Ignite Bend

Your votes have been counted, and we are proud to announce who will be on stage at Ignite Bend 2!

Kousefly — What is Ignite?
Marlee Norr — Facing the Consequences
Leslie Camacho — How Dungeons & Dragons Made Me the Boss
Brad Cohen — Eggs. Nature’s … well … everything really.
Kate Gronemyer — I like you but I wish you would stop talking for a minute: Introverts exposed.

Intermission and Raffle

Collin Robinson — People will pay me to do that?
Barb Troyer — How cupcakes inspired a conversation about pregnant cows & milk at my wedding party; or the joys of a Vegan (plant-based) diet.
Beth Patterson — How to walk around your life as if you were awake
Brett Golden — Take My Money. Please!
Shannon Hinderberger — Being a “natural mother” doesn’t work for everyone

This should be a really great event, with some excellent talks. There were TWENTY great proposals, and it was really a very tight race at the end. Thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal!

Tickets will be available online soon! (You’ll just have to keep an eye on this site and our Twitter feed to find out when!) Hope to see everyone at Ignite Bend 2 on June 4th!

WOW! We have so many great submissions for Ignite Bend 2… now we need your help. Please tell us who you would like to see on stage at Ignite Bend 2! There are two ways to share your opinion:

First … fill out our online ballot.

Second … cast your vote in person at the Ignite Bend 2 “Selection Election”
Join us for a no-host mixer and cast your ballot at our “Selection Election” at The Wine Shop (55 NW Minnesota Avenue, Bend) on Friday, May 22 at 4:30pm. We’ll be collecting ballots until around 6:30pm but you are welcome to stay and mingle. There will be beer and wine specials and… of course lots of socializing! For more information and to RSVP visit the Facebook site for this event!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. See you at the “Selection Election” or at Ignite Bend 2!

~Mark Twain

Ignite Bend 2 is less than three weeks away. The deadline’s approaching, but there’s still time to submit your proposal for Ignite Bend 2!

Ignite Bend speakers don’t just get five minutes of glory. We are pleased to announce that the speakers selected to present will also receive a gift from the Ignite Bend planning committee and Mug Revolution. Owen Dearing created an exclusive handmade coffee mug for the presenters, which bears the Ignite Bend logo. The only way to get one of these beautiful and useful mugs is to be selected and present at Ignite Bend!

After submissions close, we hope you will help us by telling us who you want to see on stage at Ignite Bend 2. There are two ways to participate in this process. First … this Thursday online polling will open so watch this website for a link. Second … here’s something we think you’ll really like!

Ignite Bend 2 “Selection Election”
Join us for a no-host mixer and cast your ballot at our “Selection Election” at The Wine Shop (55 NW Minnesota Avenue, Bend) on Friday, May 22 at 4:30pm. There will be beer and wine specials and… of course lots of socializing! For more information and to RSVP visit the Facebook site for this event!

Thanks for helping make Ignite Bend 2 a success!!

There’s less than a week left to submit a proposal for Ignite Bend 2. Have you told us about your burning idea?

Ignite Bend Why Present from Matthew Hand on Vimeo.

by Megan Slick

Husband – What is Ignite Bend anyway?
Me – It’s an event where community members speak for 5 minutes with 20 automatically rotating slides on any topic they choose.
Husband – I still don’t get it. Is it like… for networking?
Me – Sure. You meet lots of people. Ignites have been going on all over the world, like: Portland, Seattle, Boulder and Paris to name a few. Some of them draw crowds of thousands! You can check out the videos online.
Husband – Huh.
Me – So I volunteered to write an article to get people psyched about submitting topics for Ignite Bend #2. You want to help?
Husband – Why would someone what to submit a topic? [Oozing with skepticism]
Me – Hello? Tons of people like to be in the spotlight! One word – karaoke. There’s really no comparison though – hands down Ignite is more fun & interesting. Topics range from tech to gardening to current events. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s theater/concert/stand-up all rolled into one! At Ignite Bend #1, speakers talked about Legos, social media, karma, acronyms, and one guy played a song about how Bend is a dirty wicked town – it’s awesome!
Husband – That does sound interesting.
Me – FINALLY! I’ll get on the website and get us tickets. It’s free but seating is limited. It’s on June 4th at the Tower Theater, doors open at 6:00pm, show stars at 7:00pm – put it in your Blackberry.
Husband – What about topic submissions? I might have a friend who is interested.
Me – Sure you do, a “friend”. You just don’t want to admit that this is super cool and now you want a piece too.
Husband – Whatever…
Me – You can submit your topic online at www.ignitebend.com before Thursday, May 21st at 5pm. Tell your friend that we need more sponsors too. They can get information about sponsorship on the website.

Note: The day before the above conversation occurred my husband and I saw Wolverine. Just like the leading lady, I have the power of suggestion. I have convinced my nemesis (aka editor husband) to do my bidding [sinister laugh]. Now I’m setting my sites higher – the Bend community. Submit your topics to www.ignitebend.com, sponsor Ignite Bend and attend on June 4th. I look forward to seeing you there!

~Frank Scully

Have you been thinking about submitting your idea for Ignite Bend 2… but just not sure about it yet?

Get off that fence!

There’s still time to submit your proposal! If you need ideas, be sure to check out the websites for other Ignite events around the world… and the outstanding talks that were given at Ignite Bend 1! You can also take a look at – and comment on – the proposals that have already been submitted for Ignite Bend 2… here!

Ignite Bend speakers don’t just get five minutes of glory. We are pleased to announce that the speakers selected to present will also receive a gift from the Ignite Bend planning committee and Mug Revolution. Owen Dearing created an exclusive handmade coffee mug for the presenters, which bears the Ignite Bend logo. The only way to get one of these beautiful and useful mugs is to be selected and present at Ignite Bend!

What are you waiting for? Proposals are being accepted for Ignite Bend 2 NOW! What’s your burning idea?