TEDxRedDeer video

Duane Rolheiser's video of TEDxRedDeer, October 20, 2011, from the Scott Block event and the City Centre Stage after-party. Wasn't that fun?

TEDxRedDeer videos up on YouTube

We're busy uploading the TEDxRedDeer videos from the October 20, 2011 event. Here is the first one, Andrew Kooman's talk "Connecting to Danger." Great video by Nick Saik and his awesome crew!

All 12 of the TEDxRedDeer videos are now up on the TEDxRedDeer playlist.

Pictures from a great event

Here are a couple photos from TEDxRedDeer 2011, taken by our official photographer, Randy Chenowith. Here is Eric Rajah, whose talk brought the event to a moving climax:

And a nice photo of Justine Vandergrift:

There are more photos on Flickr - search for the tag TEDxRedDeer - there's a slideshow here.

Finally here

Well, after almost a year of planning and hard work we are ready to roll. Speakers are having breakfast and connecting before showtime.

We are excited and glad so many of you are coming.

It is the first TEDx in Red Deer but certainly not the last.

TEDxRedDeer is Here!

Our TEDxRedDeer event begins today (October 20, 2011) at 11 a.m. (with registration and lunch at the City Centre Stage) and noon (with our program at the Scott Block). But TEDxRedDeer really began this spring with our first community planning event at The Hub. So many people in our community have been engaged in this process, and we look forward to the fruits of our labours!

Unfortunately, every one who wants to be at the event won't be able to, because of our 99-person license limit. But we will have all of our speakers taped, and you'll be able to see the videos at the TEDx Channel on YouTube. Watch for that some time in November.

Payment Deadline is Coming Up!

Friday is the last day to pay for your TEDxRedDeer tickets if you were one of the lucky ones drawn to attend. If you don't get your payment in by 5:30pm on Friday, October 7th, we'll go to our wait-list.  Payment can be made at either branch of Red Deer Public Library - Downtown at 4818-49 St., or at the Dawe Branch, 56 Holt St.

Just as a reminder, this was the process we used to come up with the 99 attendees that our TEDx license allows:

Applications may be submitted online, in-person or by mail to either branch of Red Deer Public Library until Saturday, September 10, 2011. If we don’t have room for everyone, we’ll select participants aged 16 years or older based on a random draw. Successful applicants will be contacted by phone or email by Saturday, September, 23, 2011. If we are unable to offer you a ticket in our first round, we will add you to our waiting list. Payment must be received by Friday, October 7, 2011 to guarantee your spot. Otherwise, your spot will be offered to the next applicant on the waiting list.

Input Invited for TEDxRedDeer

 

The TEDxRedDeer organizing committee is inviting anyone in Central Alberta to identify which of the many great videos available at TED.com should be screened at TEDxRedDeer to contribute to the theme ‘Connecting’. TEDxRed Deer is set for 11:00am to 5:30pm on October 20, 2011 at the Scott Block and City Center Stage in downtown Red Deer. The event will feature 11 great speakers, several performers and 3-4 TEDTalks nominated by community members. Community members are asked to submit suggestions by September 15 using:

Website: www.tedxreddeer.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TEDxRedDeer
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tedxreddeer - hashtag #TEDxRedDeer
Email: dfrey@rdpl.org

Submissions should include the link to the TEDTalk being nominated and a brief note highlighting why it’s so great. Over 800 previously recorded TEDTalks are available at TED.com. Here’s your opportunity to share your favorite TEDTalk and contribute to Ideas worth Spreading!

Download the complete Press Release (PDF format).

TEDxRedDeer Speakers Announced

Red Deer, Alberta, August 16, 2011 – A diverse range of outstanding speakers providing short talks - focused on the theme of Connecting - have been confirmed for TEDxRedDeer scheduled for October 20, 2011 from 11am to 5:30pm at the Scott Block and the new Center Stage in downtown Red Deer.

