ResNet 2010 News: June 23rd

Getting to ResNet 2010
As mentioned in our blog, this morning we sent out an email to all attendees containing all the information you should need in your email inbox as you travel to Bellingham, Washington and the campus of Western Washington University.

We’ve got a couple of announcements to get to first, and then you’ll find all of the information from this morning’s email here in today’s news.

New! – Mobile ResNet Schedule page
Based on feedback from past ResNets, attendees like to be able to see a Schedule-at-a-Glance when they’re on the move without having to fish their symposium programs out of their bags.

So, in response, we’re pleased to offer a special page on our website, optimized for viewing on mobile devices such as smartphones and the iPod Touch.

• Check it out: tinyurl.com/resnet2010

New! – Bellingham Nightspot Guide
Because we simply can’t stand the thought of our beloved ResNetters wandering around Bellingham at night, aimlessly looking for entertainment, we’ve put together a…

• Bellingham Nighspot Guide

Getting to ResNet 2010

Resnet Phone Number

(Before you call, please read everything in this email and/or check the ResNet 2010 website, if you are able, to see if the information you need is already at your fingertips.)

We’ll be using a Google Voice number, which will be forwarded to a rotating staff, 24/7, starting Thursday, June 24th, 8:00am PST.

754-2RE-SNET (754-273-7638)

Packing List

Available here.

Shuttles

Airporter Shuttle (shuttle from the Seattle airport to the Guest House Inn in Bellingham)
866-235-5247
Directions: Main Terminal – Lower Level, Baggage Claim Area, outside door #00. Follow airport signs to baggage claim level. Face street, turn right. At end of terminal veer right. Exit through door #00,which is past baggage carousel #1. See photos of boarding area.

QuickShuttle (shuttle from the Vancouver airport to Bellingham International Airport)
800-665-2122
Directions:

• ARRIVING FROM A CANADIAN DESTINATION AND HEADING TO WASHINGTON STATE?
  Retrieve your luggage and follow the signs to the International Terminal. Board the QuickShuttle bus at the International
• TERMINAL ARRIVALS, LEVEL 2. ARRIVING FROM A U.S.A. OR INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION AND HEADING TO WASHINGTON STATE?
  Board the QuickShuttle bus at the International Terminal, Arrivals Level 2. Simply walk out of the building look for the bus sign to your left as you exit the terminal.

Bellingham Van Shuttle (shuttle between the Guest House Inn, Bellingham International Airport, and Western’s campus)

• Friday 6/25 & Saturday 6/26: 8:30am to 11:30pm
• Wednesday 6/30: 4:15am to 7:15pm

This service was offered when you registered for ResNet 2010 and we’ve included several reminders in the past few editions of ResNet 2010 News. If you have not reserved a spot by paying for the shuttle online using the RegOnline system, you can still do so.

RegOnline Instructions:

• Click on “Already Registered?”
• Log in
• Under the “Edit” column, click on “Registration”
• Make changes
• Scroll down and click on “Continue”
• Click on “Finalize”
• Scroll down and enter payment information
• Scroll down and click on “Update Registration”

If you arrive at Bellingham International Airport or the Guest House Inn during the hours we’re offering this shuttle, and you weren’t able to reserve a spot, we will do our best to fit you in, and you’ll have an opportunity to pay online while you are on campus. When you arrive, call: 754-2RE-SNET (754-273-7638)

Taxis

• Yellow Cab: 360-671-8294
• AAA Taxi: 360-676-8300
• Blue Cab: 360-734-3787

Driving Directions & Parking

Available here.

Technology: Cellular Coverage & Internet

Available here.

ResNet 2010 News: June 21st

The Home Stretch
With only five days until the opening of ResNet 2010, today’s news will focus on preparing everyone for the trip to Bellingham and the campus of Western Washington University.

We’ll also be sending out an email on Wednesday with key information you might need on the go (e.g. driving directions), so that you can have it in your inbox and don’t necessarily have to find an internet connection.

In-flight Wi-Fi Discount
Speaking of finding internet connections, ResNetter Jim Rizzo suggested we spread the word that GoGo is giving 25% off in-flight WiFi. More information available here.

Attendees@ List and Forums

• Renting a car and want to share?
• Taking the Airporter Shuttle from the Seattle airport and wondering if other ResNetters might be on the same shuttle?
• Want to plan a night on the town in Bellingham?
• Interested in organizing your own half-day activity for Monday, June 28th?

As you prepare for your trip, we’d like to remind you about two resources we’re providing to help you communicate with others who coming tor ResNet 2010.

