InstCon Party Propaganda

[kona]

It seems like a number of people missed the detailed email that came out with extra information about the "InstCon Party Propaganda" so I'm going to go ahead and post the text of the email here.

Tuesday, July 25 – Professional Development Night

This is the ultimate crash course in espionage and covert ops. You’ll learn how to execute a daring escape, seduce potential informants, and craft a fake identity. You’ll also get hands-on experience with hot new tech and get to see one of Alaska’s most valuable gems in person.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Inflatable free fall challenge
• VR dome experience
• Ballroom dancing lessons
• Spy disguises
• Backstory generator
• Agent passport photo booth
• Food and drinks
• ***Top secret concert***

Wednesday, July 26 – Canvas Royale

Stakes will be high at this glamorous black-tie event (we strongly recommend dressing up in your fanciest ensemble, but we’ll have suitable attire available for all agents). Drink in the drama, fun, and glamour, but be sure to keep your wits about you—you never know who will be sitting across from you at the poker table.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Casino games
• Exotic animal encounters
• Firebreathers
• Lounge singers
• Karaoke
• James Bond and Bond-girl lookalikes
• Photo booth
• Food and full bar

Thursday, July 27 – Groovy Gala, Baby, Yeah!

Not all spies are suave and sophisticated. Some are loud, uncouth, and still embedded in the sixties. Tonight is an over-the-top tribute to all the International Men and Women of Mystery out there.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Remote-control floating sharks (BYOLasers)
• Glow-in-the-dark henna tattoos
• Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, and Fembot
• lookalikes
• Photo booth
• British buffet and bar

You might have heard it through the grapevine—Creedence Clearwater Revisited features founding members and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Doug “Cosmo” Clifford and Stu Cook with new members Kurt Griffey, Dan McGuinness, and Steve Gunner. Prepare to rock out to all the hits... ’til the bad moon rises.

[kmeeusen]

Hmmmmm..........................

"seduce potential informants."

My wife would not like that so much I am thinking.

But............... we must be qualified agents (engaged conference participants), so I will put on my game-face and go for it!

Agent K

[James]

Does this mean I'm going to have to canvass the crowd?

[kmeeusen]

LMAO!

[tdurbin]

This is going to be so far out of my comfort zone O_o!!

Looking forward to it!

[kona]

Have you been to InstCon before? If not then you are in for a treat! There is nothing, and I mean nothing, like an InstCon party (um, I mean conference). 😉

[tdurbin]

Have never been to InstCon. Only my 3rd time on a plane, 1st flight alone. Have never traveled alone before, so this will be an interesting, anxiety inducing & overwhelming adventure. I'm a super introvert, but am pushing my own boundaries & trying to get out of my comfort zone.

[kmeeusen]

Tye, understand the anxiety, but you are gonna love this! My sixth, and I think Kona's fifth because she decided to have a baby last year  - trust us!

Agent K

[tdurbin]

I am really looking forward to it! I've heard it is "THE" conference to attend & I am already trying to convince 'work' to send me again next year too! This will be great & networking with everyone will just make it even better!

[kmeeusen]

We'll see you there, Tye, drop by the Community booth if us WA. ELC'ers don't find another way to connect.

Agent K

[tdurbin]

Will do!

[kona]

I totally get the anxiety, but this is a super friendly conference and it's easy to start up conversations with people. 

When are you arriving in Keystone?

[tdurbin]

I'm scheduled to land in Denver Monday afternoon (3pm I think).

[kmeeusen]

Awesome, Tye! Hope you come to the Intel Exchange Tuesday morning. We'll hook up, and I'll introduce you to the Community Team after, although it does sound like most of them will also be at the Intel Exchange.

Best and most frequently heard opening lines, "Where are you out of?" followed by "Cool, what do you do there?"

Agent K

[Stef_retired]

 @tdurbin ‌, please come see me at the Community table when you have a spare moment. No one believes me when I tell them this, but I'm an introvert too. And for more conversations with fellow introverts, check out https://community.canvaslms.com/message/61236-wandering-pandas-flying-solo-to-instructurecon 

[DeletedUser]

I'm also a first-timer and can be shy until I feel comfortable, then I'm all extrovert. I'm also hoping to connect with others from Christian institutions. Folks can see my post at  Who's Attending from Faith-Based Schools? - Crystal

[kenneth_rogers]

From one first timer, to another - I get it  @tdurbin ‌. The great thing about a conference is finding "your" people and making those lasting friendships. What I can tell from my short time in the community is that those friendships extend well beyond a once a year conference! When you have people on here telling you to come here or go there - they mean it! They want to meet you and connect with you!

