Anatomy of Code-A-Thon - LOTV

Here's a collection fo 3 videos documenting the 48 hour League of Tech Voters Code-A-Thon in Austin TX. So many people in the world get a little flummoxed with technology, but this video shows the human side of the nerds who write the code that makes yourfuzzy logc microwave cook a baked potato just right, or perhaps the guy who wrote the script that backs your school's database up so that the 25,000 records in it aren't deleted accidentally to be lost forever.

Not only are they human, in fact, but just like most humans, they can be enticed to work for a good cause with simple things like appreciation, good music, and food.

LOTV (League of Tech Voters @ http://www.leagueoftechvoters.org/drupal/ ) is making a powerful statement by putting together this code-a-thon solely for the benefit of citizens and non-profits. It's really amazing. Why not get your church group to organize one in your town? I'm not kidding. It's in the public's best interest.

So, what do I see? How could you do this yourself? Let's see here:

Get in touch with a cause that needs software; i.e. everyone and everything on the planet.

Help that group by finding out a few of the things they need, in common.

Set a date.

Find a location. You'll need coffee, power, bathrooms, and wireless internet (or wired). There's a few other things that will help, too, but this is a start. (Check the end for a list of desires, and why this event was so great!)

Let your local community know. Publicize on Craigslist.org, and Barcamp.org, as well as finding local connections throguh Meetup.com (don't likey much).

Watch these videos for additional hints on what to do right! Leave comments at the end please! Let's get this going in Washington DC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccDORj0syyE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf8rtfrAeME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKhURJXgE40