WindyBits - Events

Ruby on Rails TDD Boot Camp

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:51:36 -0700

When: Mon Nov 9, 2009 to Thu Nov 12, 2009

Where: Obtiva 566 West Adams Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60661
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Master Ruby on Rails. At our four-day training course, you'll be immersed in hands-on work building an application. You'll gain true proficiency in classes of twelve students or less, taught by software craftsmen working in the real world. Ruby on Rails is the next evolution in rapid Web application development, and there's no better way to learn it than from people who build with it every day. We'll help you get the most out of Ruby on Rails through the Agile practice of Test-Driven Development (TDD). If you are a Java or .NET developer, you're ready to master Ruby on Rails. Register Today! visit: http://www.obtiva.com/training-classes/ruby-on-rails-tdd-boot-camp

Adobe RoboHelp 7 HTML

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:31:32 -0700

When: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9am to 3pm CST

Where: National-Lewis University, 850-950 Warrenville Road, Lisle, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: New users of Adobe RoboHelp 7 HTML will learn how to develop a basic Help project in Microsoft HTML Help format. Robohelp X5 users will learn processes and tips for updating to Version 7 as well as a look at what's new in RoboHelp 8. For details or to register, visit www.stc-chicago.org.

STC Chicago Meeting: Techcomm 'Truth or Dare'

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:21:01 -0700

When: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:30pm to 8pm CST

Where: NIU-Naperville Campus, 1120 E. Diehl Rd., Naperville, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: As technical communicators, we have a valuable set of core skills that allow us to follow, or even create, a wide variety of career paths. Are you working on an English degree and getting grief from your parents over limited career choices? Perhaps you've been churning out user manuals for years and would like to move on to something else, but what is "something else"? Fortunately, our skills lay the groundwork for and open doors to numerous career options today. Join us on Tuesday, November 10 for our annual Education & Employment-themed meeting where we'll discuss these technical communication options with a panel of professional communicators who specialize in technical editing, business analysis, content strategy and design, instructional design and training, independent consulting, writing, user assistance, and project management. In the first half the meeting, we'll play "Tech Comm Truth or Dare" with our panel - questions requiring a truth answer will focus on their professional development and career experiences, whereas dares will challenge our panelists to share advice and personal stories. We encourage you to submit questions for the panelists in advance. In the second part of the meeting, we will break into small groups so participants and panelists can meet and have more detailed discussions. We are delighted to co-host this meeting with the STC NIU student chapter and encourage students from all degree programs to attend and learn more about the technical communication profession. For details or to register, visit http://www.stc-chicago.org.

Rails Performance in the Cloud Roadshow

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:44:33 -0700

When: Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:15am to 1pm CDT

Where: Hyatt Regency Chicago 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Poor application performance can damage your brand and your company. A slow application drives customers away, decreases search engine ranking and damages your search marketing effectiveness. Come learn about tools, techniques and products from Engine Yard and our partners that can help you build high performance Rails applications without breaking the bank.

"We Live in Public" documentary

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:12:05 -0700

When: Fri Oct 16, 2009 to Thu Oct 22, 2009

Where: Music Box Theater on Southport in Chicago
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Sundance "Best Documentary" award winner, see http://www.windybits.com/articles/we-live-in-public-documentary-showing-at-the-music-box for more info. Synopsis of the documentary: Ten years in the making and culled from 5000 hours of footage, WE LIVE IN PUBLIC reveals the effect the web is having on our society, as seen through the eyes of “the greatest Internet pioneer you’ve never heard of”, artist, futurist and visionary Josh Harris. Award-winning director Ondi Timoner (DIG! – which also won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize in 2004 – making Timoner the only director to win that prestigious award twice) documented his tumultuous life for more than a decade to create a riveting, cautionary tale of what to expect as the virtual world inevitably takes control of our lives. Harris, often called the “Warhol of the Web”, founded Pseudo.com, the first Internet television network during the infamous dot-com boom of the 1990s. He also curated and funded the ground breaking project “Quiet” in an underground bunker in NYC where over 100 people lived together on camera for 30 days at the turn of the millennium. With Quiet, Harris proved how we willingly trade our privacy for the connection and recognition we all deeply desire, but with every technological advancement such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, becomes more elusive. Through his experiments, including a six-month stint living with his girlfriend under 24-hour electronic surveillance which led to his mental collapse, Harris demonstrated the price we pay for living in public.

