Ruby Video
RubyConf 2020
Conference Closing
Allison McMillan
@asheren
Barrett Clark
8 talks
1 more speaker
See all speakers

Conference Closing

by Allison McMillan, Barrett Clark, and Adam Cuppy

The video titled 'Conference Closing' marks the conclusion of RubyConf 2020, presented by Adam Cuppy, Allison McMillan, and Barrett Clark. The speakers express immense gratitude to the attendees for their participation in this virtual event, which witnessed representatives from 40 countries and a significant level of community engagement. Key points covered include:

  • Acknowledgment of Attendance: The speakers thank the over 750 registered participants for their commitment and enthusiasm throughout the conference.
  • Community Spirit: They highlight the Ruby community's unique characteristics, like collaboration and support, underscoring the importance of every role played by the attendees, sponsors, and organizers.
  • Recognition of Organizers: A special mention is made for Ruby Central, the nonprofit behind RubyConf, recognizing the board members and program committee volunteers who dedicated their time to curate the event.
  • Farewell to Key Staff: Abby, a significant contributor to the conferences for eight years, is acknowledged for her efforts as she departs from Ruby Central.
  • Sponsor Appreciation: The speakers thank various sponsors, including Braintree, Engine Yard, and AWS, for their generous contributions that support the conference's success.
  • Event Feedback: Attendees are encouraged to participate in a post-conference survey to provide feedback on their experiences.
  • Future Events Announcement: Plans for the upcoming RailsConf are discussed, emphasizing its virtual format and expected accessibility for a global audience, along with an anticipated location in Denver for next year's RubyConf.

In conclusion, the speakers emphasize the collective effort that made RubyConf 2020 a success, expressing their heartfelt appreciation for the community's involvement and excitement for future events. Overall, the closing remarks reflect a strong sense of community and eagerness to continue the tradition of connection and learning within the Ruby programming world.