1. A while back we set up the ResNet 2010 Discussion Forums for this very purpose. Pre-loaded with suggested topics, we welcome you to network to your heart’s content.
2. Additionally, we’ve subscribed all ResNet 2010 attendees to a listserv just for the symposium. Just send email to resnet2010-attendees@resnetsymposium.org in order to pose a question or make a suggestion.

Bellingham Van Service Reminder
Last week we mentioned that we need to hear from everyone who will be arriving or departing Bellingham at Bellingham International Airport (by plane or the QuickShuttle from Vancouver, B.C.), or at the Guest House Inn (the drop-off location for the Airporter Shuttle from the Seattle airport).

As mentioned on our Travel page, we’re offering a van service between the Bellingham airport, the Guest House Inn, and Western’s campus during the posted hours.

Thanks to everyone who filled out and submitted your arrival and departure information in the survey we asked you to complete in last week’s news.

To anyone whose travel plans have shifted and you find that you will now need transportation between the Bellingham airport, the Guest House Inn, and Western’s campus during the hours we’re offering the van service, we’ve made it possible for you to log back into the RegOnline system to add the van service and pay for it.

RegOnline Instructions:

• Click on “Already Registered?”
• Log in
• Under the “Edit” column, click on “Registration”
• Make changes
• Scroll down and click on “Continue”
• Click on “Finalize”
• Scroll down and enter payment information
• Scroll down and click on “Update Registration”

Driving Directions and Parking Info
Available here.

If you didn’t purchase a parking pass when you registered for ResNet 2010, you can add one now following the RegOnline instructions above.

ResNet 2010 Phone Number
We’ll be using a Google Voice number this year, which will be forwarded to a rotating staff, 24/7, starting Thursday, June 24th, 8:00am PST.

• 754-2RE-SNET (754-273-7638)

Guests Meeting Guests
We recognize that guests – family and friends accompanying symposium attendees on the trip – might want to connect with each other in order to plan outings together while the symposium is in progress.

We recommend the following options for connecting:

• Fairhaven Lounge, Sunday, June 27th, 9:00 to 10:00am: This lounge, where the Registration & Information Desk will be located when you arrive at Western’s campus, is a nice spot to meet and close to the parking lot. The bus stops are a short walk away as well.
• ResNet 2010 Discussion Forums: As mentioned above, the forums are there to help you connect, and anyone can register to post there, including guests.

Packing List Reminder
Also mentioned last week, we’ve put together a comprehensive packing list to help prevent you from leaving anything you need behind.

While the details are available on the packing list page, here are some key items we feel we should stress:

• Ethernet cable: For those staying in on-campus lodging, Western does not offer Wi-Fi in the residence halls, and attendees must bring their own Ethernet cable in order to access the internet in their rooms.
• Business cards: These will be used for a variety of reasons. 1. to be submitted at any program session in order to communicate with the presenter(s) about the topic and/or obtain a copy of the presentation; 2. to hand to fellow attendees for networking purposes; 3. to submit to the vendors at the Vendor Fair in order to be entered into the raffle. (Note:If your employer does not supply you with business cards, consider cutting some 3″x5″ index cards in half, and on each half write your name, title, institution, email address, and phone number.)
• Documentation Fair items: See our Doc Fair page for details.
• T-Shirt Exchange shirt: See our T-shirt Exchange page for details.
• Silent Auction donations: See our Silent Auction page for details.
• Theme Days shirts: Click here for more details.
• Rain Jacket: Remember how on the packing list page we say that the key to happiness is dressing in layers, and then we recommend a rain jacket for an outer layer? Well, I don’t trust weather forecasts myself, mainly because here in the Pacific Northwest a 5-day, much less a 10-day, forecast can change every single day you check it. But as of right now, I hate to mention it, there is rain forecast during the symposium. So, pack that rain jacket, everything here will still be super beautiful, and you’ll be protected from that silly rain.

Spaces Still Available For Paid Half-Day Activities
We still have room in the following Half-Day Activities.

• Mt. Baker: We’ve made it possible to log back into the RegOnline system to pay and reserve a spot for the Mt. Baker trip. (Follow the RegOnline Instructions under Van Service Reminder above.)
• Sea Kayaking: those wanting to join the Sea Kayaking trip should contact the trip outfitter directly, as instructed in the event description.

Bellingham Culture Crawl: It’s Free!
While this Half-Day Activity is free, we are hoping to hear from attendees who are considering participating so that we can plan on for how many people to accommodate.

The Culture Crawl will be a fun way to explore Bellingham with our very knowledgeable volunteer guide, Carol Berry, the manager of Western’s Sustainable Transportation office.