TEDxRedDeer is an independently organized event licensed by TED. This year’s speakers include:

• Peter Gregg and Anita Dosaj - The Importance of Trust - At 24, Peter Gregg was Walt Disney’s personal assistant. Anita Dosaj was a molecular biologist who helped clone Dolly, the sheep. Hear how their experiences shaped their understanding of the concepts, practicalities, and importance of trust in our personal and work connections and relationships.
• Jim Robertson - Connecting Young Children to Nature - In our increasingly urban life, what ideas and actions can ensure our communities reap the long term benefits of having our children connected to nature?
• Lynda Adams - Acting Out Community - The Canola Project – How can theatrical presentations be used to bring community together to illuminate impacts on the human and geographical landscape of Central Alberta.
• Helgi Eyford - Talking with Strangers - What have we lost by following the advice to not talk to strangers? Is not talking to strangers even possible in our current world? What ideas can help us build meaningful connections with the diversity of people living in our communities?
• Jillian Staniec - Six Degrees of Connection – How can relationships found in our community’s archival records contribute to our sense of community connection, inclusion, and identity?
• Danielle Klooster - Community Culture - By Default or By Design - What if an entire community - the municipality, business, churches, schools, libraries, community groups, volunteers, citizens, youth, and children - worked together to purposefully and meaningfully design their community culture?
• Steve Fisher - What Can We Learn From Open Source? – Hear how open source offers possibilities and new ways to solve old problems; new perspectives using collaboration, not isolation; and can multiply knowledge, effort, inspiration, creativity, and innovation.
• Andrew Kooman - Connecting to Danger - What happens when we dare, as individuals, communities and societies to go to the dangerous places and open our eyes to human need - then reach out our hands with compassion? A starting point is to connect individuals to stories, both real and imagined, that open our eyes and hearts and move our feet into life-changing, meaningful action.
• Robin Lambert - Finding Each Other - An artistic exploration of how we connect and find things in our life - a friend, a partner, the job we are meant to have, the city we want to live in.
• Eric Rajah - Building A Better World – Hear the story about one person’s connections with over 1800 friends and volunteers in 15 countries and with 16 Alberta schools and universities—building physiotherapy centers and schools in Kenya and Afghanistan, drilling water wells in Sudan, and training and mentoring young people to connect and become leaders.

In addition to the speakers, several performers and TEDTalk videos will also be included in the
event.

For the complete news release, please go here (PDF format).

Be part of the Event!

Here is TEDxRedDeer's July 13, 2011 Media Release "Applications to Attend TEDxRedDeer Now Open." The release also announces the first five speakers for the October 20, 2011 event. Stay tuned for more information!

Thank you for your interest in TEDxRedDeer 2011 – "Connecting..." . The event will be held at the Scott Block and be simultaneously broadcast online. You can join others to share the experience via live feed. You can also purchase tickets to join us for the party after the event at Centre Stage.

Why do I have to apply?
You might be asking why is there an application. Because attending TEDxRedDeer isn’t a one-way, solitary experience like reading a book or watching YouTube. Half the programming comes from our speakers and from specially chosen TEDTalks. But the other half of the programming is you. We love our speakers but some of the best parts of any TED or TEDx event are the conversations you’ll have in between. We deliberately schedule generous breaks between presentations for conversation. Stretch your legs, share a coffee and introduce yourself to other attendees. Talk about the speakers, and spread some ideas of your own. The TEDxRedDeer 2011 event is meant to be cosy enough for great conversation. A few hundred people, not a thousand! Help us build an audience of people of all ages, cultures and walks of life.

Selection Process
Applications may be submitted online, in-person or by mail to either branch of Red Deer Public Library until Saturday, September 10, 2011. If we don’t have room for everyone, we’ll select participants aged 16 years or older based on a random draw. Successful applicants will be contacted by phone or email by Saturday, September, 23, 2011. If we are unable to offer you a ticket in our first round, we will add you to our waiting list. Payment must be received by Friday, October 7, 2011 to guarantee your spot, otherwise, your ticket will be given to the next applicant on the waiting list.

Ticket Price
Tickets are priced at $50 each. Payment can be made by cash, debit, and Visa will be accepted at either Red Deer Public Library branch. The support of our outstanding sponsors covers most of the costs of the program. To ensure access for all, attendees of modest means can choose to pay what they can instead of full ticket price.