"The Warped Side of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Black Holes"

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:19:07 -0700

When: Wed Oct 21, 2009 7pm to 8pm CDT

Where: Adler Planetarium - Universe Theater
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: University of Chicago Brinson Lecture @ Adler Planetarium (free) Featuring Kip Thorne see - http://astro.uchicago.edu/brinson/2009/ Our Universe has a "warped side" -- objects and phenomena, like black holes and the big-bang, that are made not from matter, but rather from warped space and warped time. Thorne will describe this mysterious warped side and the quest to simulate it using supercomputers and observe it using gravitational waves. Admission is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required. Seating will begin at 6:45 pm. Parking is available in the lot near the Adler. The evening parking rate is $13, and cash payment is required.

Hubble's Story

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:16:14 -0700

When: Wed Oct 28, 2009 6pm to Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:30pm CDT

Where: SAIC Ballroom 112 South Michigan Ave.
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Free to the Public see - http://astro.uchicago.edu/hubble/ In May of 2009, the Hubble Space Telescope's last service mission successfully upgraded and repaired the telescope to include new cameras and instruments. During the 12 day mission in orbit, the Hubble Servicing Mission 4 (STS-125) performed 5 spacewalks to complete the upgrades so that the telescope could begin a new journey of discovery. Join us for a discussion with Astronaut John Grunsfeld who will describe the adventures of working in orbit on the Hubble Space Telescope and the exciting scientific results that the new instruments provide

Anatomy of a Marketing Plan: Cutting to the Core

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:18:19 -0700

When: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:30am to 11:45am CST

Where: 200 E. Randolph St, 80th Floor Chicago, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Do you have confidence in the vitality of your marketing strategy? Do you know what components must remain at the heart of your marketing plan? Do you have a clear understanding of how to convert marketing strategy into action? Join the Chicago AMA for the 5th annual installment of the Anatomy series workshop as leading marketing experts from CDW, ConAgra Foods, DDB, DePaul University and Diners Club International share their insights and explore the essential components of a healthy marketing plan. You'll learn how to cut to the core of the planning process and identify those elements your plan cannot live without. At this year's workshop, you'll learn to: Build a laser focused marketing plan Incorporate consumer insights into the foundation of a plan Balance the marketing mix to align with strategic objectives Secure internal buy-in for marketing plans This popular series has sold out in past years. Don't miss your opportunity to check the vital signs of your marketing plan. Registered attendees will be entered in a drawing to win a Flip Mino Camcorder! Registration Rates: AMA & CCTB Members: $100 Non-Members: $140 Register online at http://www.tinyurl.com/anatomy09 or call (312) 280-0449 today.

Hubble Stories

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:56:53 -0700

When: Wed Oct 28, 2009 6pm to Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:30pm CDT

Where: SAIC Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Astronaut and "Hubble Telescope Repairman" John Grunsfeld, a Highland Park native, discusses his adventures on NASA's recent Hubble Servicing Mission 4, at a free program. http://astro.uchicago.edu/hubble/

Pay Per Click Summit, leading search marketing training event

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:31:22 -0700

When: Wed Nov 4, 2009 8am to Thu Nov 5, 2009 12:39am CST

Where: DoubleTree Hotel Chicago - Oak Brook, 1909 Spring Road, Oak Brook, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Registration Savings Now for Pay Per Click (PPC) Summit, THE Search Engine Marketing Training Event of the Year! PPC Summit is the only educational Pay Per Click advertising event where internet marketers learn how to turbo-charge profits and get insider strategies direct from the experts. Google and others lead hands-on workshops, panel discussions, training sessions, personal consulting---all designed to boost your PROFITS and increase your ROI! "I utilized the PPC Summit strategies and increased my company's PPC revenue by $1 million!" Michael Florez, Marketing Group. REGISTER NOW SAVE 35%! PPC Summits: Chicago: Nov. 4-5, 2009 www.ppcsummit.com $995- early bird rate for full conference pass!

VIP Asset Management Road Show 2009

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:26:39 -0700

When: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8am to 5pm CDT

Where: Chicago Marriott O'Hare, 8535 W Higgins Road, Chicago
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Join Numara Software thought-leaders and well-known IT industry expert, Dennis Drogseth, VP of Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) analyst group as they hit the road in October and November to showcase the latest advancements in Information Technology Asset Management (ITAM). Dennis Drogseth will discuss ITAM and IT Service Management convergence trends that can result in significant cost savings. In addition, he will share specific insights on key technology areas currently on the rise: * Green IT * Inventory and asset management * Virtualization. http://www.numarasoftware.com/events/roadshow_2009.html $1000.