If you’d like to join the crawl, please log back into the RegOnline system , select it from the list of Half-Day Activities, and follow the RegOnline Instructions under Van Service Reminder above, ignoring the payment information step.

New! – Live Streaming the Town Hall
In order to enable the many ResNet members who could not attend the symposium this year the opportunity participate in an open forum concerning the ResNet organization, we’ll be streaming the Sunday Town Hall live.

So, please spread the word to your colleagues who won’t be at ResNet 2010 to join the discussion:

• When: Sunday, June 27th, 3:45pm to 5:15pm
• Where: Click on the Town Hall on the Schedule page.

Bellingham Trivia of the Week: Redefining “Beach”
I’m pretty sure that when most people visualize a beach, the image that comes to mind is something like this.

Well, here in Bellingham and the Pacific Northwest it’s pretty much guaranteed that you won’t find any palm trees, the water will be frigid, and the sand is mostly replaced by rocks, seaweed, barnacles, and driftwood.

Once you adjust your expectations, however, a trip to the beach (we recommend Larrabee State Park) can be a wonderful experience full of scenic beauty. Our beaches are home to an abundance of wildlife, from a variety of sea birds, Bald Eagles, and Great Blue Herons (featured in today’s ResNet 2010 News photo), to tide pools filled with starfish, anemones, urchins, and crabs.

ResNet 2010 News: June 17th

9 Days Until ResNet 2010!
A week from now, some of our early arrival attendees will be here, and others will be trickling in until the Professional Development Seminars start on Saturday, June 26th and the Opening Reception & Dinner is held that evening.

Hooray!

Speaking of Early Arrivals…
…and folks staying in the area after the symposium, it’s important that you know — however happy we are that you’ll be here enjoying Bellingham — that there will be limited support services available on campus during non-symposium hours. If you are staying on campus, there will, of course, be 24/7 ability to contact our Guest Housing staff in the case of emergencies, and there will be a way to contact staff for facilities issues if the need arises, but it will be up to our guests to:

• find your way around campus using the campus map
• utilize our local bus system using a printed guide that we’ll provide, or arrange other transportation options
• seek out meals on campus or in the Bellingham area (meals offered as part of the symposium registration fee are listed on the Schedule page)
• arrange your own transportation to and from airports

Bellingham Van Service Scheduling
Attendees arriving and leaving Bellingham via Bellingham International Airport, the Airporter Shuttle from the Seattle airport, or the Quick Shuttle from the Vancouver, B.C. airport had the option, when registering for ResNet 2010, to pay for van service between the Bellingham airport and the Guest House Inn (the Bellingham stop for the Airporter Shuttle) and campus.

In order to schedule pick-ups and drop-offs, please fill out and submit the following survey ASAP.

Please Go Here!

Still, we understand that flights get delayed, and so we’ll soon be emailing all attendees a ResNet 2010 phone number that you’ll be able to use to report any changes to your plans.

Registration & Information Desk and Hours
The Registration & Information Desk will be located in the community building of the Fairhaven Complex of residence halls, where ResNet attendees who choose to lodge on-campus will be staying. This is where all attendees must check-in for the symposium, there is ample parking very close by, and signs will direct everyone to the community building.

Desk Hours:

• Friday, June 25th: 2:00pm to 5:00pm
• Saturday, June 26th: 7:30am to 9:30am, 12:30pm to 6:30pm

These hours are also listed on the Schedule page of the website.

Attendees arriving outside of these hours should proceed to the same location, and follow the instruction provided for 24/7 Guest Housing staff assistance.

NEW! – Roundtable Discussions
Here’s the first of two new ResNet Symposium features we’re trying out this year.

Based on suggestions we’ve received in the past, on Sunday, June 27th, we’re offering four Roundtable Discussions as a way to take advantage of all the information that everyone attending ResNet has to offer. These sessions allow for all participants to share what is going on at their institution in regards to a particular topic without having to prepare a formal presentation. In addition, you’ll be able to learn from your colleagues at other institutions as they share their experiences as well.

The four topics:

• Cool Tools – what tools are in your arsenal that you can’t live without?
• Future of computer labs – how will the traditional computer lab evolve
• Managing students – problems, solutions, and successes
• Student training programs – interview questions; training content and duration

New! – Theme Days
On the fun side of things, we’re encouraging everyone to bring particular items from your wardrobe for the following three Theme Days:

• School Spirit Night: For the Opening Reception & Dinner, Saturday, June 26th, wear something with your institution’s branding on it.
• Geek T-shirt Day: On Sunday the 27th, ResNet attendees have the opportunity to don their favorite geek T-shirt. The caffeine molecule. Keep out of direct sunlight. What one will be your favorite to run out and buy when you get home?
• ResNet Symposium T-shirt Day: On Tuesday, the 29th, wear a ResNet Symposium t-shirt of your choice, either from ResNets past or your brand new ResNet 2010 shirt.

