Who goes to the VM Workshop?

Systems programmers from all facets of the computer industry make their way to the Workshop each year. They come from colleges and universities (both large and small), public utilities, vendors and even Fortune 500 corporations.

A few have even become fanatics. Here is what some have done to get to past VM Workshops:

Ride A Bicycle 200 Miles

One Chicagoan has ridden his bicycle to VM Workshops in Indianapolis and East Lansing, Michigan.

Drive Twelve Hours with Three of Your Coworkers?

And then there are the state university VMers who spend four, two, four, twelve or even twenty-four hours together in a car to get to the VM Workshop. And back home again. And again the next year.

Ride a Motorcycle Across America

One former VM'er was famous for riding his motorcycle to every Workshop, no matter how far. His record was from Connecticut to Provo, Utah, by way of Canada.

Cross the Atlantic?

Is the VM Workshop worth the cost of a trans-Atlantic airfare? According to some European VMers, yes!

Cross the Pacific?

There are even Asians and Australians who have made the trip.

Broke the Piggy Bank

Unfortunately, every year, there are a few managers who don't have even a modest amount to send someone to the VM Workshop. And every year, a few people decide that the VM Workshop is too valuable to them. They'd rather pay their own way than miss it.

Agree to Host the VM Workshop?

It's true. One VMer, faced with spending a week away from her pre-schoolers or missing the VM Workshop, decided to avoid that dilemma in the future by volunteering to host an upcoming VM Workshop.

The VM Workshop: Some people will do almost anything to attend!