Smalltalk Solutions 2001 -- Call For Participation

Smalltalk Solutions Conference 2001   --   Call for Participation

Conference Dates:  Monday, April 9, 2001 -  Wednesday, April 11, 2001
Location:  Stephens Convention Center  Rosemont, IL

We would like to personally invite Smalltalk advocates/developers/project
leaders/ and others from all over the world to contribute to the
technical program and activities of Smalltalk Solutions 2001.  Smalltalk
Solutions plans to be the banner event of the year for the Smalltalk user
community.  It is intended to be very interactive and Smalltalk oriented.
 We want to hear about what you've been doing whether you're an
individual or a corporation. This is the event to show the technology
world that Smalltalk is a great language and is exhibiting continuing
success in the industry. There are multiple ways to be involved.  Some of
these ways are reviewed below along with the associated participation
guidelines.  We invite all Smalltalkers to participate and share our
enthusiasm for this wonderful opportunity to keep Smalltalk strong.
Please review our website periodically for additional details and updates
about the conference at www.smalltalksolutions.org.


Experience Reports - Smalltalk topics presented in 1-2 hour sessions
ranging from individual case studies to technical discussions about
Smalltalk products, patterns, metrics and more.  This is an opportunity
to reflect on real world project experiences.  Come and show your scars!

Panels - Small groups of individuals discussing current Smalltalk topics
with each other in 1-2 hour sessions.  Audience interaction/participation
is encouraged!

Demos - Smalltalkers can show off their wares in 50-90 minute sessions.
One aspect that makes Smalltalk unique is the "cool" things people build
with it.  Here people can interact with what you've created, review your
code, ask questions and take back great things to improve their
projects!!

Workshops - Smalltalk practitioners gather together in small to medium
groups for focused discussion on a topic for 1/2 day (afternoon)
sessions.

Tutorials - Smalltalk experts from around the world will be teaching half
day or (optionally) full-day courses on diverse technical topics.

Exhibits - software companies, consultants, and publishers demonstrate
their latest products. We are also making a place for Smalltalk User's
Groups from all over to hold meetings and let the community know about
what's happening in your corner of the Smalltalk world.

Student Volunteers - Smalltalkers and up-and-coming Smalltalkers who can
contribute 20 hours of their time receive registration discounts and
other benefits.

And don't forget Camp Smalltalk will be on the floor…..Slinging' code and
making noise for Smalltalkers everywhere!  We look forward to your
contributions and participation, and to seeing you in Chicago!  Visit our
website at www.smalltalksolutions.org for additional updates and
registration information.


Pam Barbour
Smalltalk Solutions 2001 Conference Chair

David Hasegawa
Smalltalk Solutions 2001 Conference Co-Chair





Experience Reports

Experience Reports are one of the key elements of Smalltalk Solutions.
What better way to get the word out about the benefits of Smalltalk than
to publish an experience report to an audience at Solutions?  We don't
expect research here, just good solid reporting on the concrete
experiences of your first-hand experiences where it counts: in the
trenches delivering solutions!

Submissions should include a two to four page description of your
Smalltalk project, and a one- page overview of how you intend to present
your project experience. Your submission should identify both the
drawbacks and benefits of the approaches/tools used during the project
along with metrics to support your claims.  Each submission should
include a one-paragraph abstract for inclusion in the Advance Program in
the event the submission is accepted.  Specific submission format
guidelines are available on the Smalltalk Solutions website. Route
submissions to [hidden email]

Important Dates
Firm deadline for receipt of submissions:  January 26, 2001
Notification of acceptance or rejection:   February 23, 2001


Panels

Panels are often fun and informative.  If you like to engage large
numbers of attendees in lively debate, then sitting on a Panel is
definitely for you!  A variety of formats and sessions can be supported
here, ranging from point/counterpoint panels, gameshow type panels, and
other more innovative forms will also be considered.  Even Courtroom
simulations are allowed!

Example:  "What's Your Problem?" session where 8-10 people get together
to discuss problems they don't know how to solve.  They spend 5 minutes
describing the problem and the attendees spend 5 minutes giving ideas for
solving it.

Another example:  A debate on the best way to connect to an RDBMS.

And yet another:  Maybe speed programming contests where a specific
scenario is given and developers are timed on the creation of a
"working" solution.

Its important that Panels be comprised of a diverse group of individuals
with a variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.  Proposals will be accepted
from traditional as well as the non- traditional formats.