Bellingham Trivia of the Week: Ski to Sea
Every Memorial Day weekend since 1973, Bellingham has hosted one of the most unique sporting events in the world: Ski to Sea.

An epic, 94-mile relay race, Ski to Sea begins at the Mt. Baker Ski Area and ends in Bellingham Bay, and consists of the following seven legs:

• Cross Country Skier: skis 4.5 miles through two figure eight loops, hands off to…
• Downhill Skier: hikes up hill and skis down, handing off to…
• Runner: runs eight miles, downhill on the hard asphalt of Mt. Baker Highway and hands off to…
• Road Bicyclist: pedals 42 miles and hands off to…
• Two-Person Canoe Team: paddles 18 miles down the Nooksack River and hands off to…
• Mountain Bicyclist: pedals 14 miles and hands off to…
• Kayaker: who paddles all the way across Bellingham Bay, from Squalicum Harbor to Marine Park

400 teams participate in eight different divisions, ranging from purely recreational to hyper-competitive. The event spans the weekend, including a parade and a street festival, pretty much consuming Bellingham with Ski to Sea fever.

ResNet 2010 News: Week of June 14th

The Symposium is Imminent!
Woh! 12 days until the beginning of ResNet 2010!

Now that registration is closed, the ResNet 2010 News will focus on preparing everyone who is attending the symposium for their trip to Bellingham and Western Washington University. We will also be publishing ResNet 2010 News at least twice a week, and we’ll continue to use email, Twitter, Facebook, and the RSS-fed blog here on the website to communicate with you.

An Intimate Symposium
With a student population of 13,000, Western Washington University likes to think of itself as big enough and small enough: big enough to offer a wide variety of academic and extracurricular choices; small enough so that students don’t just feel like a number.

It’s fitting, then, that ResNet 2010 can also be described as big enough and small enough.

With just over 100 people attending from 70 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada, there will be no shortage of the kind of professional and social networking opportunities ResNet is known for, and the variety of program session options has not diminished.

Packing List
Because we know what it’s like to remember that you didn’t pack your toothbrush until your plane reaches cruising altitude, we’ve prepared a handy Packing List for you.

A Reminder About Western’s Alcohol Policy
Alcohol may not be consumed in public areas on campus, including residence hall lounges. Attendees 21 of age or older are allowed to consume alcohol in there residence hall rooms, but we ask all attendees to be mindful of noise levels and considerate of others who require quiet in order to sleep well.

There are many nightlife options in Bellingham that are relatively close to campus. As mentioned on our About Bellingham page, there are two town centers: Downtown and Fairhaven. We’ve set up an Exploring Bellingham forum on our Discussion Forums page, where attendees can coordinate nights out.

Bellingham Trivia of the Week: Movies!
Sure, every town has movie theaters, but Bellingham has two cinema institutions that are a little out of the ordinary.

The Pickford Film Center (PFC) is a local non-profit organization fueled by over 2,000 dues-paying members and operating a small, single-screen theater offering year-round, independent, foreign and documentary movies. Additionally, PFC organizes a number of film festivals and later this year will be moving into a LEED Certified renovated historic building in downtown building, where they will triple their seating capacity in two screening rooms.

The Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema offers movies under the stars every Saturday night from late June through the end of August. Held at the Fairhaven Village Green, movies are preceded by live music; popcorn, pizza and beverages are available for purchase; and there’s even a raffle!

This year’s Outdoor Cinema season starts the first night of ResNet 2010. Movies don’t start until dusk, thanks to our wonderfully long summer days dusk doesn’t come until close to 10:00pm, and so, with the ResNet Opening Reception and Dinner ending at 9:00pm, it is totally possible to join in the fun. Admission is $5.00, with first-come-first-served seating on the grass and a handful of benches in the back.

ResNet 2010 News: Week of June 7th

Registration Ends June 11th
There’s still time to register for ResNet 2010!

While our discounts for early registration are no longer available, we still strongly believe that the ResNet Symposium is a great value at $575. Hear what your colleagues are doing at their institutions, learn new tricks, network, and discover Bellingham, Washington!

Register Now!

Need to make a change to your registration?
Did you know that you can log back into the RegOnline system and make changes to your registration?

