For my CV I just tried to document when I started the Kiwi Intranets group.
It was a little harder than I thought but thanks to the Way Back Machine I found out the date.
http://web.archive.org/web/20050623011812/http://www.brightstar.co.nz/calendar_conferences.htm
For 5 years I'd been slaving away working on an intranet and then I suddenly discovered there was a conference about the topic! Eureka. And even better it was in Auckland rather than overseas. Yeah! And even better my boss at the time had enough training money for me to be able to go, as long as I stayed with my sister.
So on August 15th 2005 I turned up at the venue in down town Auckland, tried the coffee and ran round the block to get something was coffee rather than just having a coffee label. The day blew me away, literally. I remember seeing Dan Randow and Mia Morrish speak about their respective recent activities.
By the end of the day I was really buzzing and so when I left the after event drinks, I walked down the road into a cyber cafe. I did have a laptop but I can't remember why I didn't use that. I sat down and for 4 dollars I signed up for an MSN group, and laid the foundations for Kiwi Intranets.
My goal was to have a place, online, where I could keep in contact with this wonderful group of people I had discovered. I found MSN groups a little clunky but after an hour or so I had a place for us.
The next day at the conference I let everyone know the web address, and asked them to sign up. And many people did.
A month later the shortcomings of MSN groups , and a very kind offer from Dan Randow saw us move over to the online groups platform. 16 September 2005 was the first post.
Here I am 9 years latter setting up shop as a contractor. Looking through the names of those who spoke at the event
http://web.archive.org/web/20050529052003/http://www.brightstar.co.nz/2005/events/conferences/august/A32/A32.htm
It was a little harder than I thought but thanks to the Way Back Machine I found out the date.
http://web.archive.org/web/20050623011812/http://www.brightstar.co.nz/calendar_conferences.htm
For 5 years I'd been slaving away working on an intranet and then I suddenly discovered there was a conference about the topic! Eureka. And even better it was in Auckland rather than overseas. Yeah! And even better my boss at the time had enough training money for me to be able to go, as long as I stayed with my sister.
So on August 15th 2005 I turned up at the venue in down town Auckland, tried the coffee and ran round the block to get something was coffee rather than just having a coffee label. The day blew me away, literally. I remember seeing Dan Randow and Mia Morrish speak about their respective recent activities.
By the end of the day I was really buzzing and so when I left the after event drinks, I walked down the road into a cyber cafe. I did have a laptop but I can't remember why I didn't use that. I sat down and for 4 dollars I signed up for an MSN group, and laid the foundations for Kiwi Intranets.
My goal was to have a place, online, where I could keep in contact with this wonderful group of people I had discovered. I found MSN groups a little clunky but after an hour or so I had a place for us.
The next day at the conference I let everyone know the web address, and asked them to sign up. And many people did.
A month later the shortcomings of MSN groups , and a very kind offer from Dan Randow saw us move over to the online groups platform. 16 September 2005 was the first post.
Here I am 9 years latter setting up shop as a contractor. Looking through the names of those who spoke at the event
http://web.archive.org/web/20050529052003/http://www.brightstar.co.nz/2005/events/conferences/august/A32/A32.htm
- I'm sad that some of them are no longer with us; particularly Paul Reynolds, who I met several times and who I found inspiring for his great intellect and the fact he was so personable.
- I remember David Archibald's enthusiasm, and some of it rubbed off on the various occasions I got to see him speak since then.
- Nick Besseling and I subsequently organised an Auckland Kiwi Intranets lunch.
- Mark Harrison gave great presentations at several of the latter Intranets conferences I chaired.
- Sam Ng has turned his Optimal Usability business into a national and international success.
- Dan Randow continues to help organisations collaborate.
- And James Robertson still provides inspiration and motivation to intranet teams everywhere with his blog, and those in the south Pacific with his conferences.
Thank you everyone who has influenced me over the years since I found a community of practice.
I hope I'm able to contribute as much to our community in the coming 9 years as I've benefited.
Let me know what keeps you inspired in the comments section below.
Dorje
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