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# What I'm looking forward to at WineCamp
- URL: https://www.chrismessina.me/blog/what-im-looking-forward-to-at-winecamp/
- Published: 2006-05-25T09:54:15.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-25T03:36:03.000Z
- Author: Chris Messina
- Tags: Barcamp, Open source, SpreadSpread, Technology

[](http://www.flickr.com/photos/64618475@N00/150299048/?ref=chrismessina.me)In case you haven't [signed up](http://winecamp.mollyguard.com/?ref=chrismessina.me) yet for this weekend's [WineCamp](http://winecampcalaveras.com/?ref=chrismessina.me), now's the time to do it. I've been thinking about it lately, and what I'm hoping to get out of it. Unlike other [BarCamps](http://barcamp.org/?ref=chrismessina.me), we're really trying to break things up and introduce some new folks and ideas to the ad-hoc model (and by ad-hoc, I mean we're buying up supplies, food and even the tent [Tara](http://horsepigcow.com/?ref=chrismessina.me) and I'll use throughout today and tomorrow!). It's non-profits, it's technologists, but really, disciplines aren't the most important thing -- it's the conversations that will result -- and the sunlighting of opportunities where all this new social media stuff has failed to light a fire. What I'm most looking forward to, besides a great time, a great venue and some great wine, is talking to Donald Lobo and [David Geilhufe](http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/geilhufe?ref=chrismessina.me) of [CivicCRM](http://civicrm.org/?ref=chrismessina.me)/[CivicSpace](http://civicspacelabs.org/?ref=chrismessina.me) (as well as [Zack](http://zacker.org/?ref=chrismessina.me), [Neil](http://delocalizedham.com/?ref=chrismessina.me) and [Kieran](http://civicspacelabs.org/home/blog/kieran?ref=chrismessina.me)) on how to make their platform more palatable and useable by normal folks. I would have *loved* to use CiviCRM to organize WineCamp, but it's just too much software and I don't have the time or expertise to make it sing for me. Now that I'm on the other side and actually organizing, I have a much clearer picture of what this stuff needs to do and how simple it needs to be. I'm looking forward to catching up with my good friend [Mini](http://www.brainbytes.com/?ref=chrismessina.me), who works with the [Level Playing Field Institute](http://lpfi.org/?ref=chrismessina.me) and has created an awesome project called [Smash Cast](http://www.smashcast.org/?ref=chrismessina.me). I'm also looking forward to discussing modern education reform with folks like Charles Morgan from [Presidio Hill](http://presidiohill.org/?ref=chrismessina.me), about all kinds of good stuff with Murray Freeman who I met some time ago at [SHDH](http://shdh.org/?ref=chrismessina.me)... about what we can do to make non-profits more tech savvy and at the same time, technology builders more sensitive to matters beyond dollars and cents. Stuff that the [Compumentor](http://compumentor.org/?ref=chrismessina.me) folks know a great deal about (and who have been instrumental in making this happen). Above all, can we identify the projects and challenges that *don't* have business models but that need to be built regardless? There's so much more to look forward to -- and I can't believe that it all starts tomorrow night with a big ol' fashioned weenie roast on the vineyard, but heck, that's the way this thing *should* get started. [Pescitarian](http://everything2.com/?node%5Fid=972166&ref=chrismessina.me) or whatever I am, even *I* recognize the need to go back to basics and start simply every now and again. WineCamp is that: it's the best of the old world, coming into the new. And that tension and grounding in culture, is what I hope will provide the right kind of environment for new ideas, for new thinking and for new hope to ferment. ;)

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### 💬 Comments from the original post

**[Eric Skiff](http://www.glitchnyc.com/?ref=chrismessina.me)** · 2006-05-25 14:38:33

I really wish I could make it, but I've done just about as much travelling as I can afford this year! Enjoy the weekend, it sounds like it's going to be a blast, and I'll be very suprised if a few great ideas and partnerships aren't born of the people-mashup you're creating. Any chance we'll see you for Barcamp Boston next weekend? -Eric