founding principles, of the people, by the people, for the people. The unconference format embodies these same collaborative principles as our nation’s democracy, and thus, is the ideal format for the topic of Texas Government 2.0.
Additionally, collaborative planning and sponsorship make this event about the topic of Texas Government 2.0, itself, rather than about any single government contractor, think tank, university or government agency.
Furthermore, an unconference is experiential: the unconference format immerses participants in the very collaborative culture that defines the Texas Government 2.0 vision: collaborate to create, shape and enhance and improve.
Finally, the unconference format enables those who are not yet familiar with social media tools and Web 2.0 technologies to experience, first hand, the power of their collaborative tone and capabilities.
But I’ve never been to an unconference or Barcamp before and this sounds weird
Please do not be intimidated or put-off by the unconventional format of Texas Government 2.0 Camp. Give it a try and sign-up below as a participant.
Even better, sign-up below to volunteer and help to create this event. There is no “right” way of doing this. We're all figuring this out as we create it together. In the spirit of an unconference, you are just as much a contributor as the organizers.
Volunteers
| Name |
How will you help? |
E-mail / Contact |
| <Your Name Here> |
<Promote, present, attend, etc.> |
<Good way to reach you> |
| Julio Gonzalez |
Attend and promote |
@jgaone & keepaustinwonky.wordpress.com |
| |
|
|
Sponsors
Texas Government 2.0 Camp is free for attendees and will be 100% sponsor-supported. THIS IS NOT an opportunity to focus on selling your product or service - as a sponsor please focus on providing value to the community in the form of insight and/or other means. Sponsors who are overly aggressive with their marketing executions online or onsite will be asked to tone it down.
| Amount (USD) |
Business/Individual |
Web site |
| $50 (+ lanyards) |
Steve Ressler, GovLoop.com |
GovLoop.com |
| $100 |
Steve Guengerich, nGenera Corp. |
www.nGenera.com |
Schedule/Structure
As an unconference, the agenda will be set at the event during the plenary session. To help people see the kinds of sessions likely to happen, please share your ideas here:
Initiating Organizers
(please don't add yourself here, rather, add yourself to Volunteers section above)
(Please note the Federal Web Managers Council and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department do not endorse the services or products of firms participating in this event.)
Contact the Organizers
info@txgov20.org
Suggested reading
If you are curious about understanding more about topics and buzzwords that surround Texas Government 2.0, here is some suggested reading (feel free to add).
Print
- Cluetrain Manifesto by Christopher Locke, Rick Levine, Doc Searls, and David Weinberger (1999)
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (2002)
- The Future of Work by by Thomas W. Malone (2004)
- The Long Tail by Chris Anderson (2004)
- The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman (2006)
- Everything is Miscellaneous by David Weinberger (2007)
- Groundswell by Charlene Lei and Josh Bernoff (2008)
- Wikinomics by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams (2008)
- Crowdsourcing by Jeff Howe (2008)
- The Starfish and The Spider by Ori Brafman and Rod A. Beckstrom (2006)
- Government 2.0 by William Eggers (2005)
- Governing by Network by Stephen Goldsmith and William Eggers (2004)
Online
Other must suggested reads.
Talk About and Follow Texas Government 2.0 Camp
On Twitter:
Tag for Flickr, Delicious, ma.gnolia, Technorati, etc: #txgov20
Join our GovLoop Group and start a discussion on the GovLoop Group Page (free registration required)
