Got Kicked Out of a Session /OETC2010

I suffered through Columbus traffic with fellow traveler Rick Woodfield to finally reach the Ohio Etech Conference 2010. We finally get to the conference at about 9AM and after registration we split up to go our separate ways.

I stopped in the main hallway to get my bearings and choose a 10AM session to attend. I decide on “What’s in their pockets?!? Using what your students already have.” and head to the D section of the extensive conference center. Even though I’m 30 minutes early, this room is packed. There are no open seats and people have begun sitting along the back wall. Seeing as there is no wall space left, I decide to sit on the floor in an aisle between tables. The aisle is wide and I figure I’m plenty “out of the way.”

Then the presenters announce excitedly that the room next door is not using their chairs, so I rush over to grab a chair only to find that they ARE having a session. No chairs. I walk back to the room and take my seat on the floor again. I’m as inconspicuous as possible and far to the side, out of the way of anyone who needs to walk down the aisle.

As I’m getting my laptop connected and logging into my blog I am approached by a blue shirted conference worker. He tells me I can’t sit in the aisle. No attempt was made to find a seat for me, or to provide any alternatives. I simply had to go.

So I left the session completely!

Here’s the thing that bothers me: It wasn’t that the room was full of people shoulder to shoulder. There was plenty of space at the tables. There were simply not enough chairs in the room.

How about providing adequate seating next time, OETC!