TEDxRedDeer starts right now, with you. Help us tailor the event to create a more meaningful experience.

Important Dates:
Application Deadline - Saturday, September, 10, 2011
Applicants selected to participate will be contacted by Friday, September 23, 2011
Payment Deadline for successful applicants - Friday, October 7, 2011


Thanks to TEDxWaterloo for the inspiration for this page.

TEDxRedDeer Attendee Application Form

We thank you for your interest. Registration for TedxRedDeer is now closed.

Applicants selected to participate will be contacted by Friday, September 23, 2011

Payment Deadline for successful applicants - Friday, October 7, 2011

TEDxLive in Red Deer

"It's what TED always does - it expands your mind."

Make sure to set aside all or part of next Wednesday, July 13, to hear great ideas from the TED Global conference in Edinburgh. This is happening in the Snell Auditorium, Downtown Branch, Red Deer Public Library, 4818-49 Street, and is a presentation of TED and TEDxRedDeer.

Here is the schedule.  We'll be streaming a full day of speakers, delayed by 7 hours. So these times are MDT:

Wednesday, July 13, 2011
8:30 – 10:15
Session 4: Future Billions
Niall Ferguson, Historian
Yasheng Huang, Political economist
Tim Harford, Undercover economist
Robin Ince, Comedian
Josette Sheeran, Anti-hunger leader

11:00 – 12:45
Session 5: Emerging Order
Matt Ridley, Rational optimist
Svante Paabo, Geneticist
Mark Pagel, Evolutionary biologist
Elizabeth Murchison, Cancer researcher
Cynthia Kenyon, Biochemist, geneticist
Joe Castillo, Sand artist
Karol Boudreaux, Poverty economist

2:15 – 4:00
Session 6: The Dark Side
Pamela Meyer, Lie detector
Ben Goldacre, Debunker
Misha Glenny, Underworld investigator
Mikko Hypponen, Cybersecurity expert
Karen Tse, Anti-torture activist
Eddi Reader, Singer/songwriter

5:00 – 6:15
Session 7: Bodies
Daniel Wolpert, Movement expert
Sheril Kirshenbaum, Biologist and writer
Péter Fankhauser, Roboticist
Marco Tempest, Techno-illusionist
Jae Rhim Lee, Artist
Alice Russell, Singer

We'll be providing free coffee & tea during the day. Please bring your own lunch, or you can buy one from Cafe Noir. This is a free event made possible by TED, TEDxRedDeer and Red Deer Public Library.

Connection

The theme of TEDxRedDeer is "Connecting..." In this talk from TEDxHouston 2010, Brene Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. "Connection is why we're here. It's what gives purpose and meaning in our lives."

TEDGlobal from Edinburgh

Every summer TED has a major conference in Edinburgh, called TEDGlobal. Its theme this year is The Stuff of Life, and the dates are July 11-15, 2011. More information is available on the TEDGlobal 2011 website.

TEDxRedDeer is making a full day of TEDGlobal 2011 available right here in Red Deer, streamed not-quite-live in the Snell Auditorium of the Downtown Branch of Red Deer Public Library. We'll project a high-quality video stream of the full second day of the conference, July 13, 2011 from 8:30 am to 6:15 pm. Mountain Daylight Time. You can see the schedule for the day here; we'll be streaming sessions 4-7.

This is a free event, and we will be providing free coffee and tea. Please bring your lunch, or you can buy one from Cafe Noir in the Library.

TEDxLive is an extension of the TEDx program, launched by TED in 2010. TEDxLive events are TEDx events built around the live webcast of TED Conferences. TEDxLive events enable TED enthusiasts all over the world to experience live sessions of the TED Conference; events can be simple viewing events, and may also host live speakers.

TEDxEdmonton

We've been watching and learning from TEDx organizers in Edmonton and Calgary, all of whom have had very successful events in the past year.  This recap of TEDxEdmonton's June 11 event by blogger Mack D. Male describes the great ideas, interactions, and fun that come with the TEDx experience.

 

Congratulations to the organizers of this event, and good luck in 2012.  With more than 500 spots available for TEDxEdmonton 2012, perhaps some Red Deerians will get a chance to attend.

