Geeks Update

With only 3 weeks to go, the Geeks on Ice committee is in high gear and spirit! We are working very hard to finalize many aspects of our event and want to inform you of what we will be doing in preperation to the greatest knowledge industry sports event in Canada! Here are things that are worth noting:

1. We have secured a sponsor for the hockey tournament MVP. Business NB has gratiously donated a MVP trophy that will be presented to the player by Mathieu Brideau from BNB on April, 23 2006 at the Geeks on Ice final. (See picture at right)
2. Whitehill Technologies has donated 3 new laser printers to Support for Single Parents to help them deliver their services to the community. So far we are on track to raise up to $6000.00.
3. Trash talking has commenced by the 16 teams from Geeks on Ice. Please continue...
4. Support for Single Parents are selling 1000 raffle tickets which will be drawn at Geekfest on April 22, 2006 at the Dundee Sportsdome. Price is $2 each or 3 for $5. Prizes include:
   
   
   • 1st: Round Trip Sleeper Class tickets for two to Montreal - VIA Rail
   
   
   • 2nd: Ramada Crystal Palace - one night stay for family of four
   
   
   • 3rd: Rogers/Muchmusic pay as you go cell phone
   
   
   • 4th: Men's Gruen Swiss steel watch
   
   

Proceeds to Support for Single Parents. Tickets can be purchased at Geeks on Ice, Geeks Golf or by calling (506) 858-1303.

5. A silent Auction will kickoff at the Rising Stars VIP puck drop event on April 20, 2006. The item is an official team Canada Olympic jacket authographed by Gold medallist Team Gushue.
6. The Times and Transcript published two articles featuring Geeks on Ice.
7. 13 teams have registered for Geeks Golf. Call 382-7529 to register your team or email at info@sportsdome.ca
8. Trevor Macausland, Nancy Hartling from Support for Single Parents and Stephanie Turner of Enterprise Greater Moncton will be taking your calls on Crosby Live on Monday April 3, 2006 starting at 8pm. Crosby Live airs Monday through Wednesday, LIVE at 8 PM, exclusively on Rogers Television.

Keep checking the blog for updates.

Silent Auction Planned for Geeks on Ice\Geeks Golf

Own a piece of the Olympics! Silent Auction to feature official Olympic gear, signed by gold medal winners, Team Gushue!

A silent auction to be held during Geeks on Ice 2006 features an official Olympic gear jacket, size XL, signed by all members of the 2006 men’s gold medal winning curling team. Bidding is open to the public. More details to follow...

**Disclaimer: Owners reserve right to withdraw auction item if reserve is not met.

Metro Moncton a haven for geeks

Times & Transcript | Metro Moncton
Article published: Mar 27, 2006

Metro Moncton a haven for geeks
City Hall Report
BRENT MAZEROLLE

Moncton - it's all geek to me.

There was a time of course when being a geek seemed like a bad thing.

And I'm not necessarily talking about the original meaning of geek - a circus performer who bit the heads off live chickens.

I'm talking more recently than that. A geek was a computer-loving nerd, a dweeb, someone who never set foot in a hockey arena, let alone actually got on the ice and played. And yet that is precisely what geeks have become around these parts, hockey playing, socializing leaders of Metro Moncton for today and tomorrow.

To wit, there's the Geeks on Ice hockey tournament that brings IT people from around the Maritimes to Moncton for a bit of fun and old fashion wirless networking, i.e. actually standing around and talking to people in face-to-face encounters.

There are Moncton's Cyber Socials, another series of gatherings for people in the area knowledge industry. and in a couple weeks time there will be the 24 hour Lanvasion '06 at Festival Hall in the Moncton Market.

"A Lan Party is a large grouping of people who gather in order to play today's and yesterday's hottest PC games. Players play both casually as well as compete for prizes." says a news release from the event's organizers.

I believe they do that by linking their computers in networks so they play video games against each other, but what would I know? I've never eaten a chicken head either.

If all this is baffling to you, you're probably not alone, but I suspect we'll all be hearing about more stuff like this soon.

It's the goal of the City of Moncton to bring and keep young educated professionals here. And one of the ways the city hopes to do that is to create a critical mass of high tech and knowledge industry firms to build on some of the really credible inroads Metro Moncton has already made into the cyber-present and the cyber future.

As you may already know, the city has enlisted some high profile help in its goal in the form of IC2, a renowned institute dedicated to commercializing technology which is connected to the University of Texas at Austin.

