[OKC JUG] Dojo sometime soon?

[derrick parkhurst]

The okcCoCo is here to support tech community groups that have the
objective of education. Fostering the development of community groups
was always one of the primary reasons for building the okcCoCo. Our
general policy is that tech focused community groups that don't have
sponsorship funds or charge their members, don't have to pay for use
of okcCoCo space. Furthermore, okcCoCo tries very hard to help its
members meet their objectives. Chad is an okcCoCo member (thanks
Chad!) and is passionate about code katas and so I am here to say that
we'll support this.

I know we're doing something wrong at okcCoCo, when someone in the
tech community has a very cool idea for an event, needs a space, and
then says 'let's do it at the library' or 'let's do it at the okcCoCo
to support the okcCoCo'. I would much rather hear "it was great that
okcCoCo was here to support our group with space, technology,
promotion, etc. when our group was first forming." Please don't
hesitate to ask for our help, for this or any other efforts down the
road. We WANT to help.

Yes, we have to pay the rent and keep the lights on. The primary way
we do that is through memberships at the okcCoCo. Even if you don't
have a need for coworking space, we have a $20 a month membership that
has quite a few other benefits, helps us run free community events and
foster the growth of the tech community in general.

Another way that we make ends meet is through classes. We currently
have a call out for people interested in teaching classes at okcCoCo
(http://okccoco.com). okcCoCo shares in the revenues brought in from
student registrations along with the instructor. okcCoCo provides
class promotion, fees, space, audio visual support, and video
recording so the instructor just focuses on teaching. When experts
teach valuable skills, people will pay to learn.

I would very much eventually like to see a code dōjō start up at
okcCoCo. Martial arts dōjō's are places where you pay to take lessons
and practice with an experienced sensei. The sensei must take time to
put together a valuable lesson plan and should be compensated for
his/her time. Similarly, I would argue that when training is paid for,
it raises the quality of the training because the instructor and the
student become much more motivated and committed to the relationship.
I think is would be simply amazing to be one of the few places where
you could go to get hands on training though code katas across levels
of expertise and programming languages.

Please let me know how I and okcCoCo can help you startup a Code Kata
community group or get a Code Dōjō started.

Thanks,
Derrick

-- 
Derrick Parkhurst, Ph.D.
Thirty Sixth Span Internet Technologies
http://thirtysixthspan.com
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