This inaugural New York State Government "un-conference" is about convening a group of citizens and civil servants (and perhaps even elected officials?) to share ideas about how technology can make government work better for all the citizens of the Empire State, focusing in particular on the theme of using technology to increase transparency and participation in New York State government.
What's an un-conference? Why "Camp"? See our explanation here.
Goal:
To share knowledge, challenges, and solutions among a range of stakeholders in the use of technology by New York State’s Government; to build a collaborative “e-government” community of practice that includes citizens, civil servants, and elected officials.
Organizers
Sessions
This first CapitolCamp is hosted and organized by the New York State Senate (Office of the Chief Information Officer) and by the New York State Office of the Chief Information Officer, and will be organized into three thematic “tracks,” with specific 45 minute session topics proposed by attendees upon their arrival at the event:
1) "Senate 2.0": Technology, Transparency, & Participation in the NY State Legislature: begins with a discussion of the role that technology plays in the NY Senate, including presentation of the “roadmap” for the NY Senate CIO’s Office, and discussion of the future of public access to State legislative data; "legislatures 2.0" thematically related sessions for the rest of the day thereafter.
2) "Empire 2.0": begins with a discussion of the role of the Office of the State Chief Information Officer in developing the state strategy and roadmap for NY Executive Branch agencies for the use of web 2.0, new media, and social collaborative tools and technologies that can better serve citizens and improve inter-governmental communications; includes a brief presentation of the current state and open discussion seeking ideas to further the overall strategy; "state government 2.0" thematically related sessions for the rest of the day thereafter.
3) "Web 2.0 for Government" training workshop: expert online organizer Beka Economopoulos will offer hands-on training about how citizens, elected officials, and civil servants alike can Web 2.0 tools such as the new NYSenate.gov website, Twitter, and Facebook more effectively.
Participants are invited to propose sessions on the CapitolCampNY's sessions page prior to the event.
Registration & Transportation
Please register at capitolcamp.eventbright.com
Want a ride?
If you are coming from NYC, we highly recommend riding Amtrak's 63 Maple Leaf. This train costs approximately $51.00 and departs from Penn Station at 7:15am. It is scheduled to arrive at 9:48am.
Not An Alternative, a Brooklyn-based 501c3 charitable non-profit organization, is organizing a bus for the return journey back to NYC. Tickets are $40.00 and the bus seats 40. It will depart at the conclusion of the post-event meet & greet (i.e. 9:00pm). When registering, select CapitolCamp Attendant + evening bus ticket. Otherwise, the last Amtrak train to NYC departs Albany at 7:00pm.
If you are coming from other parts of the State and would like to carpool / find a couch to crash on, please check out CapitolCampNY's Ride & Housing page. Follow @CapitolCamp for the latest details.
Questions?
direct us a tweet via @CapitolCamp or email the NY Senate CIO's office at ciodesk@senate.state.ny.us