IC2 can surely help the city find its way through the chicken and egg dilemma of economic development - you can't get the industry if you don't have the skilled workers and you won't have the skilled workers if you don't have the industry.

The beauty of many tech industries is they can be run from anywhere, so our location out at the edge of North America need not be the handicap it can be in industries like manufacturing. We can do this. All we need is individuals and innovation.

What grassroots events like Geeks on Ice, Cyber Socials and Lanvasion '06 can do is create the environment and lifestyle here that knowledge professionals will find attractive . Moreso, such events can create the vibe, something no amount of policy documents can do.

Geek power is living among us. Perhaps it's time we all embrace it. It's good for Moncton. It cna be good for us.

Geeks on Ice for good cause

Times & Transcript | Events
As published on page C3 on March 27, 2006

Local area "geeks" will be gathering the weekend of April 21-23 to help raise money for Support to Single Parents Inc., a non-profit organization that began in 1982 to help improve the quality of life of single parent families by helping them make positive changes in their life.

The Geeks on Ice tournament is not only a chance to raise money for the organization, it is a chance for local knowledge industry workers to gather and meet. The idea for the event came to event organizer, Trevor Macausland, three years ago while playing hockey with other people in IT, and realized that workers in the IT industry did not get the opportunity to get together. Eight teams were signed up to play in the original tournament and this year the competition has grown to 16 teams from all over the Maritimes.

This tournament is open to anyone in the industry or family members of those who work anywhere from call centres to banking. "Students too. Those looking for career choices and wanting to make contacts with businesses in the industry," Trevor adds.

Also on the program for the weekend is this year's first Geeks Golf tournament, being held at the Dundee Sportsdome. "Geeks Golf was started for those who don't play hockey and still want to be involved," Trevor says. Employees, family members and anyone interested in learning more about the industry are invited to play an entire 18-hole round of indoor golf.

Besides playing golf, participants can qualify to putt for $10,000, enjoy some pizza and mingle with other individuals from the local knowledge industry.

The Tim Hortons 4 Ice Centre will play host to the Geeks on Ice tournament, which is free to anyone wishing to watch some geeks in action. Anyone interested in playing Geeks Golf is required to pay a $40 fee and must sign up in advance. For more information about the tournament and contact information, please check out the website at www.geeksonice.com

Lanvasion '06

A good friend of mine, Andre Melanson, is trying to add some flavor to the Atlantic Canadian "Geek" community. If sports isn't for you, I sugest you check this event out. -Trevor Macausland

Lanvasion '06
from Saturday, April 15, 2006 to Sunday, April 16, 2006
Contact: Andre Melanson
Telephone: 506-961-1459
Location: Festival Hall (Moncton City Market)
Schedule: Lan is 24 Hrs (8pm-8pm) , Registration Starts 6pm
It's going to be an awesome LAN Tournament with prizes from Ultra, Compu-Smart, Samsung, and DLink! We even have representatives from the World Cyber Games (www.worldcybergames.ca) attending this event! So, put on your game face and sign up! Come put your skills to the test!

So, are you 1337?
Visit : http://www.lanvasion.com

Pick up HERE magazine to Read about Geeks...

(Moncton Edition)
link:http://www.herenb.com/moncton/issues/0312/said.html

What was said this week
David Gingras gives a post-council report

Moncton City Council sure could have used some pick-me-up on Monday night. There were seniors discussing the Mayor's Senior's Committee. Which Mayor Mitton established after being elected to uncover the needs of seniors in Moncton and to subsequently prioritize those needs.

Wasn't there already a Senior's Committee, called City Council?

And then there was Councillor Doug Robertson's Technology Planning Group update and the presentation by the Moncton Infrastructure Group who discussed the sewer system review and master plan.

Yawn.

However, there were some shining stars at council.

Geeks on Ice is a networking group geared towards the knowledge industry and its professionals. They made a presentation describing their role in raising money for local charities. This year, money raised by Geeks on Ice and Geeks Golf will be going towards Support for Single Parents. The first event takes place between April 21 and 23 at the Moncton 4-Ice centre. Admission to the 16-team hockey tournament is free. For golfing enthusiasts, Geeks Golf will be taking place at the Dundee Sports Dome between April 20 and 23.

