Another in the PASS ‘First Timers’ series…

DRAT! The realization hits you. You had it at home and now you really need it in Seattle. Why, oh why didn’t someone give you a hint that you just might need it. Now you have to choose to do without it and possibly be frustrated or uncomfortable, or go out and buy another one. That’s a difficult decision.

… what you should consider bringing when you come to the 2011 PASS Community Summit …

• Where will you find it?
• How will you get there?
• How long will it take?
• How much will you miss?
• Why would you need two when you get home?

Perhaps you will just try to struggle along without it. CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!

This article is about what you should consider bringing when you come to the 2011 PASS Community Summit in Seattle. Not a definitive list, but a list of nudges for your consideration. Evaluate each suggestion in the context of your own travel and conference experiences.

Comfortable, sturdy shoesYou will be walking a lot and standing a lot. From the hotel to the Seattle Convention Center. Around the Convention Center as you shuffle from session to session. In lines for lunch, or refreshments. Up and down the escalators. Out to dinner, perhaps even walking around Seattle as you visit various sights. Take care of your feet. Don’t worry about appearance or fashion. Hey, you’re hanging out with a bunch of geeks -haute couture just isn’t our forte.

Extra luggage space. At the PASS Community Summit, you will be offered quite a bit of SWAG (Stuff We All Get) by vendors. Make sure you have spare room in your luggage. You don’t want to have to leave things behind in your hotel room just because you couldn’t fit it in your luggage. There is a FedEx shipping facility in the first floor of the Convention Center.

Laptop Computer. OR NOT. At the Convention Center, PASS provides numerous internet kiosk computers for you to check email. You may not wish to be lugging a laptop around all day –especially if your phone provides your email tether. Some folks will have a netbook just for Twitter access. Then again, if you need to check in at work, especially with a secure VPN, you may wish to bring your laptop and leave it in the hotel. (Most of the hotels provide a secure laptop sized ‘safe’ in the rooms. Check with your hotel.)

Camera. The smaller the better. If your phone does double-duty, you’re set. Some folks may wish to bring a higher quality camera and participate in some of the ‘photo walk’ opportunities. (See the hotel room safe comment above.)

Device Charger(s) or Cables. Phone, laptop, camera, headset, etc. Avoid the panic trip to the electronics store to buy another one. If any of your devices require batteries, don’t forget spares. If you bring your laptop, you may want to bring a network cable. While most hotels have wireless access, sometime the wire provides a faster connection.

Jacket/Coat/Sweater. You probably won’t need a coat or jacket for the block or two from the hotel to the Convention Center. And while the Convention Center is ‘climate controlled’ it can be cool at times, so you may want to have long sleeves available. You may be out in the evening walking to a restaurant with a group of new-found friends, so a coat/jacket could be useful. There will be a secure coat check facility at the Convention Center provided for attendees. Check the Seattle weather just before your departure -it can be rainy in Seattle, and you may need to bring a waterproof or water resistant jacket/coat and/or an umbrella. But then again, early October weather can be excellent in Seattle –albeit cool in the evenings.

Business Cards. You will be meeting a lot of folks, and you will be exchanging contact information. Bring a bunch of cards, with at the minimum, your name and email address. You can pick up Avery Business card stock at a local office supply and print them yourself, have some printed at your local office supply or printer, and even get cards ‘free’ (for the cost of shipping) at http://vistaprint.com Remember, a big part of the PASS Community Summit is networking. Make sure when you collect someone’s card to add a note on the back providing context. Otherwise, when you return home, you’ll find a pile of business cards and may not remember who/why/how.

Notebook.. You will most likely want to take notes in some of the sessions, and having an old fashioned notebook is a great way to keep your notes organized. From my experience, it can be frustrating to sort through a set of notes on the backs of various handouts and napkins. Since you should hand in the evaluation forms when you leave the sessions -the forms are not good candidates for notes. Don’t forget that there are valuable prizes awarded based on the evaluation forms that are turned in after the sessions.

Vitamins/Supplements. Be sure to bring an adequate supply of vitamins, supplements, and any other medications you may regularly use. Your days and evenings will be full of adventures, learning, meeting new people -and you want keep yourself healthy.

Eyeglasses. If you wear contact lens, it might be a good idea to be sure and bring a pair of glasses -being in a ‘climate controlled’ environment, like the Convention Center, can cause your eyes to dry out and become uncomfortable. Or perhaps bring an adequate supply of eyewash and wetting solution as an alternative.

Earplugs. You may not be accustomed to sleeping in a room with constant ventilation system sounds. And most hotels require the fans to be operating -or the room gets unpleasantly hot and stale. Or perhaps you have chosen to share a room with someone else. Pick up a set of soft and comfortable earplugs at your local pharmacy to ensure that any unsual sounds do not prevent you from getting a good nights sleep.

Exercise Gear. If you exercise, regularly, plan to use the facilities provided by the hotels. If you are a runner, you will find a number of folks that will hit the streets early in the morning. Just Tweet #SQLPASS and indicate the time you wish to run, and ask for a companion or two.

Verve and Élan. Most of all, don’t forget to pack a generous portion of excitement, curiosity, yearning to learn, and desire to meet new people. These few items will go a long way to making your PASS Community Summit a ‘most excellent adventure’.

For more information on the PASS “First Timers’ program, click here.