When you initially registered, you created a login — your email address and a password. When you go to the RegOnline page, click on Already Registered?, login, and you’ll be able to make changes such as:

• Add a Professional Development Seminar (PDS): There’s still room in the Assessment, Team Building, and Video Fundamentals sessions.
• Add on-campus lodging or change the number of nights you’ll be staying in on-campus lodging
• Add a Monday afternoon (June 28th) Half-Day Activity: Mt. Baker, San Juan Island, Sea Kayaking, Bellingham Culture Crawl.
• Purchase an extra symposium t-shirt, long-sleeve t-shirt, or hoodie
• Enter your travel plan details (arrival and departure dates) so we can schedule the van service we’ll be providing, connecting the Bellingham stop (GuestHouse Inn) on the Airporter Shuttle route to on-campus housing. The van will also pickup from the Bellingham International Airport for those arriving by air or by the Quick Coach shuttle from Vancouver, BC. Details here.

Schedule Change
Speaking of changes, please note the following updates to the symposium schedule:

• Cancelled: Windows 7 XP Mode in the Lab Environment – originally scheduled for Sunday 1-2pm
• Moved to Sunday 1-2pm: Basic Computer Clean-up – originally scheduled for Sunday 9-10am.

Sponsor Appreciation
Simply put, the ResNet Symposium would be a financial impossibility without the generosity of the vendors who sponsor the event.

For years ResNet has had a good quid pro quo relationship with a variety of companies offering products and services related to the work we do at our respective institutions. These vendors have the opportunity to show their stuff to ResNet attendees, whom either make purchasing decisions or report to those who do, and in return they provide funds that go toward putting on the symposium.

This year’s sponsors are:

• Allot Communications
• Apogee Software
• Bradford Networks
• Computer Lab Solutions
• Dell
• Fluke Networks
• Impulse Point
• Sandvine
• SuperLumin/Stratocache

In order for us to keep this quid pro quo relationship sustainable, we’re making an appeal to all ResNet 2010 attendees to visit the company representatives at the Vendor Fair — Tuesday, 12-4pm. As a courtesy, please ask them about their products and services and leave your business card with them.

Two Incentives:

1. Speaking of business cards, in addition to their financial support of the symposium, these companies offer raffle items, which in the past included items like USB Flash Drives, iPods, and even laptops. One business card will be randomly selected by each company at the closing ceremony.
2. Want an 8GB iPod Touch? Prior to the Vendor Fair, every ResNet 2010 attendee will receive a Vendor Fair Passport. Attendees who visit every sponsor and obtain a signature for each on their Vendor Fair Passports will be entered into a drawing, with a chance to win an 8GB iPod Touch. We have to iPods to giveaway, so be friendly to our sponsors and win!

Silent Auction Update
Remember to bring your checkbooks!

We have received commitments from ResNetters for donations of a variety of items for the Silent Auction.

In addition, as mentioned in a previous edition of ResNet 2010 News, we’ve invited our sponsors to donate Silent Auction items this year, and we’re excited to announce that we’ll have two surprise, high-ticket items up for bid.

Bellingham Trivia of the Week: The Orca
The Orca — aka “Killer Whale” — is a year-round resident of the Puget Sound, and the largest species of the oceanic dolphin family. There are approximately 87 orcas amongst three different pods known collectively as the Southern Residents.

The Puget Sound also has visits from transient orcas that travel up and down the west coast, from California to Alaska. A primary difference between the transients and residents is that the transients eat only other sea mammals, whereas resident orcas eat mostly fish and squid.

In fact, just this past April, a whale watching vessel traveling between nearby Camano and Whidbey Islands witnessed a stunning demonstration of this difference, as a group of transients attacked a gray whale in full sight of the passengers.

ResNet 2010 News: Week of June 1st

Regular Registration Ends June 4th
There’s still time to register for ResNet 2010! And if you act before June 4th, you’ll be able to register for $525, saving $50 off the $575 Late Registration fee.

Register Now!

Program Schedule Now Available!
We know you are all itching to start planning which sessions you’ll attend while you are here for ResNet 2010, and so we’ve posted the schedule on the website.

While we don’t anticipate changes to the session dates and times, there will be minor changes to rooms and other locations in the coming weeks.

The descriptions of the Professional Development Seminars and Program Sessions have been posted for a while, but we’ve made it easy to navigate by linking to those descriptions from the Schedule page.

Closing Reception & Banquet
As mentioned on our FAQ page, the Closing Reception and dinner, Tuesday, June 29th, will be held at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The Cruise Terminal serves as the southern terminus for the Alaska Marine Highway, which offers weekly ferry service to Ketchikan, Alaska. Other providers offer day cruises and whale watching tours from the terminal as well.

We know you’ll love the old maritime charm and views of Bellingham Bay!