More information is at TEDxEdmonton.com

TEDx Official Launch

The official media launch for TEDxRedDeer took place this morning, Thursday, May 26, 2011.  Here is the official Media Release.  I'll post pictures from the event Real Soon Now.

TEDxRedDeer Venue Tours

Venue Tours - Tuesday, May 24, 5:30 pm sharp. We are looking at Scott Block and City Centre Stage and we'd like people who will plan, stage or participate in the video production of the October event to have an opportunity to envision the possibilities each venue offers. Tour begins at Scott Block, 5:30 sharp - there is a 6 pm event and we want to be through the facility in plenty of time.

Tours will be led by Rob Gilgan - rob@gilgan.com

TEDxThessaloniki Trailer

Cool trailer for TEDxThessaloniki, which took place on April 2, 2011. For more on their event, go here.

Speaker/Performer Application for TEDxRedDeer

Applications for TEDxRedDeer are now closed. Thanks for your interest!

TEDx events coming up

Are you wondering what TEDxRedDeer will look like on October 20, 2011? While every TEDx event is different, as TEDx licensees we all follow a standard format from the TED organizers. There are some exciting TEDx conferences coming up this spring. Go here for a complete list.

While TEDxEdmonton, set for June 11, is sold out, you can apply for the waiting list. Events in Victoria and Toronto in June still have places available. What did I do on my summer vacation?  I went to a TEDx event somewhere in the world!

But you don't need to travel to experience a TEDx event live; many stream their events live on the web.  Upcoming web events are listed here: http://www.ted.com/tedx.  And check out the TEDxTalks Channel at YouTube for videos of inspirational speakers from hundreds of events. Let us know your favourites, by commenting below, or tweeting with the #TEDxRedDeer tag, or posting to the TEDxRedDeer Facebook page.

Here's one I was struck with: Kevin Kelly's talk from TEDxAmsterdam in 2009:

Venue & Videography

Here's an invitation to the community from Rob Gilgan, who is leading the venue & videography planning processes for the October 20th TEDxReddeer event.

Thanks for your interest and involvement in TEDxRedDeer. At our April 13 meeting a number of people indicated an interest in either Space or Staging as a preferred area of involvement. We believe our planning should reflect alignment with the ‘theme’ of Connecting. This means as much as possible our various working groups should provide opportunities for people to connect and be meaningfully engaged. With that in mind, we’d like to include the community in the development of the plan as it relates to the venue we choose and the recording of the TEDxRedDeer event.

Would you like to help choose the venue? If so, I’d like to set up a tour of the two venues we’re currently considering.

Would you like to be part of the planning of the video shoot? If so, I’d like to invite you to a meeting specifically for that purpose.

Would you like to be a member of the crew, shooting the event? If so, I’d like to ensure you’re included in the planning, right from the beginning.

All of the above? We welcome your participation! I’ll ensure you’re included in upcoming meetings.

Please send me a brief email - to rob@gilgan.com - indicating how you’d like to be involved and I’ll send you the details on upcoming meetings you’ll want to attend.

Again, thanks for joining us in creating this exciting event for our community.

TEDxRedDeer May Update

To everyone interested in TEDxRedDeer:

Hi folks…..It’s hard to believe a month’s gone by since our meeting at the HUB. Here’s a quick update of where things are at in the planning for the first ever TEDxRedDeer. 57 people attended the April 13 event. Over 40 people indicated interest in being involved in making the event as successful as possible! We’ve also since had some sponsorship commitments. Woo Hoo!

The input from all who attended has been compiled and posted at TEDxRedDeer.com

The most common theme emerging from the input seemed to be a desire for ‘Connecting’ across community groups and sectors. Based on the volume of interest and the emerging theme, we’ve needed to spend some time thinking about how we can maximize ‘Connecting’ as part of the further planning and ensure that everyone who’s expressed interest is meaningfully involved.

So, now what? Well we have one thing confirmed. TEDxRedDeer has been set for October 20 from noon to 5:30pm with an ‘after party’ continuing from 5:30pm to well, later that night.

