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WordCamp US is right around the corner. Can you believe it? You’ve packed all of your essentials. You’ve dressed warmly for the chilly weather. And you’ve thought about what you want to do for Contributor Day. You’re ready!

All that’s left is letting everyone know that you’re here! A common trend when attending a conference or event is to update your Twitter display name to include a note about where you are. I changed mine to “David Needham @ #WCUS Nashville“, but feel free to do your own thing.

There are a few good reasons for this. First, when someone searches for “WCUS” on Twitter (like this screenshot to the right), they’ll find your name. This will also help your friends see where you are. If they’re also at WCUS, they can be on the lookout for you.

Not sure how to edit your display name?

Feel free to follow these step-by-step directions:

And that’s it. We look forward to seeing you this week!

We are pleased to announce that applications for the Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship are being accepted as of today.

Kim Parsell was an active member of the WordPress community until her untimely passing in 2015. She was given the nickname “WPMom” because of the care she took in making sure any member of the community that she encountered felt welcomed and valued.

Kim actively participated in WordPress Meetups in her native Ohio, often driving over 90 minutes each way to do so. She also attended multiple WordCamps from Ohio to San Francisco and everywhere in-between. As a contributor, she contributed to every release of WordPress from 3.7 to 4.2.

Online, Kim could often be found on Twitter encouraging community members in whatever they were doing. She’d also post comments on countless WordPress sites to give members a shout out, boost of confidence, or help if they needed it.

For the reasons above, and so many more, a scholarship for a woman who has never attended WordCamp US before is named after Kim Parsell. Full details and the application are provided here.

Featured Photo Credit: Matt Mullenweg

We’re excited to share that St. Louis, Missouri will be the next city to host WordCamp US! During his keynote at WordCamp Europe, Matt Mullenweg announced that St. Louis, Missouri will be the host city for WordCamp US 2019 and 2020.

10 Fast Facts About St. Louis

1. St. Louis is home to Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States. It’s about 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York City. Forest Park is home to the St. Louis Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center, and more. The best part: most of these attractions are free!
2. St. Louis is also home to the Gateway Arch! With the completion of CityArchRiver, St. Louis’ $380 million project to rejuvinate the Arch grounds and surrounding areas, you can now walk from downtown St. Louis to the Arch grounds. The new area will officially open July 2018.
3. Nearby downtown, the Missouri Botanical Gardens stand. The MBG is the oldest botanical garden in continuous operation in the United States. The MBG is home to 79 acres of gardens with Chihuly glass artwork throughout. Admission for kids 12 and under is free.
4. The Lemp Mansion was built in the early 1860’s and served as the Lemp family home and brewery office until it was rennovated into a Restauraunt and Inn. Many locals say that the house is haunted by its former inhabitants. Lemp offers several tours through the mansion where you can try and connect with the spirits of the house.
5. Right next door to Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, is Ballpark Village, a hive of restaurants and entertainment.
6. Speaking of sports, St. Louis also is home to the St. Louis Blues, who play at the Enterprise Center (formerly Scottrade Center).
7. The Greater St. Louis Area also boasts over 60 breweries in operation or in planning. Many offer tours for free or low cost.
8. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard was named the “Best Ice Cream Shop in the World” in 2016 by SoolNua’s #worldICECREAMindex. Ted Drewes has been selling frozen custard for almost 90 years. Ted Drewes is a local St. Louis tradition after every St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball game. Ted Drewes’ custard is uniquely flavored, because it uses honey to sweeten it. This is a tradition that started during the Great Depression when honey was used as a cheap alternative to sugar.
9. St. Louis is also home to a variety of unique food items, including their own version of pizza. St. Louis style pizza uses provel cheese, a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provelone cheeses on a cracker-thin crust. Locals will tell you that the best St. Louis pie comes from Imo’s, whose motto is “The Square Beyond Compare,” which references the pizza slice’s square shape.
10. If you have time while you’re here, you should check out the Historic Soulard Farmer’s Market. Since 1779, the Soulard Farmer’s Market has been bringing St. Louis locally raised produce, dairy, meats and more.

Featured Photo Credit: David Needham

WordCamp US 2018 will be December 7-9 at the Music City Center in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. We’re excited to offer tickets again this year for just $40. Your ticket includes access to sessions, the afterparty, and exclusive swag items.

Bringing a Guest to WCUS

Sharing your WordCamp US experience with a good friend or significant other is always a great time! If you plan to bring a guest with you to WordCamp US events, they will need their own ticket.

An Important Note About Allergies

WordCamp US takes life-threatening allergies very seriously. On this year’s ticket form, you’ll notice that there’s a section for you to fill out what/if any dietary restrictions you might have, but there’s also a radio button to click for life-threatening allergies. We consider a life-threatening allergy to be one where if you come in contact with the allergen (whether eaten, touched, or inhaled) that you require immediate medical attention.

If you have an allergy that requires immediate medical attention if you’re exposed, we want to know about it so that we can keep you safe. When you click that radio box and complete your purchase, a member of the organizing team will reach out to you for further information. We ask that you don’t provide this information in the dietary restrictions section of the form both because dietary restrictions are handled differently, but also for the safety of your protected health information.

Purchase Your Ticket Today!