Note: only around half of those who have indicated they are coming to
the barcamp have signed up for this Google group :-( so I've duel
posted the details on here and my blog (with links to both on the
barcamp wiki page) in the vain hope that everyone will get to see the
details. Its all good news!, can somebody kick off a thread on wants/
offers for sessions?:

After much running around, fingers crossed, and baited breath, the
barcamp is finally starting to look like a proper event. I've had
quite a few messages recently asking for updates on the organisational
details for barcamp, I'm sorry I've not been able to confirm things
before now.

So, let me tell you that:

   1. The event is going to run on one day only - Saturday 26th
January from about 9.15am until 5pm (and maybe afterwards for a drink
or two)
   2. Google has kindly agreed to host the event (small company, you
may have heard of them... :-) ). This is particularly excellent news
given many public sector organisations' involvement with them to
improve searchability of their content, use of YouTube to publish
video etc. Its a great fit.
   3. To help the many barcamp virgins across government (me
included), and based on the areas of interest indicated plus
subsequent conversations I and others have had leading up to the
event, we are suggesting a structure for the day based on five rough
'streams' of interest. These are:

    * Creating web strategy - government-wide, organisational, channel/
initative etc - a vision for future government web
    * New platforms and technologies - e.g. use of data, semantic web
etc
    * New channels - how to use blogging platforms, YouTube etc, case
studies of usage across government
    * Using social media tools in your organisation - practical stuff
around requirements, guidelines, engagement, governance, getting
approval
    * Government vs the private sector - lessons we can share,
approaches to collaboration, what is good and bad about our sector etc

These streams are not meant to be prescriptive but designed to give a
framework around which you can decide where and how you can contribute
to the days' success.

There are currently around 75-80 participants signed up to the event.
With 25 slots in the day, it means that at least three individuals can
be involved in the running of each session. Hopefully this reduces the
pressure on some of the participants to contribute and will encourage
collaboration amongst everyone attending.

If you are planning to attend, and you haven't yet joined the Google
group (thanks Dave) set up for the event, I encourage you to do so
now.  What you need to do now over the next week is indicate what you
plan to contribute to the day and identify others via the Google group
who you could share a session with.

The nature of the discussion forum means that we can all peer review
each other's ideas and between all of us we should be able to
collaboratively create and shape a schedule for the whole event fairly
easily.

The number of people who have already indicated they wish to
participate is now quite large (but what a cast!) and we may have to
limit entry to the event to those  who are actively contributing to
the day. So please begin the conversation as soon as possible.

As we get closer to the day, please update the schedule on the barcamp
wiki page with your proposed session(s). Ideally we'd like to get that
all finalised before Friday 18th January.

If you are a government webby, and still haven't decided whether to
come, hopefully the details above are enough to convince you. I can't
emphasise enough how important it is to have a good mix of those
working inside the government web sector, as well as all the great
people around and outside our work.

(note: can't get the hyperlinks to work here for some reason)