Over the next weeks, members of our organizing committee will be in touch with people to invite them to meet to begin work on the key areas needed in making TEDxRedDeer as successful as possible. Individuals who expressed an interest in working on the overall program will receive an email inviting them to meet on May 17 to begin the program and speaker selection process.

Similar emails will soon be sent to folks wanting to be involved in other areas - selecting and setting up the event space and technical requirements, staging, marketing, participant application and registration, and sponsor engagement and maybe a few others. TEDxRedDeer is a great opportunity to build connections and relationships across groups and sectors in the Red Deer area and reflect the diversity of interest in ‘Ideas Worth Sharing’.

While posts to TEDxRedDeer.com, have been a bit slow lately, efforts to increase them are underway and so please check in once and awhile.

Got questions or comments? Feel free to post them here at TEDxRedDeer.com - comment below - or at http://www.facebook.com/TEDxRedDeer - or via Twitter http://twitter.com/TEDxRedDeer - and we’ll have someone respond.

Highlights from the April 13 meeting

Here are the highlights from the TEDxRedDeer Organizational and Brainstorming Meeting at The Hub, on April 13, 2011.

1. What would you like to learn more about?
Overall Principles and General Ideas

• Big enough to have issues – small enough to get together to work on them
• Creating movements and engagement – viral effect – epidemic
• Maybe hear from other communities

Specific Ideas
The group suggested a variety of specific ideas which fell under the following categories:

• Business and Government – people connections
• Connection/Relationships/Communication
• Creativity, Innovation, and the Arts
• Environment/Sustainability/Nature
• Global Issues
• Passion/Inspiration
• Personal Stories
• Red Deer Community and Identity
• Rural/Farm/Central Alberta/Food Production/Land Use
• Social Issues/Social Justice
• Technology
• Youth
• Other

Suggested Themes
These suggestions fell under the following categories:

• Agriculture/Producing
• Change/Reframing
• Connections/Community
• Individuals Making a Difference
• Innovation
• Inspiration/Celebration
• Place
• Technology
• Other

2. Potential Speakers

Selection Criteria

• Diversity of speakers
• Newcomers to Red Deer
• Seniors, young people, undiscovered people

Possibilities:

• First Nations
• High speed rail initiative
• RDC professor
• Someone disadvantaged with talent
• Music and intellect – creative arts – attract talent
• Those who light a spark
• Local bloggers / tweeters
• Farmers Market expert
• Drum Circle
• Contact high schools
• Assisted learning
• Arts and Culture leaders
• Architects – design to bring outdoors to the indoors

Individuals
63 individuals were suggested as potential speakers. (Actual names are not included to respect privacy)

3. Logistics

The group offered a number of recommendations related to logistics that we will take forward as we plan.

Great Meeting!

It was great to see so many people at The Hub on Ross last night for our Community Planning meeting. We had 57 altogether!

A few of you have asked me for links to the TEDtalk teasers that Glynis presented. Here they are:

• http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_gansky_the_future_of_business_is_the_mesh.html
• http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html
• http://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_rifkin_on_the_empathic_civilization.html

And here is the very cool TEDx video that was presented at TED in Long Beach last month:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo24PmD9eic

We'll be posting some information from the meeting here on the TEDxRedDeer website next week. We'll have summaries of the discussion, and some plans for how we'll move ahead in the coming months.

And a final thanks to the great people at The Hub for hosting the event. What a great space!

Community Planning Meeting at The Hub on Ross

Join us for a Community Planning Meeting, on April 13, 2011, 4 to 6 pm, at The Hub on Ross, 4936 Ross Street, Red Deer: PDF invitation.

Welcome to TEDxRedDeer

Watch this website for information about the first TEDxRedDeer event, coming in October 2011.  You can also follow our Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/TEDxRedDeer.

Contact one of the members of the organizing committee if you'd like to help us plan the event, if you're interested in becoming a sponsor, or if you'd just like more information.

TEDx - Ideas Spreading Everywhere - TED2011 Presentation

Want to learn more about TEDx? Start with this inspiring video, which was premiered last week at TED2011 in Long Beach.

Sir Ken Robinson

Sir Ken Robinson visited Red Deer on February 9, 2011. Here he is, in a TED Talk from May 26, 2010.