STePIN Summit 2020 - Volunteering and My Experience

This blog post is about my experience report of STePIN Summit 2020.  I was one of the volunteers who did the tweeting of talks.  In a way, we all volunteers reached the essence of each speaker's presentation to people who could not attend the virtual conference.  It was two days virtual online conference organized by STePIN Forum on 03rd Sep 2020 and 04th Sep 2020.

Disclaimer

No one has paid me or asked to write this report.  I'm recording my experience of the conference here.

STePIN Summit 2020 and Registration

STePIN Forum has given me an invitee pass for the past STePIN Summits.  This time it was a virtual conference as we have a pandemic situation from COVID19.   I wrote to one of the organizers asking I'm available as a volunteer.   I got an immediate response acknowledging the request.

I joined a group of other volunteers.  Our volunteering task was to watch the Social Media for hashtag #STePInSummit2020 and tweet about the conference's talks.  Organizers briefed us and were available to contact for any clarifications before, during, and post conference.

I got a free pass this time as a volunteer for STePIN Summit 2020.  I'm glad I could be part of the conference.  If I were to buy the ticket, I could not have afforded it in my present financial situation.

I thank STePIN Forum and STePIN Summit 2020 organizers for the kind gesture.

STePIN Summit 2020 and Volunteering

I made sure that I will be on time with an infant around me.  I had to take care of an infant and do the tweet.  I liked this challenge in front of me; I dived into it.

Listening to each speaker, I made my notes in a format whose length fits to tweet and yet makes sense.  My kid stared at me to see how crazy I was talking to her, making my notes, tweeting, and reading.  While I did this, I was making sure that follow up consecutive tweets matched the context and stayed relevant with what was said by the speaker.

In between, the kid pulled the laptop and said, she will also work along with me.  I had to negotiate with her and continue my work.  I did it well; I was successful.

The platform used in this virtual conference had provision for sponsor booths, reception, and tables for attendees.  I have tried to capture a glimpse of it.

The #virtual handouts and reception in #stepinsummit2020@stepin_forum #testing #automation #conferences pic.twitter.com/6z1Er1zNJ1

— Ravisuriya (@testingGarage) September 4, 2020

The virtual lounge and booths in #stepinsummit2020 and ease of visiting it.@stepin_forum #conferences #testing #virtual pic.twitter.com/lykgQaOdqN

— Ravisuriya (@testingGarage) September 4, 2020

When the multiple session tracks kicked in, I decided to be in one session and cover it in my tweets.  The other volunteers were covering the other session tracks.

In one of the sessions, how Ramit and Vipul engaged the audience for a while is interesting.  When Ramit asked anyone of you want to share, I wanted to talk and share.  It was an opportunity for me.  I did not utilize it.  By the time I was ready, the discussion between Vipul and Ramit by answering the questions from attendees was engaging.  I continued listening to it.

My break time was the tea and lunch break. The volunteering occupied me to that extent. 

My Experience

I did my best to cover the speaker's presentation and thought.  I got direct messages (DM) to my tweet handle thanking from attendees who missed a few sessions and from people who could not attend the conference.  The DM's said they could see the presenter's talk in my tweets.

I feel that I have done good work in the assigned job as a volunteer.  I thank STePIN Forum for the opportunity and kind gesture.  I enjoyed this conference with my kid beside me.

TribalQonf 2020 - Volunteering and My Experience

This blog post is about my experience of volunteering for TribalQonf 2020, hosted by The Test Tribe community.  It was two days virtual conference on 27th Jun 2020 and 28th Jun 2020 with 600 attendees.  I volunteered for the conference along with other volunteers.

Disclaimer

No one has asked or paid me to write this blog post.  I'm writing it here to document my experience and learning from the TribalQonf 2020.

TribalQonf 2020 and Registration

I read about this conference on the Facebook group page of The Test Tribe.  I looked for submitting my talk.  I could not find a way to do it.  Later I learned, there was no public call for speakers.  The speakers were invited and chosen by the conference organizers.

The conference had a registration fee.  In the current financial situation of me, I could not afford it.  I did not wish to ask for a free pass or a discounted registration to attend this conference.

I had missed a few virtual testing conferences in the year 2020, as I could not afford to register.  I gave time for myself, so I let go of this as well.  But, I had this thought in my mind: "If I volunteer for TribalQonf 2020, probably I may get a free entry pass to this conference."   I wrote, "I'm available and wishing to volunteer."  to one of the organizers.  I received a positive note; I got added to the group of TribalQonf 2020 volunteers.  

Yet, I had a question should I register for attending this conference as there was no mentioning of a free pass to the volunteers.  I asked for one of the organizers should I register for the conference?  I got a volunteer pass.  I thank The Test Tribe community and its team for this kind gesture.

TribalQonf 2020 and Volunteering

The discussion of volunteering tasks had picked its momentum with volunteers and organizers.  The task list and status got updated consistently. 

I could not work on initial tasks in full dedication.  I stopped and did not interact much while I listened to it.  I had the feel what am I doing as a volunteer.  Then came a task to tweet about the talks on Twitter.  I picked it up.

I did well in this task.  Apart from the tweeting, I got another two responsibilities on the day of the conference.  I picked them and tried doing my best by communicating consistently to one of the organizers and conference host.    

I have a feeling of doing justice for the volunteer pass I got from The Test Tribe.

My Experience

I enjoyed the conference and listened to the speakers while I tweeted.  The feel of I did my part honestly being in each talk makes me glad.  Before taking up the tweeting, the tasks I was looking at helped me develop a fresh perspective on pitching and promotion.  I stopped brainstorming and working on the strategic planning of pitching as I could not participate actively in the discussion.  The insights I had while I brainstormed, I did not have it earlier; it is useful learning to me.

I'm glad that live-tweeting helped who were following the hashtag #tribalQonf.  I received thankyou messages in my DM and chat.  I was able to assist The Test Tribe in little possible ways for TribalQonf 2020.

I used an analysis platform to look at how the #TribalQonf is doing during the conference.  Here is the analysis for the first 500 tweets with hashtag #TribalQonf.