Submissions should include a one-page description of your Panel.  Each
submission should include a one-paragraph abstract for inclusion in the
Advance Program in the event the submission is accepted.  Detailed
submission format guidelines will be made available on the Smalltalk
Solutions website. Route submissions to
[hidden email]

Important Dates
Firm deadline for receipt of submissions:  February 16, 2001
Notification of acceptance or rejection:   March 9, 2001


Demos

Sharing your work through a computer demo is a great way to get others to
interact and discuss technical issues.  After all, Smalltalk is about
building systems and unique ones too.  The demos can be related to
commercial applications or in-house applications, corporate research
projects and also academic studies.  Demos should be focused on the
technical aspects of Smalltalk and not related to any commercial aspects.
 Presenters of accepted demonstrations should be part of the development
or implementation team.

Submissions should include a one to two page summary of your Demo.  Each
submission should include a one-paragraph abstract for inclusion in the
Advance Program in the event the submission is accepted.  Detailed
submission format guidelines will be made available on the Smalltalk
Solutions website. Route submissions to
[hidden email]

Important Dates
Firm deadline for receipt of submissions:  February 16, 2001
Notification of acceptance or rejection:   March 9, 2001


Workshops

Workshops provide a forum for intensive collaboration between Smalltalk
practitioners on a variety of subjects.  Workshops are half-day events
that are held in the afternoons of the Conference.  To manage both the
size and the dynamics of the group interaction, workshop organizers are
required to manage attendance to their respective workshops.

We particularly encourage proposals for novel, highly interactive
workshops that fall outside the conventional workshop format.  This call
for participation is for workshop organizers: a later call will occur for
workshop attendees.  NOTE: Each workshop must have at least TWO
organizers, preferably from different organizations.

Submissions should include a one to two page description of your
Workshop.  Each submission should include a one-paragraph abstract for
inclusion in the Advance Program in the event the submission is accepted.
 Detailed submission format guidelines will be made available on the
Smalltalk Solutions website. Route submissions to
[hidden email]

Important Dates
Firm deadline for receipt of submissions:  January 26, 2001
Notification of acceptance or rejection:   February 9, 2001


Tutorials

Smalltalk Solutions has always prided itself on the depth and breadth of
the tutorials it has provided in past years.  For 2001 we hope to exceed
previous years achievements and provide a great group of offerings.  But
to do that we're going to need good tutorials.  Tutorials that depart
from "normal" lecture style delivery, tutorials on highly advanced tools
and project management techniques.  Most of all, we need tutorials that
assist participants in developing successful Smalltalk Solutions!

To that end, complementary conference registration and travel expenses
will be provided to those individuals selected to present a tutorial at
Smalltalk Solutions.  Several of the topics that we would be interested
in seeing tutorial submissions on are:

Project Management
Smalltalk and XML
Smalltalk and OODbs
Smalltalk and Corba
Smalltalk and XP/RUPP
Hydra Development: Smalltalk & Java/C++/Perl/etc.

Submissions should include a four to six page description of your
Tutorial, and a one page overview of how you intend to present your
material.  Each submission should include a three- paragraph abstract for
inclusion in the Advance Program in the event the submission is accepted.
More specific submission format guidelines will be made available on the
Smalltalk Solutions website. Route submissions to
[hidden email]

Important Dates
Firm deadline for receipt of submissions:  January 26, 2001
Notification of acceptance or rejection:   February 9, 2001


Exhibits

Smalltalk Solutions exhibitors provide the perfect place to learn about
new Smalltalk resources and trends in the marketplace.  This year will
feature "exhibitor focused time slots" in the conference program.  What
this means is that there will be 1-2 hour timeslots where no other
conference sessions are occurring.  This gives the exhibitors on the
floor the opportunity to have the full attention of attendees.  It also
allows exhibitors to participate in the conference itself without
worrying about being needed on the exhibition floor.

Smalltalk product companies, software developers, technology researchers,
training consultants, recruiters and publishers are among the many types
of exhibitors from years past.  However, this year, we hope to make the
exhibition bigger and better!  Come join us as an exhibitor at Smalltalk
Solutions!!

There will be a "Recruiter's Alley" with focus on the Smalltalk job
market.  Those seeking employment can talk directly to the hiring
companies and their staff.

Also, a "Publishers Block" will be provided for publishers to distribute
books and periodicals of interest to the registrants.

Please review additional guidelines about exhibits and booth rental on
our website (www.smalltalksolutions.org). Route inquiries to
[hidden email]

Student Volunteers

The student volunteer program is for those who are students of
technology, particularly those in high school and university study all
across the world.  This is a chance to mingle with the top people in
object technology and learn from their practical experiences. At
Smalltalk Solutions, we need assistance with tutorials and panels,
checking badges at doors, assisting with traffic flow, and general
"go-for" assistance.  All of these are critical to keeping the conference
running smoothly.  All volunteers must be full-time students at the time
of conference.

Student Volunteers who can contribute up to 20 hours of their time will
be eligible for expense reimbursement and other benefits based on
criteria set by the conference committee.  More specifics about
reimbursement benefits will be made available on the website.

All student volunteer applications must be completed no later than March
1, 2001. Route submissions to [hidden email]