After dinner, the Fairhaven Historic District is a short walk away, offering several options for evening entertainment, or it’s a 10-minute bus or car ride to Downtown Bellingham. For attendees who wish to coordinate a night on the town with other ResNetters, we’ve set up an Exploring Bellingham forum on our ResNet 2010 Discussion Board for that very purpose.

Bellingham Trivia of the Week: Where’s Fairhaven?
If you’ve been browsing the ResNet 2010 website, you might have noticed the scattered references to a variety of places or buildings with “Fairhaven” in the name.

What’s up with that, anyway?

Fairhaven was incorporated in 1890 with great enthusiasm by speculators who were betting that the location would become a hub for shipping and commerce. Well, Seattle became that hub, the boom never came, and in 1903 Fairhaven and three other towns — Sehome, Whatcom, and Bellingham — were incorporated as a single city of Bellingham. Nonetheless, Fairhaven’s colorful history left its mark, and its name has been used in both the public and private sectors.

The two uses of the name “Fairhaven” that could cause the most confusion are:

• Fairhaven College: This is Western’s college of Interdisciplinary Studies. The buildings that comprise Fairhaven College are referred to as the Fairhaven Complex, consisting of 1.) a Common Building, housing the Fairhaven classrooms and administrative offices, a dining commons, lounge, convenience market, front desk, and computer lab; and 2.) 12 residential units housing 52 students each. Each stack has lounges in addition to the main lounge in the Common Building. Needless to say, most campus people simply refer to the whole things as “Fairhaven.”
• Fairhaven Historic District: Mentioned above as the location of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, this charming residential and commercial area retains a lot of Fairhaven’s old world charm. Referred to by some as Fairhaven Village (see the photo of the red double-decker bus in this week’s photo, a bus that serves fantastic fish and chips, btw), most of the time people just say “Fairhaven,” maybe because we like to keep it simple here in the Pacific Northwest.

ResNet 2010 News: Week of May 24th

A Completed Registration = Peace of Mind
You know how it is when you haven’t checked off everything on your to-do list. Those loose ends just cause way too much stress!

So, if you’ve started your registration but have not submitted the payment, for either a portion or all of the fees, why not cross this item off your list right now? The peace of mind you’ll experience, knowing you are travelling to Bellingham with a fully completed registration, will be refreshing. As an added bonus, we’ll throw in our sincere gratitude, since we’ll be crossing you off our list as well.

If you have submitted your payment, thank you SO much! Wrapping up registration neatly enables us to focus our efforts on making ResNet 2010 a success and an enjoyable experience for everyone.

One Professional Development Seminar (PDS) Cancelled
Due to an insufficient number of registrants, the PDS session titled Seeing Yourself as a Presenter: High-Tech Tools To Improve Your Low-Tech Self has been cancelled.

If you registered for this session, someone will be in touch with you soon to discuss your options with you.

Reminder about ResNet 2010 Discussion Board
As ResNet 2010 draws near, we’d like to remind you of a new resource we’re offering this year to help attendees connect with one another.

Our Discussion Board provides a variety of suggested topics and the ability to propose additional topics as needed.

So, create your login and jump on in!

Mt. Baker Trip
In order for it to happen, we still need at least two more attendees to sign up for the trip to the Mt. Baker area that we’ve organized and will provide transportation for.

As mentioned in the May 10th edition of ResNet 2010 News, the trip promises a lovely scenic drive in a beautiful rural landscape, continuing through the Cascade Mountain foothills, travelling along the mighty Nooksack River, stopping for a visit at a glacial lake and alpine meadows, and finally, on the way home, a stop at a great Italian restaurant in the tiny village of Glacier, Washington.

The photo for this week’s ResNet 2010 News is from the primary stop the trip will make in the area. Picture Lake, located at Heather Meadows, offers a stunning view of Mt. Baker’s neighbor, Mt. Shuksan, reflected in pristine glacier water.

Yes, it is THAT beautiful!

Bellingham Trivia of the Week
Speaking of Mt. Baker, did you know that it is an active glaciated andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc?

While it’s certainly not the only volcano in the world covered with ice and snow much of the year, this seeming elemental contradiction adds to the mystique of Mt. Baker. Only 31 miles due east of Bellingham, some say that the ice and snow contribute to a certain degree of denial about the potential for a large eruption.

We, however, have it from reliable sources that there will be no eruption during ResNet 2010!

ResNet 2010 News: Week of May 17th

Early Bird Registration Still Available: thru May 21st
Yes, we’re going to keep reminding you, but only because we want you to have the best chance of making it to Bellingham for ResNet 2010.

Register Now!

