The WordCamp Report

The New York WordPress Meetup Group meets January 20, 2009, and features the meeting topic as “WordPress as a CMS: The Strategy of Content Publishing.”

WordPress has long been a Content Management System of its own, though not in the way many think of when they want to run a pseudo-static business or publishing website. There are a lot of content management options many want and need beyond the blog format, though much of the fast WordPress development has been moving in that direction. Many WordPress Plugins help add CMS functionality to WordPress.

Using WordPress beyond blog publishing as an online magazine or content publisher is a hot topic, so expect this New York WordPress Meetup to be packed. Sign up now.

WordCamp Chicago is set for June 6-7, 2009, in the windy city.

Volunteers and WordPress fans are already getting prepared and meeting monthly to get to know each other and share more WordPress tips and techniques. The next Chicago WordPress January Meetup is January 24, 2009, and will feature a Q&A session on “Who uses WordPress” with everyone invited to share why they use WordPress.

There is also a WordCamp Chicago Facebook page.

In 2008 Year-End Wrap-Up, Matt Mullenweg says there were 29 official WordCamp events in 2009. From those reporting in to the WordPress staff, approximately 3,400 people attended the various international events.

That’s an average of 117 people per event. I’m not sure which WordCamp had the highest registration and attendance rates, but Podcamp and WordCamp Hawaii in October had more than 600 registrants at the Hawaii Convention Center. I believe about 400 were at WordCamp Israel 2008 (English) in Tel Aviv.

WordCamps were held as far away as China, Australia, Israel, Germany, the Philippines, and more. Local area and regional WordCamps started popping up all over, with more coming in 2009.

If you haven’t been to a WordCamp event yet, check out the current WordCamp and WordPress Event Schedule for January 2009 which includes the WordPress events scheduled so far this year.

One of the most unique WordCamps ever will be January 24, 2009, in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. WordCamp Whistler is a combination ski, photowalk, and WordCamp event for winter and blogging fans around the world at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort.

Whistler, British Columbia, is a very popular and beautiful ski resort in the Pacific Range of the Coast Mountains of Canada, only a few hours drive from Vancouver. In the early 1960s, a group was determined to bring the Winter Olympics to Whistler, and their dream comes true as Whistler is the host mountain for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. This is your chance to visit and ski a world class mountain before the crowds arrive next year.

As the event grows near, WordCamp Whistler planners announced that there are still sponsorship spots available. The list of speakers is great and registration is going fast for this limited seating event. They’ve planned photo walks and skiing events along with the WordPress fun.

The speakers are also top notch, covering some interesting WordPress and blogging topics, including:

• Lorelle VanFossen - WordPress Power Blogging Tips
• Andy Peatling of BuddyPress
• Dave Olson of uncleweed - Are you Worthy?
• Dale Mugford of BraveNewCode - WordPress On The Go
• John Biehler - How To Sex Up Your Blog With Photos And Video

For those who registered early, there was a discount rate for the hotel, so check to see if it is still available.

There is now a Facebook event set for those wanting to sign up through Facebook.

John Hawkins and his Las Vegas WordPress fan club have been working overtime to put together a very exciting WordCamp Las Vegas, the very first WordCamp of 2009. The two day event on January 10-11 has an awesome line up of speakers covering all things blogging and WordPress:

• Matt Mullenweg
• Joseph Scott
• Aaron Hockley
• Lorelle VanFossen
• Jim Kukral
• Geoff Kleinman
• Liz Strauss
• Michael Dorausch
• Micah Baldwin
• Dave Taylor
• Micah Baldwin
• Shayne Sanderson

Register now to start your year off focused on all things WordPress. All are invited, but if you can’t come, help WordCamp Las Vegas promote the event.

There is a WordCamp Las Vegas Live Stream you can register for to watch the event live at Ustream WordCamp Las Vegas.

Participants are urged to submit their Twitter ID so everyone can track each other during the event.

The Hashtag and tag for WordCamp Las Vegas is #wordcamplv.

Also check out the WordCamp after party for any WordPress fans in the area at Jack’s Irish Pub inside of Palace Station. RSVP for the after party event on Facebook.