Deputy Mayor Merrill Henderson asked, "What do you classify as a geek?" The answer was provided by Geeks on Ice organizer Trevor Macausland. By his definition, a geek is anyone employed within an IT company, contact centre, insurance or banking company, or any organization that specializes in the transfer of knowledge. If you need more information, go to www.geeksonice.com.

Another presentation of interest was by a new gang in town. The Junior Chamber International Greater Moncton, headed up by the owner of Joe Moka Café, Yvan Laviolette. It is quite new toMoncton and as the press release says, it "will provide the opportunity for young people to develop the leadership skills, social responsibility, entrepreneurship and fellowship necessary to create positive change in this city and around the world." JCI Greater Moncton is essentially a networking tool for the business minded 20- and 30-yearolds in MetroMoncton.

Cont....

Geeks on Ice 2006 on Track to Raise Almost $6,000 for Support to Single Parents

Raffle draw and Geeks Golf event provide activities for everyone

Moncton, NB – The third annual Geeks on Ice hockey tournament has filled its roster of teams for the April tournament. Teams from Halifax, Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton and Miramichi will be in Moncton April 20-23 to play in support of Support to Single Parents.

Trevor MacAusland, tournament founder, is pleased to announce the following teams will be playing in this year’s tournament:

Whitehill Conference
Plexus Division	Rising Stars Division
HRDC	Dovico
PropertyGuys.com	OAOT
Plexus Connectivity	Beauséjour Health
Spielo	Whitehill Technologies
Enterprise Greater Moncton Conference
Dundee SportsDome Division	Maritime Cresting Division
Assomption Vie	Xerox 2
Evolving Solutions	Brovada Technologies
Fatkat Animation	Canada Post
Xerox 1	Sports Direct Inc

“We also are taking registrations for the Geeks Golf tournament being held that same weekend at the Dundee Sports Dome,” says MacAusland. “We expect to host more than 300 people representing all facets of workers in IT and the Knowledge Industry in the Maritimes here in Moncton.”

The deadline for teams to register for Geeks Golf is April 7th. Teams can register by contacting the Dundee Sports Dome at 382-PLAY (7529) or email at info@sportsdome.ca or visit our website at www.sportsdome.ca.

Organizers are on track to raise almost $6,000 for this year’s designated charity, Moncton-based Support to Single Parents. A raffle draw for prizes including a return trip for two from Moncton to Montreal courtesy of Via Rail, and a stay at the Ramada Crystal Palace for a family of four is expected to sell out. Tickets can be purchased from Support to Single Parents, from the Geeks on Ice organizing committee, or onsite at the tournament.

Donations have also been pouring in from local companies. “The support of the local business community has been tremendous,” says Dawn Mallyon, Marketing and Sponsorship Chair. “Sponsors have lined up to donate prizes, money, and computer peripherals. Our goals have been met and we’re a month until the tournament. The committee is very pleased.”

Geeks on Ice has a mandate to serve as a networking catalyst and promotion of knowledge industry firms and professionals from all over Atlantic Canada while raising funds to purchase computers, peripherals and software for non-profit organizations.

2006 Sponsors include Maritime Cresting, Plexus Connectivity Solutions, Whitehill Technologies, Inc., Enterprise Greater Moncton, RBC Financial Services, the Government of NB, BMG Consulting and Dundee Sportsdome. Prize donors include Via Rail, Investor’s Group, Ramada Crystal Palace, and NRC.

Deadline for Geeks Golf registration is April 7th.

Further information can be obtained by visiting the website at www.geeksonice.com or by contacting:

Trevor MacAusland
506-855-0005, ext 259
tmacausland@gmail.com

or

Dawn Mallyon
506-855-0005, ext 228
dmallyon@gmail.com

2006 Geeks on Ice Teams Announced

At last night's Moncton City Council meeting Trevor Macausland, Geeks on Ice founder, released the names of the teams playing in this year's hockey tournament. These 16 teams are from all over Atlantic Canada and represent 2 conferences and 4 divisions. The teams are:

Whitehill Conference
Plexus Division	Rising Stars Division
HRDC	Dovico
PropertyGuys.com	OAOT
Plexus Connectivity	Beauséjour Health
Spielo	Whitehill Technologies
Enterprise Greater Moncton Conference
Dundee SportsDome Division	Maritime Cresting Division
Assomption Vie	Xerox 2
Evolving Solutions	Brovada Technologies
Fatkat Animation	Canada Post
Xerox 1	Sports Direct Inc

**Conference and Divisions may be Subject to change

Moncton City Council to Welcome Geeks

The 2006 Geeks on Ice Committee is pleased to invite everyone to join us for an official presentation at 6pm on Monday March 20th at Moncton City Hall. Trevor MacAusland and Jules Leger will make the official Geeks on Ice/Geeks Golf announcement to Moncton City Council. The presentation will announce the names of the 2006 Geeks on Ice teams, official schedule, details on the $10,000.00 Geeks Golf putt contest, Geeks raffle, Geeks auction and the Rising Stars official puck drop event.