Keynote Speaker
We’re are extremely happy to announce the ResNet 2010 Keynote Speaker!

J. Michael Walker is President of Beacon Consultants Network Inc., a consulting firm specializing in effecting human behavior change. One of Beacon’s clients is the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program. Mike is very engaging, understands the challenges we all face in higher education IT, and his keynote address is sure to inform and inspire.

Prior to founding Beacon, Mike worked for the EPA, served as COO of IT services firm Complete Communications, Inc., VP of Client Services at Belenos, Inc., and manager at Deloitte Consulting. Mike graduated from the University of Virginia and holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School.

Additional Symposium Session
Mike Walker will also conduct a symposium session titled Computer Power Management: A Major Savings Opportunity Sitting on over 90% of US Desktops. This session will focus on how often-overlooked computer power management features can save as much as $300 in electricity per computer over the typical service life of a PC or Mac.

PDS Sessions Still Available
Since Professional Development Seminars are self-supporting, we will need to have a minimum number of attendees in each session in order to be able to offer them.

As of this writing, there are three sessions for which we have fewer than the minimum required attendees registered:

• Assessment
• Seeing Yourself As A Presenter: High Tech Tools To Improve Your Low Tech Self
• Video Fundamentals

So, don’t miss your chance to participate in these stimulating, informative, and fun opportunities to bring more tools to the jobs that you do!

Silent Auction
ResNet 2009 offered the inaugural ResNet Silent Auction, and we’re pleased to announce that the auction will be back at ResNet 2010 by popular demand.

One piece of feedback we received from last year’s Silent Auction, was that the auction items were more or less tech related. This year, we’d like to encourage participants to donate other things, as well. We have a lot of talented musicians and artists in ResNet, as well as a diverse set of hobbies and interests, and this would be a great way to publicize your work, as well as raise money for a good cause.

For more detailed information about the Silent Auction, please click here.

T-Shirt Exchange
While the Silent Auction is becoming a new ResNet tradition, attendees of ResNet 2010 can count on other longstanding traditions continuing, and the annual T-Shirt Exchange is among the most popular. Bring a new, clean shirt from your program or campus and go home with a cool-looking shirt from another institution.

More information about the T-Shirt Exchane, including the rules, can be found here.

Document Fair
One of the things that we all like about the ResNet community is the willingness to share information. The Documentation Fair at the ResNet Symposium is your chance to showcase and share your ResNet posters, marketing materials, CDs, training materials, giveaways, surveys, forms, URLs, etc.

For more information, including how to get your documentation to ResNet 2010, click here.

Bellingham Trivia of the Week
The Bellingham Farmers Market is the most iconic, regularly-held event in Bellingham. Offering a vibrant showcase of local produce, arts and crafts, live music and community organization information, the farmers market is a must visit if you arrive in Bellingham in time to attend. Nothing else will provide more local flavor, literally and figuratively!

Held on Saturdays, April through Christmas, 10am to 3pm, one of the most noteworthy things about the market is the Depot Market Square, its permanent facility. While the market started in 1993, the Square was built in 2005-2006, using reclaimed steel beams and other materials from a decommissioned trestle bridge that used to span the Skagit River in nearby Mount Vernon, Washington.

ResNet 2010 News: Week of May 10th

Early Bird Registration Extended to May 21st
In further recognition of these difficult economic times, we’ve decided to extend the Early Bird Registration deadline by two weeks.

So, you still have a chance to take advantage of this incredible deal: $475 for stimulating sessions that will help guide the work you do at your institution, for invaluable networking time with colleagues, and for a visit to the beautiful campus of Western Washington University!

Changes to Registration Possible Until June 11th
Did you know that when you registered for ResNet 2010 using RegOnline that you created an account which allows you to log back into RegOnline if you need to make any changes to your registration that you might need?

Did you indicate you’d be staying in off-campus lodgings, but now you’d prefer to stay on-campus? Would you like to purchase an additional t-shirt or hoodie? Did you forget to indicate a dietary restriction?

No problem! Just click here to make those changes.

Sign Up for Half-Day Activities
Another item you can add to your registration is participation in one of the four Half-Day Acvtivities we’ve organized for Monday, June 28th.

• San Juan Island
• Mt. Baker
• Kayaking Puget Sound
• Bellingham Culture Crawl

As mentioned on our ResNet 2010 Discussion Forums, two of these activities will rely on a minimum number of participants in order for us to be able to offer them. As of today, May 10th, the Mt. Baker trip still needs two more people to sign up.