"The State of Science Education: A Local and National Perspective"

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:12:18 -0700

When: Thu Oct 22, 2009 5pm to Thu Oct 22, 2009 7pm CDT

Where: Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center, Hughes Auditorium, 303 E. Superior Street,Chicago, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Panel discussion includes representatives from the University of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools and National Academy of Science.

Collective Intelligence Cluster: Leading Enterprise Prediction Markets

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:34:20 -0700

When: Fri Nov 6, 2009 8am to 5pm CST

Where: The Gleacher Center at The University of Chicago 450 North City Front Plaza Drive Chicago, IL, 60611
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: SPEAKERS: George Neumann (University of Iowa), Arik Johnson (Aurora WDC), Robin Hanson (George Mason University), Brian Jaedike (Best Buy) The conference sessions are focused, practical and conversational. They are for executives, directors, mangers, users and practitioners having immediate needs to apply collective intelligence networks and market mechanisms to advance business outcomes through mastery of collective wisdom. http://www.pmcluster.com/CHI09 $399.

Free Local Roadshow: Lowering IT Costs With Asset and Service Management Convergence Trends

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:49:58 -0700

When: Thu Oct 15, 2009

Where: Chicago Marriott O’Hare, 8535 W Higgins Road Chicago, IL 60631-2872
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Join Numara Software thought-leaders and well-known IT industry expert, Dennis Drogseth, VP of Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) analyst group as they hit the road in October and November to showcase the latest advancements in Information Technology Asset Management (ITAM). http://www.numarasoftware.com/events/roadshow_2009.html Dennis Drogseth will discuss ITAM and IT Service Management convergence trends that can result in significant cost savings. In addition, he will share specific insights on key technology areas currently on the rise: Green IT Inventory and asset management Virtualization Stay for half of the day or the full day - you choose which sessions interest you the most. Review Agenda Take advantage of actual IT asset management use case scenarios demonstrated by the Numara Asset Management Platform. Attendees will walk away with a greater understanding of the benefits an asset management solution provides, some of which include: Reduce asset support & support costs Improve service delivery & customer satisfaction Eliminate wasted energy spending Reduce risks and unplanned interruptions in service Keep compliant with policy & standards Don't miss out on the opportunity to meet the experts and exchange ideas with your peers. In addition, you can participate in one-on-one sessions with the EMA industry analyst. Register Now! Arrive with questions. Leave with answers.

HR-XML 10th Anniversary Luncheon

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:26:28 -0700

When: Fri Oct 2, 2009 11:30am to 2pm CDT

Where: Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 South Martin L. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Luncheon celebrating HR-XML Consortium's tenth year of serving the HR community and the long-anticipated launch of the HR-XML 3.0 Schema. Blogger and Knowledge Infusion CEO Jason Averbook and other experts in the HR field will discuss how this latest release of the Schema serves as a springboard for HR technology companies to develop innovative products and solutions in the future.

Rising Out of the Downturn: Proven Strategies for Future Growth

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:24 -0700

When: Wed Sep 23, 2009 4pm to 6pm CDT

Where: Embassy Suites, 5550 North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Complimentary reception and presentation for industrial professionals who are ready to position themselves for future growth.

A Day of Cloud Computing

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:29:43 -0700

When: Fri Oct 16, 2009 8am to 4pm CDT

Where: Illinois Technology Association 200 S. Wacker Drive, 15th Floor Chicago, IL 60606
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: The Day of Cloud conference is intended for developers and architects looking to evaluate the major cloud platforms, and provide them with enough information to kick off their first pilot project on the cloud. The talks will be given by local experts on all the major cloud platforms: Google, Amazon, Sales Force & Microsoft. Each talk will cover first cover the basics for that platform and will then delve into code, showing how an actual solution is constructed and deployed. The day is capped off with a panel discussion to discuss the platform differences and answer any questions the audience may have. Speaker bios and agenda are available at www.dayofcloud.com. Early bird registration of $20 is good until September 25th.

