DeafRead 2008 Conference in San Francisco
 | By Tayler Mayer Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 |
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I am getting this out to you as soon as I can. As a matter of fact, it was just an hour ago that I received confirmation that a contract has been signed with a hotel in San Francisco. Many details are either unconfirmed or unavailable, but seeing that the conference is happening in little more than 2 months, I felt it was important to get it out to you as quickly as possible to take time off from work (if needed), book your flights and room. I apologize for not getting this out any earlier. Here’s the details I have and should be enough to plan–if you plan on coming!
DeafRead 2008 Conference
Sponsored by Sprint Relay
Saturday February 2, 2008
Embassy Suites
San Francisco Airport – Burlingame
150 Anza Boulevard
Burlingame, California 94010 (map)
Rooms are at $129 per night. Complimentary shuttle from and to SFO airport.
Rooms need to be reserved no later than January 10, 2008. Call 1-800-EMBASSY and ask for “block of rooms under Deaf V/Blog Conference”. The $129 rate may or may not be available after January 10, 2008.
Thanks to Sprint Relay, the conference workshops during the day is free to anyone–but registration will be necessary. Registration information to follow soon.
Workshops and discussions will be from approximately 8am to 5pm. The times are tentative. We also are asking for topic submissions. Submit topics you would like to see discussed or presented in the comments below or email them to tmayer@deafread.com
The Awards Banquet will be from approximately 8pm to midnight. The times are tentative. Banquet dinner is planned for $10 per person. The $10 fee is merely to make sure we don’t serve dinner to everyone who wants a free one. The dinner fee will be very well worth it. 
The Awards Banquet is where and when we announce the winners of 2007 DeafRead Blog Awards.
The DeafRead Team will be at the conference, including Jared Evans, Amy Cohen Efron, Elizabeth Gillespie, Carrie Gellibrand, JJ Puorro and Jon Savage.
More news and bits as they come, I promise! We’re all very excited.
DeafRead 2008 Conference is proudly sponsored by Sprint Relay.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Why San Francisco? Is there a reason this place is best to work for dot com? I don’t know if there’s deaf community and their affordance in S.F.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Excellent – I will be there and looking forward to seeing you all there!
November 28th, 2007 at 9:14 am
That’s cool. I recall you proposed that last year. I should be there to greet with y’all.
November 28th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Oh this is wonderful!!! I’m there people! Look for me! This is in my neck of the woods! I would be glad to offer help in any way to make this conference go smoothly. I’m a local and can help out where needed.
By the way, in response to daveynin, the Deaf vlog/blog community here in the SF Bay area is alive and well! We are a good number of people here. No worries! It’s nice to have this conference on the West coast this year and the previous one was on the East coast. It’s a good balance.
See you all in February!
~ LaRonda
November 28th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Unfortunately, this is out of my financial capacity but I will definitely be looking forward to the after-conference reports! If any topics come up that I think is good for discussion there, I will email you, Tayler.
Good luck and take careful there!
November 28th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I will be there! already brought plane ticket today!!! yahoo!!!!
Gary Brooks
http://www.garybdir.wordpress.com
November 28th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
And free rides?? I surely wish so! Maybe you the team could travel to certain places to give workshops also?
thanks, deafk
November 28th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Any chance the free workshops will be broadcasted live on the web along with the awards show?
November 28th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
daveynin, trust me, there’s a HUGE HUGE community here in the SF Bay Area, and a good number of bloggers that show up on DeafRead are in this area. *smile*
November 28th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Wonderful! Just wonderful! I will try to be there!
November 28th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Don’t feel bad, Oscar… I’m in the same boat.
But thank god for the wonderful technology that our brilliant Deaf fellows, Tayler and Jared, had come up with get us together in one place and coming up with a wonderful idea of getting our hands and faces visible in sign languages – all of us in one place!
Ugh…I was just trying to reason with myself. I’d really love to be there in person as a fly on the wall!
*sits far in the back going, “OMG!! There’s Elizabeth, you know MishkaZena??
Oh!! There’s Amy Cohen-Efron!!
Jon!! Do that poem again!!” *squeals*
There’s Jared! I’m going to count how many times I can catch him using the word ‘discussion’!
*waves at Carrie and JJ as if they should know who I am, only to get “uh oh, get the security!” expressions*
As for topics…how about universal health care?
This will be done via webcast, right? Great! Thank you in advance, Sprint! You are pretty fast!
