I was somewhat shocked to see what the fees are for this year's Trimble Dimensions conference. $1195 until 10/3, then $1395. Or, paying for each day separately, $1400 total for the three days.
The last two conferences I presented a workshop, so I don't remember what the registration fee was, but I think it was around $800 last time.
I did propose a workshop on astro azimuths this year (and last time as well), and they were not interested. I also recently spoke with a University professor who said that astro observations are obsolete. hmmmm...not to me. I still see the need for them, setting GPS pairs does not work everywhere. In a long traverse it is great to be able to get an azimuth along the way to strengthen the network.
Anyway, I will of course be going. It is a quality conference, great tracks and good food, and then there is the gala dinner at the end. But I am not sure why they raised the price so much, or maybe it was that high last time and i just don't remember since I was a presenter.
> Anyway, I will of course be going. It is a quality conference, great tracks and good food, and then there is the gala dinner at the end.
Missed the last night gala in 2010; I was still recovering from rolling back to the hotel at 4:00 am that morning with the guys from the geospatial division. B-)
Not to be missed, Jim! It has always been worth sticking around for the gala dinner. The last few times I took the red-eye back east after the dinner, around 11:30 PM.
I attended one of those 4 day workshops 6 or 7 yrs ago in Vegas and believe the fee was in the $400 range. The room cost more than the convention. It was a good learning experience for me, but when they start getting into 4 figures, I'll just skip it.
One thing I'll add is that it really was more of a learning experience than just a sales pitch. Not that there wasn't any of that and you still get your pens and koozies, but that was easy to sort out and the classes were well presented. John, I believe you were one of the presenters? But it's hard to remember all these seminars sometimes.
No, I would not call it a sales pitch. Of course, the exhibits are Trimble (and suppliers of non-competing stuff). Definitely a great place to learn and see what others are doing.
I bet (no pun intended) it will be hard to convince some bosses that it is worthwhile to go, being in Vegas and $1000+. But I will be sending my employee as well.
> I bet (no pun intended) it will be hard to convince some bosses that it is worthwhile to go, being in Vegas and $1000+. But I will be sending my employee as well.
Good for you. Always surround yourself with those you think may be smarter than you, like employees. I paid my own way though since my only boss (and employee) is me. Self employment has it's benefits, but lately it's been more of a detriment.
I think part of your presentation involved a dam deformation & maintenance project you were involved with. Not sure what state and/or country it was in, but it was very cool. Kinda over my head at the time (even now), but it was something only surveyor geeks get interested in. Not even sure if it was then, but think so. Maybe it was in AZ or in MI over the past lots of years.
cheers to ya John, even if I hate your hockey team, but hope your football team fares ok....;-)
Right now I am worried about the baseball team...lost 7 in a row but won last night. As for the Steelers...They arrested two running backs this week for smoking weed (while driving around). A motorcycle cop smelled it, and pulled them over. So it looks like they may be suspended for a few games.
Yes, I did give at least one there on dam deformations (I think 2) and the last one was on EDM. The best way to learn a lot about a subject is to teach it!
I also pay my own way to conferences, although while I was a =n employee I also went. In 1981 or 1982, I was a lowly survey tech on a federal government survey crew (GS-3). I decided I wanted to go to the ACSM conference in DC, so I paid my own way, took vacation.
I have only missed one since then (except they are no more). It looks like NSPS will be doing a conference in 2015 in Baltimore or DC. I hope so, I miss the camaraderie and seeing old friends, etc. How things have changed...
I remember when ACSM was in New Orleans back in about '92; that was a great time. Some of the manufacturer's reps had some rough days after learning the hard way that Bourbon Street does in fact stay rolling 24/7.
New Orleans in 93. I remember because my wife was 9 months pregnant. The doctor said another week or two, so I went to ACSM. My daughter was born on 02/15/93, I was not here for that. Never will hear the end of that...she is 21 now, going to be a senior in college.
John has always shelled out the hard earned bucks to attend these conferences- and for his employees also. I agree that Dimensions is extremely worthwhile. My employer's survey/engineering firm uses a Trimble scanner and has recently rented a new unit that was simply amazing - one can use the actual photo overlay that the scanner produces at each set up to extract dimensions, which makes it easy to get a really tight point pick (like we needed for our substation job). I'll be soaking in any and all info. on scanning (and TBC) at the conference as well as presenting a session on RT Do's and Don'ts. I've been fortunate to have attended all the ones in Las Vegas, but not anything before that, as John has done. Kudos to everyone that can see their way clear to go!