For what it's worth, a couple years a go I would travel about three weeks out of the month, fly out sometimes twice in a week - and I never had a problem with my schedule or how to "handle" everything. Well, last night I had a mini melt down with my wife because I was so stressed out! I leave tomorrow for vacation, come back Sunday, then leave Monday for instcon‌! I mean, it's sort of a perfect scenario - but man the anxiety of trying to figure it all out! 

If you are going to be in Keystone Tuesday morning, check out the Canvas Intel Exchange‌. It's a small, community driven event to connect with each other in an effort to (hopefully) learn knew ideas from our peers, or new approaches to challenges we face on our campuses or in our districts. You can register at Canvas Intelligence Exchange Tickets, Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 8:30 AM | Eventbrite  or just go ahead and show up - whatever works best for you, but we'd love to have you!

[tdurbin]

I know what you mean on timing! I'm at InstCon next week, back at work for a week, then flying with my girls out to North Carolina for 2 weeks. Super crazy schedule, but I deal with it all very well, so I am pushing my boundaries even further.

I am already signed up for the Intel Exchange, Hack Night & the Pre-conference for Developing LTI Tools.

Looking forward to meeting a lot of new people!

[kona]

Awesome! So glad to hear you're coming to the Intel Exchange (my personal baby), as well as the other events! I think (no, I'm about 100% sure) you're going to have a great time! 🙂

[rconroy]

You won't be alone! I'm in a psudo similar boat with getting the ball rolling on the social side, but, just find something in common and run with it! Feel free to steal any of these opening lines:
"Hey, I like your shoes!"

"Nice T-Shirt!"

"Are you a Wandering Panda? Can I wander with you?"

"What's your preferred Secret Weapon?"

"If you had to choose between Indiana Jones or Han Solo, who do you think would win in a fight?" (my favorite)

Its going to be a great time and that's also because you will be there! Remember that along with the cool stuff that's going to happen, they wouldn't have a cool conference if it weren't for awesome people like you. 

[kona]

"If you had to choose between Indiana Jones or Han Solo, who do you think would win in a fight?"

No idea... but I'd love to sit back and watch... 😉

[tdurbin]

They'd probably agree with each other that its a pretty square match, hang out have a beer & chat about how confusing women are... They seem like they really aren't the fighting types unless they have to... LoL!

[rconroy]

Truthfully I tried to find appropriate GIFs of both Indy and Han rolling their eyes and not wanting to fight or preparing to fight and I just ended up getting sucked into a 5 minute black hole of young Harrison Ford GIFs. All in all, it wasn't really a waste of time.  My justification is that Indy did look like a secret agent at one time!

[kmeeusen]

Not much more fun on Earth than watching Harrison Ford kick his own butt!

[mjennings]

Clearly Han would shoot first, did you see how long it took Indy to shoot that guy? The bad guy do his sword swinging for 15 seconds.

[tdurbin]

That scene was improvised LOL Harrison had injured himself on set & they ended up keeping that in the film. One of my favorite scenes!

[mjennings]

Yeah it was a great scene and awesome trivia fact, but as in character people he just took way too long. Han would win. 😉

[abunag]

I believe the story was that he had an intestinal bug, and didn't have the strength for the fight choreography.  Most of the Western crew was apparently sick from the local bugs.

[rconroy]

But Indiana Jones was even cooler after waiting to shoot the bad guy! Total secret agent move. Along with being a Professor and knowing the in's and outs of his missions. Han Solo, while still totally cool, would shoot first and ask questions later, denying himself the intel needed to get the mission done.  

[mjennings]

Yeah, Han would lose out on the intel. But the questions was which would win a fight and to that I would have to give the edge to the scruffy-looking nerfherder.

[rconroy]

I would love to banter that comment more in person! Your comment about scruffy-looking nerfherder may have stopped me in my tracks. I have a soft spot for star wars references and it reminded me I need something like that on a t-shirt. I'll concede this time,  @mjennings ‌, THIS time.  

[rconroy]

I might also have a couch with these pillows on them. 

[Stef_retired]

I wish I could like this a thousand times, Deactivated user!

[kona]

Me too!!!!! I love love love love these!!!

[fox]

Thank you for the intel to add to our dossiers  @kona ‌. Really looking forward to the theme this year!

[saltman]

I'm already tired. When is naptime?

    ❤️ 

Thanks for the info!!! Can't wait!

[rconroy]

I'm quickly introverting in my hotel room at Keystone lodge before braving the world for a bite to eat, I feel you  @saltman !

[saltman]

I did the same!

[saltman]

Did ballroom dancing actually happen?  Not that I could leave the concert. Jewel was amazing!!

Follow-Up question: Does anyone know where karaoke is happening tomorrow. I wanna sing!!!