General+Info

=Information for Track Leaders=

Help! Info Overload! What do I do where??
Hopefully we'll all settle into a good workflow once everyone has activated or has access to all the resources. As a quick summary, here are the things you SHOULD have access to and what they're best used for:


 * **SLCC Public Website - http://slconvention.org**
 * Formal announcements and public postings either on your track page or the main blog page
 * **ProTip:** Subscribe to the blog by email (front page side bar) to get emailed whenever a new post is added or subscribe to RSS (or both!)
 * **SLCC Planning Wiki - http://slcc10.wikispaces.com/**
 * Private planning space for SLCC conference organizers only (board, track leaders, volunteers)
 * Draft communications, policies, logistics, etc.
 * Track leaders can add subpages, only organizers can add to main menu navigation (ask us if something needs to be added)
 * **ProTip:** Go into Manage Wiki > Notifications and set it to email you any time something changes on the wiki
 * **Google Docs Track Folder**
 * Where we will share planning docs with you (schedule, proposals, contact lists, etc.)
 * Where you should upload copies of any documents you generate as Track Leader to share with us
 * **ProTip:** For every document, click the Share button > Notifications and set it to email you any time something changes
 * **Googlegroup Email Listserv for Track Leaders**
 * Email listserv to help us all communicate with each other. Good for Q&A, clarifications, etc.
 * **Skype SLCC10 Trackleader chat**
 * Group chat for board and all track leaders, handy if you need quick question answered or for general getting to know each other, informal
 * **ProTip:** If you get an important question answered or have a serious discussion, post a summary to the Googlegroup Email list for those who might not see the Skype chat (It can scroll quickly) or add to the planning wiki.

Signature Line
Email correspondence can be signed with the following standard signature:

Your RL name (SL: Your SL Name) SLCC 2010 Track Leader Second Life Community Convention 2010 Boston, MA | August 13-15, 2010 Organized by AvaCon, Inc. (774) 654-0010 info@avacon.org http://slconvention.org

Additional sig line (optional)

VOLUNTEER for BOSTON Sign-up: http://www.slconvention.org/ volunteers/volunteer-for- boston/ PROPOSAL SUBMISSION: http://www.slconvention.org/ convention-details/submit-a- proposal/
 * //We invite you to contribute your energy and creativity!!//**

Key Convention Info

 * Name:** Second Life Community Convention 2010
 * Abbreviation:** SLCC or SLCC 2010


 * Website:** http://slconvention.org
 * Planning Wiki:** http://slcc10.wikispaces.org
 * Hashtags:** SLCC or SLCC10


 * Dates:** August 13 - 15, 2010 **Location:** Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers
 * Note:** Track Leaders are expected to arrive one day early on August 12th to help with setup, bag stuffing, etc. If for some reason you will be unable to arrive a day early, please let your Board liaison know in advance (see below). Also note that the convention program content begins on Saturday 8/14. Friday we will open registration and likely have some social event in the evening, but the main program content begins on Saturday morning.


 * Important Deadlines**
 * July 3, 2010 - Early Registration discount ends
 * July 13, 2010 - Hotel discounted rate cut-off date
 * July 15, 2010 - Sponsor artwork deadline
 * July 15, 2010 - Proposal submissions due
 * July 22, 2010 - Proposal reviews complete
 * July 29, 2010 - Cut off date for printed program changes

**What It Means to Be a Track Leader **
 The role of Track Leader is a very important one; literally the show could not go on without your help. Track Leaders are primarily responsible for soliciting proposals for presentations and coordinating presenters' needs for the convention, but also serve as spokespersons, ambassadors, and community leaders for the convention. We hope it goes without saying that Track Leaders should be absolutely professional and above-board at all times, in public and private conversations. By accepting this position you become a spokesperson for SLCC and we hope you will strive for grace under pressure even if circumstances are trying. Convention organizers are at times unsung heroes, but know that WE know how hard you are working and that we are very appreciative for your help. By the same token, if you find yourself in over your head and need assistance, don't hesitate to ask for help. We're all in this together and with our combined talents there are no challenges we won't solve.