00:00:07.759 Well, hello everybody! Oh my gosh, here we are. It has finally happened: we have reached the end of RubyConf, the virtual edition for 2020. What just happened, friends? Oh my gosh, that was three fast days, if you ask me.
00:00:21.359 First and foremost, I want to thank you all for coming from around the world. Let's just start there. I mean, many of you it’s probably around 2 a.m. right now and you’re half asleep. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!
00:00:43.920 Oh, sorry, my notes have just escaped me. We decided to get super fancy for you today because who doesn’t need an excuse these days to dress up in their fanciest clothes? I wore my fancy tie and brought my fancy plant. Barrett wore his fancy headphones and Allison has put up her fancy background. You know, everything is fancy here. With that, let's take a look at what we have seen over the course of this conference because it is pretty impressive.
00:01:32.000 Thank you, everyone, so much for truly engaging with this conference and bringing the magic of the Ruby community to life. We had over 750 people register, and the average session attendance was 380, with 40 countries represented. There were so many Slack channels and messages, and 51 Run/Walk exercise participants. This community is just so incredibly special.
00:02:08.320 As a reminder, RubyConf is organized by Ruby Central. We're a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and advancing the Ruby programming language and the worldwide Ruby community. For example, we help with hosting rubygems.org. I know that many of you might know that there’s a nonprofit behind all this, and Barrett just mentioned it, but there are also very active individuals on the Ruby Central board. This board is a working board; these individuals are not just present by name, they are actually present by action.
00:02:54.599 All of the individuals in this group help organize these events every single year. Some take RubyConf, others take RailsConf, but the bottom line is they’re all actively involved, and they deserve a huge round of applause for the tremendous effort they put into this event and others just like it.
00:03:39.440 We also wanted to say thank you again to the Ruby Central staff for your many hours of work that you put into making this conference so amazing. A special thank you goes to Abby today, as this will be her last conference with Ruby Central. She has been with us for eight years and has been instrumental in making these conferences run. Abby, we appreciate you, and we will miss you. We will have a public announcement with more information on this tomorrow.
00:04:14.000 It cannot go without mentioning the program committee. This entire event is significant, involving a lot of people who show up and participate. We have to ensure that the curated talks truly represent the community as a whole, based on the topics and the people that are involved. This committee is composed of volunteers who participate in that process.
00:05:12.080 These six individuals have curated all the talks, reviewing the hundreds of proposals that have come in. They have worked with the speakers to refine certain aspects of their talks if necessary and helped put the program together. Again, these six are just a small segment but a hugely important part of what makes these conferences such a significant event.
00:05:23.680 A huge round of applause for the work they put in! And thank you to our ambassadors for making RubyConf feel inviting and welcoming in the true Ruby spirit. Yes, thank you! Also, a special thanks to our emcee Adam, who has been, with maybe a couple of exceptions, the most amazing MC ever.
00:05:42.080 Check out softwareresidency.com for more information on the work that one of Adam's groups does to help place junior and mid-level developers. And last but not least, I cannot take such a pleasant compliment without acknowledging two of the individuals who are not only on the board but are also helping drive the program committee. Our program chairs are Barrett and Allison. Huge thanks to both of you for setting the tone and direction for what this year is going to look like.
00:06:26.160 Not only are the program committee and Ruby Central board actively involved, but also all of you as participants are here. They are the ones steering the direction of the event this year, so let's give a huge round of applause to both of you. I am very lucky to call you both my friends.
00:06:49.600 A deep and heartfelt thank you to both of you, and thank you to Tribal Gatherings for helping us with the hallway track. Thank you to our sponsors as well. Our diamond sponsor is Braintree, our gold sponsors are Engine Yard and Scout APM, and our silver sponsors are Cedar Code, Michelada.io, and Cover My Meds.
00:07:12.800 Finally, our scholarship program and engagement session sponsors are Vonage, TaxJar, ActBlue, AWS, Shopify, and D&D Simple. Thank you all so much for your support. We could not have conducted this program or conference without your generosity.
00:07:24.479 Now, speaking of someone we absolutely could not have done this conference without, that is you, my friends! This conference is entirely made up of the community. From all the individuals mentioned to the sponsors and the roles they played, every element is a big part of what makes this community successful. The fact that you've been so engaged, even with all the insanity I’ve thrown at you, and have been patient during technical challenges, shows how wonderful this community is.
00:08:27.520 I cannot express enough how much I appreciate you and how much I care for this community. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being such an amazing part of what makes Ruby so great and strong. Keep an eye out for an email from us after the conference. There will be a link to give us some feedback on the conference, so please fill out the RubyConf survey.
00:08:55.760 I’ve seen this question asked a few times in Slack: when will things be available and for how long? Talks will be available on Crowdcast to registered participants until we make them live for the public. The conference Slack and job board will be available for the next few weeks before shutting down.
00:09:21.440 We’ll give a notice in the public channels in Slack before we close it down, so make sure to check for that. To continue the conversations, go to underscore rc underscore on social media. For more information on the job board, go to underscore rc underscore jobs.
00:10:05.760 Now, for the big announcement: Ruby Central organizes both RailsConf and RubyConf, and this coming spring, we'll be doing RailsConf. It will be virtual, similar to how we handled RubyConf. I’m very excited for this. The previous conference included many first-time attendees.
00:11:08.880 I do believe that a lot of those numbers come down to the accessibility of a virtual conference, and what RubyConf was able to provide. So, I’m really excited that RailsConf will have similar opportunities for attendees from around the globe. We’ll have incredible speakers joining from all over the world.
00:11:33.280 So, again, RailsConf this coming year is going to be virtual, just like RubyConf was, with a few tweaks to accommodate. Now for the anticipation building towards next year’s location... our anticipated location will hopefully be in Denver!
00:12:06.479 Thank you, everyone! Thank you so so very much! Make sure to pick up on Slack. Remember, as Barrett mentioned, the Slack will stay open for a little while longer, but eventually, it will be closed.
00:12:48.320 So, I need to echo this again because it has happened a few times: do make sure to follow the folks you want to reconnect with in the coming week, so you can ensure that you stay connected.
00:12:56.560 Otherwise, we will see you at RailsConf and, if not, at RubyConf next year. Thank you!
Edit