November 28th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
This will be done through broadcasted live or live web whatever, yeah??
That would be great!
November 28th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Hmm! Intriguing. I’m going to try to be there myself.
November 28th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
ummmm. can we come even though we are hearing?
November 28th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Why of course!
November 28th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
The DeafRead team, the conference could be something and if live-webcasting available, then the rest is history . . . in serving as an example for future conferences or conventions of any kind among the Deaf.
i look forward meeting our vblog comrades . . .
November 29th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
i’m absolutely tickled to have this conference right in my backyard!! please let me know if you need local help setting up things and whatever!!
November 29th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Can we do an information booth there? It’s a federally reimbursable expense.
December 8th, 2007 at 9:55 am
This will give you ideas on conference planning. It was hosted few weeks ago for first time. http://www.blogworldexpo.com/
December 14th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Is it possible to split the cost of a room per night with another person?
Please email me for a follow-up.
December 14th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Yes, it is commonplace for people to share rooms. Keep in mind the room’s maximum occupancy. Usually, hotels will provide one cot to each room, on which a person can sleep in addition to the bed(s).
December 14th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
This sounds so cool. I certainly hope there are workshops to educate folks like me how to do the v-logs. I am a “ill-tech-erate” and desire to take one day workshop to learn how to do the vlog. Would be worth my time attending the conference as a non-vlogger. If the conference is for the bloggers/vloggers, then it might not be worth my travel expenses.
December 15th, 2007 at 3:09 am
Hi Jenn. Workshops will be provided on how to do vlogs. I guess I will be seeing you there.
There will be two one-hour workshops on beginner vlogs, one for Mac and one for PC. There will also be an advanced workshop: 30 minutes for Mac, 30 minutes for PC.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I am contemplating going and maybe I have missed it but all I see re: costs is for that of the hotel rooms. Can you direct me to where other costs are posted if they are? Costs for like workshops and any other costs(both required and optional), please. Thanks
December 15th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Hey DT…
There are no costs for the conference. All panels, workshops and discussions are free to all.
The 2007 Blog Awards will include dinner and is $10 per person.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I’d go only if I could find a carpool ride.. hmm.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Deaf258, there is a free shuttle between the airport and hotel.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Likewise, my brother and I will be there. We are looking forward to meet each of you and entertain our wealth experience.
Hope is all well,
Berdy Brothers
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Shoot. Wish I could go. Already have plans for that weekend.
Iammine – love your post. Yes, I’d love to meet Mishka Zena and Amy Cohen Efron, too!
Have a blast, everyone.
Cy
January 5th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Is this first conference with free admission? what is the purpose to have the conference? It sounds very interesting.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Have you been able to get topics of the workshops. This will help me to justify the cost from Wisconsin. How many workshops will you be offering? I’m looking for technology, business and income topics.
January 11th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Hello. I would like to know what kind of workshop you plan to provide? I am new to vlog world and would like to have a 123 steps to establish this.
Thanks,
Tom
January 11th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I wonder if we need to pay $10 for banquet at ahead of time or sign a RSVP?
January 11th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Is the hotel prepared to accommodate a large number of D/deaf people? I hope they don’t have HDTV’s. Also will you have CART at the workshop for deaf people who aren’t fluent in ASL?
January 16th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Think many deaf people from Europe want following all the Conference (incl the awards show) so any chance to live broadcast on the web? Like last the at the Gally.
Tell us local time so we can figure out when we can see. It will be night time for us maybe
January 18th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Hey ! Just bought a ticket to Awards Banquet. Really looking forward to meet you all at DeafRead 2008 Conference. First time here. Can’t wait to meet CODA BROTHERS guys ! They crack me up !!!! You all have a safe trip to S.F. !!!! See you there !
January 20th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hi! I wish I could go, but I have to work that day:( The Hotel is just beside the bay. It is a very beautiful location with fishing pier u can walk and there are beautiful Garden inside. If u want more information about this hotel. there is a link.. Enjoy yout stay!!
http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/SFOBGES-Embassy-Suites-San-Francisco-Airport-Burlingame-California/index.do
Copy and paste on your web browsing
Enjoy ur DeafRead 2008 Conference.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Would there be showing on video live on this DeafRead website? I and many people may not able to attend to DeafRead 2008 Conference. We would love to see them. Are there possible showing video live on this website?