**What You Can Expect From Us**
We will do our best to be available to you when you need us and prompt in our replies. We also want to empower you to do your job with a minimum of fuss and overhead by providing you with the infrastructure, tools, accounts, and access you will need to get the job done.

In order to help facilitate communication among the planning team, we have established a Google Group that includes the AvaCon Executive Board, all Track Leaders, and a few other key volunteers. This group is private and by invitation only, and communications in the group should be treated as confidential unless otherwise specified. We hope to avoid situations that have arisen in years past when misinformation or partial information is passed along before being vetted by the planning team and the easiest way to do that is to ensure that the left hand always knows what the right hand is doing! Please check your email for the invitation to join the Google Group, which can also be accessed on the web at: [] or send email to: slcc10-trackleaders@googlegroups.com

Each Track Leader also has an assigned Board Member as their primary point of contact for questions and clarifications as needed.
 * **Joyce Bettencourt (SL: Rhiannon Chatnoir) -** Music & Performance, Government & Nonprofit, Health & Support
 * **Donna Meyer (SL: Misty Rhodes) -** Communities & Social and Art, Machinima, & Theatre
 * **Peter Lokke (SL: Peter Imari) -** Fashion & Design, Business & Enterprise
 * **Chris Collins (SL: Fleep Tuque) -** Education & Research, Technical & OpenSource, and In-World SLCC

Finally, while we encourage most communication and questions to go through the Google Group so everyone can see the answers, if you have a sensitive matter or for some other reason you need to communicate with the board privately, please use the email address board@avacon.org. This email address goes to all four board members and is most likely to get a speedy response. Note that our public email address is info@avacon.org if you need to give a contact address to others.

**Reviewing & Selecting Proposals**
 In terms of actual job duties, the first and most important thing is to solicit and review proposal submissions to begin forming the content of your track. We know that the planning time for this year's convention is short. Extremely short. Given the circumstances, our goal this year is to focus on quality over quantity and to have a smaller but very well run and organized event. In years past, each track leader may have had to organize 20 or 30 presenters for some of the larger tracks, and even half tracks may have had 10-15 sessions to cover. This year the schedule will be lighter, but hopefully more focused on sessions that will be inspiring to our audience. Business, Education, and Live Music tracks have a goal of 8 to 10 sessions, and the other tracks have a goal of 3-5 sessions total. We think that this should be doable even with a tight time line, and we've already received many proposal submissions for your review.

When reviewing proposals, please be fair and impartial and judge each proposal submission on its merits. We all have personal friends and professional networks in-world, but we hope that you will exercise good judgement and pick the best proposals submitted regardless of the person submitting them. Also keep in mind that proposals that involve some level of engagement or interactivity (as opposed to person talking with slides) are preferred, and try as best you can to choose proposals that cover a variety of topics within your track. The sessions should cover as broad an overview as possible of sub-communities, specialties, or perspectives for the communities your track represents. Presentation formats include the following:
 * **Presentations** - 1 or more speakers - 45 minutes + 15 mins Q&A
 * **Panel Discussions** - 45 minutes + 15 mins Q&A
 * **Workshop or Training Class -** 1 hour
 * **Speed Sparks -** 20 slides in 5 minutes
 * **Live Performance -** 30 minutes or 1 hour

Be sure presenters select the appropriate format when they submit their proposal to help us with overall schedule planning. The link to submit proposals is: []

**Discounted Registration for Presenters**
When soliciting presenters and proposal submissions, feel free to let presenters know that we are offering a 10% discount off the registration fee for speakers. We have worked very hard to keep the convention as affordable as possible, but are unable to provide complimentary registrations for speakers and presenters, nor are we able to offer honorariums or speaker fees. Speakers will receive their 10% discount code in the confirmation email they receive after their proposal has been selected and approved.

SLCC Staff Meetings
 We will hold weekly staff meetings on Mondays at 4PM SLT to meet with you and other key volunteers. It is important that you attend these meetings as often as possible to stay up to date with the convention planning. If for some reason you will be unable to attend, please send a summary and any other information that should be communicated at the staff meetings to your Board liaison.

SLurl:

Please come prepared to the meetings with a concise summary or any questions or concerns you may have; the meetings will be strictly held to 1 hour to respect everyone's time.