Hi All,

EH-Net is exploring the idea of hosting a security event in Chicago named ChicagoCon, and we need your feedback. We're considering launching ChicagoCon this fall (early Sept 2007) and/or next Spring (April 2008) in one of the following formats:

- 5-Day Work Week Event: This format would contain a collection of boot camps M-F including CEH/CNDA, CPTS, ECSA, CPTE, Security+, CISSP, CHFI and SCP (list due to change). Each morning before class, we would have keynotes by our columnists and friends of EH-Net. Lunch would be provided for the students. After class we would have evening keynotes and presentations with hacker competitions to follow. Both students and outside attendees are invited to the evening sessions.

- 2-Day Weekend Event: This format would have all of the features of the Week Long Event minus the boot camps. We would just squeeze the keynotes, presentations and contests into a 2 or 3 day schedule.

- Combination: We could combine the aspects of both to have a 7 day event.

For either format, we are also considering an exhibit hall where the free lunch will be held. The exhibitors would not be allowed to approach the lunch tables but be able to have small booths around the perimeter of the lunch room.

Price for the boot camps would be competitive with other boot camp providers. Price for the evening sessions and hacker contests would be minimal. We're thinking under $100 and maybe free if we get sponsors and enough attendees.

Let us know what you think and/or offer suggestions,
Don

PS - PM me if you're interested in speaking, volunteering and/or helping coordinate.

I think it is a great idea.  I doubt that I could get my employer to pony up to attend but I think you should drive forward.  I wish you the best of luck.

Wonderful idea.  It's a pity I can't attend though. Sorry, but this is 9 timezones away from me, and there's no way I could get my work to pay for something like that, nor get the offtime. Besides that I'd have to start organizing my visa for the USA now in order to get their by September. 

I would think middle to end of September would work well.  Get it a little away from the Labor Day weekend which is often a family thing.

I think 5 day is too enough.Start : Monday and finish : Friday .Weeken we can go out and visit somewhere together.But Chicago too far for me.
Some people who's visited can take photo or make a film and then post to forum.So member can see What's happening? 

Havefun!

As everyone else is commenting id also say 5 days would be fair enough but if it could be shorten to 3-4 days then it would be much better i think. but sad thing is Chicago is far off my limits too. hope much of these events are held near our area (South Asia region)

Now the last point is much attractive. let the whole con be scheduled for 7 day period while participation can be left on the students. if they do  not want to take boot camps they could attend just the 2 days on the weekend and vise versa.

That's what we're discussing, whether to have a 2 day event, a 5 day event or a 7 day event.

The 2 day event would be con only.
The 5 day event would be training and con simultaneously.
The 7 day event would be training and con back to back.

Your description of the 5 day event is correct. My concern is for the students who have to study all day and sometimes all night that still want to participate in the con events. That can be a little much. But you only live once, right? You'll get enough sleep when you die. 

Don