If you can’t make it in person, Tune in to Roger Television (Cable 9 and 10) on Monday, March 20 2006 at 10pm. Keep visiting www.geeksonice.com for updates. Hope to see you there!

Geeks, Music, Golf and ... $10,000

Who can Participate?: Are you a Geek? Could you use $10,000? Well Geeks Golf is for you! Employees, family members and anyone interested in knowing more about Atlantic Canada's growing knowledge industry can participate.

How much?: For a fee of $40.00 per player, you and your team can golf an entire 18-hole indoor round of golf, qualify to putt for $10,000, party down with DJ Scotty J, munch on some pizza and meet other individuals from the local knowledge industry community.

What's the point?: The tournament committee has chosen to sponsor Support to Single Parents (www.supporttosingleparents.ca), a non-profit organization established in 1982 with a mandate to improve the quality of life for single parents and their children. The goal this year is to raise enough money to outfit the charity with new computers and peripherals.

I don't golf, can I still play?: Y-E-S! In fact, that is the reason we are going with a best ball format. Best ball means that 4 people from the same team all take their turns taking each shot. Only the best one will be chosen by the team. This allows for the non-geek-golfers to participate. Just a little bit of golf and lots of fun! Club rentals are available.

How do I register?: Deadline for registration is April 7, 2006. Register your golf team (or those individuals looking to play) by contacting the Dundee Sports Dome at 382-PLAY (7529) or email at info@sportsdome.ca or visit our website at www.sportsdome.ca.

Golf Geeks Invade Moncton

Geeks Golf to benefit Support for Single Parents and feature a contest to Putt to win $10,000!

The Moncton Dundee Sports Dome is proud to host the first annual Geeks Golf tournament. In conjunction with Geeks on Ice, the event will raise money to purchase computers and peripherals for Support for Single Parents, a local non-profit organization. The golf tournament is a scramble format and open to individuals belonging to knowledge economy firms like call center, IT, insurance, banking, engineering, animation, consulting and students.

"We are so excited to be partnering with the Geeks on Ice organizers for this tournament," says Jules Leger, President of Dundee Sports Dome. "This is the perfect opportunity for those in the knowledge industry who don't play hockey to come out and support this wonderful charity, network with peers and get in a round of golf before the season starts."

Organizers are targeting 20 teams with the two top teams facing off in a sudden death match. Deadline for registration is April 7, 2006. Teams of four will tee off starting on Thursday April 20^th, with the final being held Saturday evening during GeekFest, also to be held at the Dundee Sports Dome featuring music by DJ Scotty J.

The entrance fee of $40.00 per player includes a two-hour, 18 hole game of golf, pizza for your foursome, and admission to the GeekFest on Saturday night. The tournament features a putting contest for all registered golf players, where someone could walk away with $10,000!

Do not miss the greatest knowledge industry sports event in Canada! Register your golf team (or those individuals looking to play) by contacting the Dundee Sports Dome at 382-PLAY (7529) or email at info@sportsdome.ca or visit our website at www.sportsdome.ca. For updates on the event, visit http:\\www.geeksonice.com.

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Greater Moncton CyberSocial Grand Moncton - tonight/ce soir

(Le message en français suit)

CyberSocial.ca...connecting the dot.

**Reminder**

This month's headliner, Enterprise Greater Moncton, will be at the March 8th CyberSocial to talk about services and programs available to new and existing businesses in Greater Moncton. The outgoing Youth Entrepreneurship Development Officer, Patrick Goguen has been promoting entrepreneurship to our youth... under 35 and demystifying the process of starting a business in the Greater Moncton area. (Yes...he's outgoing but he's also changingjobs!)

In light of International Women's Day, Betty DeMerchant, one of the few female 2005 Rising Stars will be on our "Soapdot!"

Also, we have a special guest coming back - Gair Maxwell will be on hand to lead our Speed Networking session tonight!

