Make it in a casino, so that Brady can’t come. =(

[...] the very successful, and superbly organized WordCamp Vancouver 200 to speak at the first ever WordCamp Fraser Valley 2008, and I was thrilled to accept. I really respect the work of Blue Fur and I’m very happy to [...]

[...] (I believe July 16th) Gary is organizing a meetup for WordPress enthusiasts, users and developers in the Fraser Valley (yes folks, that means you have to cross a bridge to get there from [...]

I’ll be there, sounds like fun.

Brady can come, yay.

[...] http://blog.bluefur.com/2008/06/12/wordcamp-fraser-valley/ [...]

[...] want to learn and network with fellow WordPress bloggers and developers, join us on July 16th for WordCamp Fraser Valley, hosted by BlueFur Web Hosting at the Cascades Casino in Langley. Like WordCamp Vancouver, this is [...]

[...] I heard that my own hosts BlueFur were instrumental in putting together a Word Press Camp out in the Fraser Valley area, I thought ‘how awesome is [...]

[...] the great success of WordCamp Vancouver, a friend of mine Gary Jones of BlueFur is hosting WordCamp Fraser Valley for all the WordPress bloggers out that way… [...]

[...] the great success of WordCamp Vancouver, a friend of mine Gary Jones of BlueFur is going to host WordCamp Fraser Valley for all the WordPress bloggers out that way - very [...]

There is a lot of confusion about these events. WordCamps are usually one to two days and held only once a year. Frequent meetings that are only a few hours in length are referred to as WordPress Meetups. This sounds like a meetup. A meetup is great as it happens regularly and can build a strong network, building one upon the other, and expanding and growing. Many WordPress Meetup groups decide to host a big WordCamp annually, using their volunteer members to make the event happen.

Meetups are in every format possible. Planned, structured and totally unstructured and informal. In general, WordCamps are events where people plan for months and months, fly in and travel from distances to see special speakers they would not be normally exposed to. Meetups can tap the community, bring in special speakers, and happen more regularly.

It doesn’t matter, but the standard for which are which has been set so misnaming can be confusing. Many will attend only one WordCamp but Meetups set them up to attend the next and the next and the next. They build a community rather than a one time event. As I said, many meetup groups work towards hosting a WordCamp as part of their year-long events.

Either way, good luck with your event. I’m excited about all of the great WordPress community building that is happening in Canada with the new Planet WordPress Canada aggregator and other blogging events.

Frankly, I am kind of shocked that Lorelle would nit-pick on whether this should be a WordCamp or a WordPress Meetup (considering how much work she’s done on WordPress, and how popular her books and blog and good work she’s done). I don’t care if it’s a WordCamp or a WordPress meetup. I figure neither do people who want to attend!

I don’t really think it’s nit-picking. People who are very passionate about WordPress only like to differentiate in order to maintain the high standards of both the meetups and WordCamps. The general definition is a meetup is a single evening session with a few presenters, where as a WordCamp as an event over two or more days with various sessions and panels. But anyway… it’s not a big deal

Kulpreet is right. It’s not a big deal, but it helps WordPress fans differentiate, and sponsors to understand what they are supporting. The idea of a meetups is very exciting for people who want the communal aspects of meeting regularly, brought together by WordPress. A WordCamp is a one off, good for anyone but not the best for that long term joy that comes with building relationships and community.

Having a WordCamp also means registering the event with the official WordCamp site so others can be notified and international and larger sponsors can be directed to support the full day or two event. It’s just a detail, not a condemnation. Any time WordPress users can get together and have a great time learning more about WordPress, blogging, and related stuff, I’m a huge fan and supporter. I just don’t like name confusion. We have enough jargon confusion on the web already.