The trip to the Mt. Baker area promises to include a lovely scenic drive in a beautiful rural landscape, continuing through the Cascade Mountain foothills, travelling along the mighty Nooksack River, a visit to a glacial lake and alpine meadows, and finally, on the way home, a stop at a great Italian restaurant in the tiny village of Glacier, Washington.

Speaking of the forums, here’s another shout-out that they are there to help attendees prepare for their trip to Bellingham and to make the most of your time in the area, so, by all means, avail yourselves!

Bellingham Trivia of the Week
Though we’re just a small city in the Pacific Northwest, Bellingham is just a few degrees of separation from a number of notable celebrities:

• My personal favorite, alternative rock band Death Cab For Cutie was formed right here in Bellingham, by students attending Western Washington University.
• Ryan Stiles, star of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, The Drew Carey Show, and currently Two and a Half Men, lives in Bellingham, where he opened the Upfront Theatre, an intimate venue for improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy.
• Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank lived in Bellingham from age six until she was 16, attending Sehome High School, which is adjacent to Western’s campus, and getting her start in community theater.
• Like him or not, Fox News personality Glenn Beck, graduated from Sehome High School.

ResNet 2010 News: Week of May 3rd

Early Bird Registration Ends May 7th!
Hurry up if you want to be eligible to register for ResNet 2010 at the incredibly low price of $475.

Register Now!

We’re confident that if you review our Top 10 Reasons to Attend ResNet and Testimonials pages, you’ll agree with us that this is truly a remarkable value.

Symposium Session Descriptions Now Available
As if the Top 10 list wasn’t enough, we’ve got something else this week in ResNet 2010 News that highlights the value of the Symposium.

The Program Committee has been hard at work and is pleased to announce that the descriptions of the sessions we’ll be offering at ResNet 2010 are now up on the Program Content page.

As you can see, the ResNet community continues to step up with highly relevant sessions on topics that can really help attendees make good decisions at their own institutions. So, avoid common mistakes and move forward on projects with the comfort of knowing that your ResNet colleagues have been there and done that.

Registration for Assessment Professional Development Seminars (PDS) Ends May 7
In order to offer Kevin Guidry’s Assessment PDS, there are a minimum number of participants that must be registered by this Friday, May 7th.

If you are planning on attending this PDS, please be sure to register for it as soon as possible. If you have registered for the Assessment PDS and we do not get the minimum number of participants, we will of course issue you a full refund.

ResNet Glossary
Getting a little confused by all the ResNet jargon? Trying to figure out what the difference is between a Professional Development Seminar and a Presentation Session? Wondering what the T-Shirt Exchange is?

Visit our ResNet Glossary page and all will be revealed!

Frequently Asked Questions
Speaking of answering questions, new on the ResNet 2010 website this week is our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. Most of the content is already on relevant pages, but we recognize that many people prefer an FAQ page as their method of searching for content on a website.

About Western Page Updated
We’ve re-written our About Western page, adding everything we think you’ll want to know about our campus when you arrive.

Bellingham Trivia of the Week
Whatcom County, for which Bellingham is the county seat, is home to two Native American reservations: the Nooksack and Lummi. Many local places have Lummi or Nooksack names, such as Whatcom, which is the Nooksack word for noisy water.

No, the sound of rushing water won’t keep you up at night on Western’s campus, but if you get a chance to visit Whatcom Falls Park while you are here, which is only five minutes from campus, you’ll definitely hear the noise.

ResNet 2010 News: Week of April 26th

Testimonials from attendees of ResNets past
Still not sure whether or not to attend ResNet 2010?

Well, we’ve been in touch with attendees of past ResNet Symposia, and have compiled some testimonials that highlight many of the reasons why attending ResNet is such a worthwhile investment. Click here!

Reminder about Top 10 Reasons to Attend ResNet
Speaking of reasons to attend, we’d like to remind those of you who are facing travel restrictions and close scrutiny of travel requests in these tough economic times that we’ve put together a page listing the Top 10 Reasons to Attend ResNet.

We also composed a draft letter that can be edited and submitted with your travel request, also highlighting the benefits of attending ResNet.

ResNet Discussion Forum now open!
Listen, we know that one of the things that ResNetters do best is network; computer-to-computer and human-to-human.

And so, in recognition that there’s a lot to talk about in preparation for attending ResNet 2010, from coordinating travel and lodging, to organizing Birds of a Feather sessions, to planning sightseeing activities, we’re happy to announce the opening of the…

ResNet 2010 Discussion Forum

Just register and jump on in!

Bellingham Trivia of the Week
Western Washington University’s third LEED Certified building is currently under construction, a 100-bed addition to the Buchanan Towers residence hall.

Bellingham is a leader in the sustainability movement, making news all the time for smart choices in city planning.