Navigating Regulatory Pathways for Startups

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:59:54 -0700

When: Fri Sep 11, 2009 8am to 1pm CDT

Where: University Center, 525 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60605
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Join us for an incredible opportunity! Learn about FDA Regulations, especially pertaining to your venture or product. The Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC) at the University of Illinois is hosting a seminar featuring special guest, Howard Cooper. TEC is offering this seminar in two locations: The I Hotel in Champaign and the University Center in Chicago with support from the University's Offices of Technology Management in Urbana and Chicago. About Howard Cooper Mr. Cooper has over 30 years of quality and regulatory affairs experience in the pharmaceutical, biological, & medical device industries. His expertise includes developing, implementing, and managing quality and regulatory activities from incubators and startups to large corporations. He has expertise in identifying and fixing quality and regulatory problems. The Seminar Mr. Cooper will speak on various topics with the opportunity for Q & A over lunch and throughout the afternoon. http://www.uticketit.com/event/18

STC Chicago Workshop: DITA Tools and Technology

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:17:41 -0700

When: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:30am to Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:30am CDT

Where: Hampton Inn O'Hare, 3939 N. Mannheim Rd., Schiller Park, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: STC Chicago is offering a two-day workshop on DITA Tools and Technology, presented by Bernard Aschwanden of Publishing Smarter and STC Toronto. This two-day course is developed for people who need to learn about the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) and want the basics of the software tools that work with it. When: Thursday and Friday, September 24-25, 2009 For details, see http://www.stc-chicago.org. For details, see http://bit.ly/stcchicago_DITA_Workshop_2009.

Who Cares About Google Anyway?

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:19:44 -0700

When: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10am to 11am CDT

Where: 1320 Tower Road Schaumburg, IL. 60173 847-873-4292
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: 9 out of 10 consumers use search engines to find a product or service! Are they finding you...or your competitors? Join us for our FREE workshop, "Who cares about google, anyway?" You will learn the following information: - Why is it crucial to pay attention to google and search engines in general? - The ONE thing you can do to your website today that will help your exposure with the search engines! - How to triple your business, using your website more effectively!

Social Media Workshop: Develop Your 90 Day Social Media Strategy

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:00:22 -0700

When: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:30am to 4:30pm CDT

Where: IIT, Kent College of Law, 565 W Adams Street, Chicago, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Develop a 10 page, 90-day Draft Social Media Strategy for your business, or to share with your marketing, PR, or social media consultant. SOHO's presenters will "build upon" and answer your questions on how to Listen, Offer Value, Engage and Monitor your social media community. Topics include: Building Community, Listening, Engaging, Monitoring, Marketing and Strategies. You will also walk away understanding the difference between embracing the mindset, channels and tools of social media. For more information and to sign up, go to http://sohonakedbizgrowthchicago.eventbrite.com/.

Tech 101 Workshop Series

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:33:36 -0700

When: Fri Jul 31, 2009 9am to 11am CDT

Where: Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies 850 W Jackson Chicago, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: This is a series of weekly 2 hr workshops is intended for people who learn best with hands-on exercises and in small workshop environments. We will have a maximum of 8 people per workshop. During the first hour of each workshop, we will discuss the technical issue, give step-by step instructions, and answer questions. The 2nd hour is hands-on so that you can set up and start using the technical issue which we just discussed. If you have or can borrow a laptop, you will get more out of the workshops, but they are NOT required.

MySQL Meetup: Presentation on Stored Procedures, Triggers, and Views

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:12:06 -0700

When: Wed Jul 15, 2009 7pm to 9pm CDT

Where: Digital BootCamp, 1400 W Hubbard St, 2nd Fl, Chicago, IL 60622 (312) 633-3000
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: John A Mahady of Andrew Information Services will present his research and observations about the inner workings of MySQL's implementation of Stored Procedures, Triggers, and Views. We will discuss what a DBA or developer needs to know to successfully take advantage of these advanced features.

Website Design & Creation Workshop

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:16:45 -0700

When: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8am to 4:30pm CDT

Where: Maui-Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies Conference Room 850 W Jackson Chicago, IL
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Attendees to this event will learn the factors to consider when creating/updating a website, how to create a website, how to register a domain name, & legal factors. If they stay for the entire day, they will walk away with a working website, a registered domain name, & an email account with their domain name. This workshop has a morning and afternoon session. The morning session is basically an interactive presentation and the afternoon session is hands on. The morning session is $65. If you stay for both sessions, the total cost is $100. The registration URL is: http://tinyurl.com/ttgwrkshop

WindyCityRails

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:10:02 -0700

When: Sat Sep 12, 2009 8am to 5pm CDT

Where: Westin Chicago River North 320 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60654
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: WindyCityRails is an annual gathering for all who are passionate about Ruby on Rails. Developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and investors all find value in WindyCityRails. Follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/windycityrails.