DATE: Wednesday, March 8th / le mercredi 8 mars

LOCATION/LIEU: Paramount Lounge, 800 Main Street/rue (across from Church Street)

TIME/HEURE: 5:00p.m. / 17h00

**Rappel**

Ce mois-ci lors de la rencontre CyberSocial, Entreprise Grand Moncton sera des nôtres lors du prochain CyberSocial le 8 mars 2006, pournous faire la présentation des services et programmes disponibles en appuis aux démarrages et expansions d'entreprises dans le Grand Moncton.En tant qu'ancien Agent de développement entrepreneuriat jeunesse, Patrick Goguen encourageait l'entrepreneuriat chez nos jeunes? de moins de 35 ans et démystifiait le processus de démarrage d'entreprises au Grand Moncton (ancien étant donné qu'il changera bientôt de poste!)

À la lumière de la journée internationale de la femme, Betty DeMerchant, une des seules femmes membres de Rising Stars 2005, sera parmi nous sur notre "Soapdot!"

Aussi, nous avons un invité spécial qui nous revient - Gair Maxwell, sera le facilitateur de notre activité de réseautage.

Also Jules Leger and myself will be at the cybersocial to answer any questions concerning Geeks on Ice and geeks Golf. See you there...

Trevor Macausland
Geeks on Ice/Geeks Golf Organizer
W: 506-855-0005
H: 506-852-8096
Email: tmacausland@gmail.com
www.GeeksonIce.com

The goal of Geeks on Ice and Geeks Golf is to serve as a networking catalyst and promotion for knowledge industry firms and professionals from all over the region. The unique focus of GOI is the fact that each team must consist of players who work in an IT related profession either in IT, insurance, banking, contact centers or businesses that specialize in the transfer of knowledge.

How to play Geeks Golf

The revolutionary 18-hole Indoor Golf Game will challenge every aspect of your golf game, including your drives, irons, wedges, chipping, and of course putting.

Here is how it works:

• You hit your golf ball from a synthetic golf matt


• Hit the golf ball towards targets that are suspended from the top of the Dome


• The targets are at different heights and lengths


• A scorecard will indicate which targets to hit on each hole


• After you attempt to hit your last target of the hole, you then chip or putt on the green


• Count all your strokes, mark your score on the scorecard, then go to the next hole

Example

Hole #1 is a par 4

You have to hit your drive towards the Rogers Digital target. The recommended club is a driver.

Your next shot is to hit the Top Flite target which is 50 feet up in the air, 50

feet away from you. The recommended club is a 7-iron.

You next shot will be on the putting green that is located behind the golf matts

Finish the hole by putting out. Mark your score on the scorecard

The scorecard will indicate the other targets you need to hit for the next hole

Hazards:

Watch out for the water hazard and the Out of Bounds hazards. These are indicated in the scorecard.

Don't Play Hockey? Be a Golf Geek Instead!

Geeks on Ice expands to include Geeks Golf - and a contest to Putt to Win $10k!

The 2006 Geeks on Ice Committee is pleased to announce the first annual Geeks Golf tournament to be held during the Geeks on Ice hockey tournament, proceeds of which will also go towards purchasing computers and peripherals for Support for Single Parents.

"We are so excited to be partnering with the Geeks on Ice organizers for this tournament," says Jules Leger, President of Dundee Sportsdome. "This is the perfect opportunity for those in the knowledge industry who don't play hockey to come out and support this wonderful charity, network with peers and get in a round of golf before the season starts."

The golf tournament is a scramble format and open to individuals belonging to knowledge economy firms like call center, IT, insurance, banking and consulting. Teams of four will tee off starting on Thursday April 20^th, with the final being held Saturday evening during GeekFest, also to be held at the Dundee Sports Dome featuring music by DJ Scotty J.

The entrance fee of $40.00 per player includes a two hour, 18 hole game of golf, pizza for your foursome, and admission to the GeekFest on Saturday night. The tournament features a putting contest for all registered golf players, where someone could walk away with $10,000!

Players looking to register a golf team (or those individuals looking to play) should contact the Dundee SportsDome at 382-PLAY (7529) or email at info@sportsdome.ca or visit our website at www.sportsdome.ca or download our information PDF(Right click here, Save As...)

There are sponsorship opportunities available to interested companies. Please contact Dawn Mallyon, Sponsorship and Marketing Chair at dmallyon@gmail.com for further information.

Please bookmark www.geeksonice.com to watch for further developments and announcements.

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