Monday, June 13, 2011, 02:24 AM
Posted by Administrator
Just got back from a Day Trip to Needham!Posted by Administrator
Needham, you ask?
Yes, the Sheraton Needham is this year's location for the Connect OpenVMS Boot Camp. I took a day to visit the site and get to know the staff and the facility. This year's Boot Camp will be in a newly remodeled facility - the Sheraton is upgrading and renovating this facility this Summer - we will be the second group into the Hotel after the remodel. All of the public spaces are getting a work over - the Lobby, the Ballroom, the conference rooms. New computer-friendly environments are being developed in the Amphitheater (space for 50) as well as the Board Room and Directors Room (each can handle 16). We expect to use one of the latter two for our computer hands on lab sessions.
We will be only offering wireless access to the Boot Camp network this year for our attendees. Please come prepared for using wireless access. There will be no hardwired access points available this year.
Needham is about 16 miles out the Mass Pike from Logan International. It is less than a 20 minute drive or ride on the shutttle. Just off the I95/Route 128 just off exit 19A.
We are pretty much going to "own" the Sheraton the week of 18-22 September for the Boot Camp. As there are fewer rooms and smaller public spaces you can expect a much more intense and more intimate experience. The "Trophies" sports bar and "Bullard's" restaurant are both just off the Lobby. We expect to take over part of the Lobby for registration and networking. A quick ride in the elevator or a jaunt up the stairs brings you to the second floor foyer where there are 5 conference rooms. Down the first floor corridor to the Ballroom Foyer and you are at the Ballroom - of course. And if your go across this Foyer from the entrance to Dover and through the door and down a half flight of stairs you head to the 4 meeting rooms in the Executive Level - also accessible via the hall leading past the Lobby Elevators - a big circle! General session in the Ballroom, a session in the Amphitheater, a couple sessions on the second floor conference rooms and then back to the Ballroom for Lunch...
If this all sounds a bit confusing do not worry. There will be many staff and management from the Sheraton making sure you know how to get where your next session is located.
In the middle of all of this is an open air courtyard we hope to utilize - weather permitting. Hey, it is New England so anything can happen as far as the weather. It is also a great shortcut to the stairs up to the second floor conference rooms from the Ballroom.
We know we are expecting at least a C7000 chassis with some "i2" blades as well as a rx2800 i2 server. We will also have a hands on lab with up to 16 laptops configured for access to the servers or for local demonstrations and experimentation.
We are still soliciting sessions and look forward to any who wish to contribute. We would like to get the sessions finalized by early July. Please make sure you have either submitted your planned session or encouraged the speaker of your choice to do so as well. We have a great team reviewing these sessions and working to integrate them into a cohesive program - Sue Skonetski, Michelle Popejoy, Anders Johansson and Ray Turner are all helping on the Content Committee again this year.
If you as a member of the OpenVMS Community have any suggestions, requests or desires for content or format or even Keynote Speakers this year please contact us NOW!
Folks, we look forward to seeing all of you at the Boot Camp in September! Put it on your calendar!
See you there!
Thanks!
Bill.
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