I just had a comment from Adam Osborne asking about whether Fusion was discussed at the Ed Brill event in my writeup - I started to kick off a response, but once it got to 3 paragraphs, I thought it deemed a top level entry.

I didn't put it in the entry, but yes - there was some talk.. not completely sure of the intention behind it, but there was a "questionaire" that everyone filled out which asked if you would attend a Lotus Fusion-type event.. and whether you'd pay, and how long it should go for etc... It was Lotus-branded so hopefully that shows that it is at least being considered again.

I hope/expect they would get an overwhelming response of "Yes" - I know of a lot of people who wrote on the last set of feedback forms "Bring Back Fusion!" so hopefully that has converted into a 100% success rate requesting a Fusion-like event to be held regularly again in Australia... it's been too long between drinks for something good in the Australian developer market...

One of the things that I desperately hope isn't going to happen is that we get sold on a Fusion-like event, we all toddle along full of expectation and we end up seeing marketing presentations for a couple of days. There are many people that I've met over the last couple of years who are capable (and willing - if you assume conversations held in late night conference-related drinking sessions actually reflect their willingness) to do some good technical presentations then it would be a shame not to see it happen.

I'm not sure of the logistics, but given a few of the slides from Lotusphere, I know of a few business partners and interested parties who would be more than capable of presenting the same content with a little bit of local flavour kicked in the spice things up.

let's wait and see I guess....

The next question is "Where do you want it to be held?" - in your hometown/major city (Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane I would suggest as top runners), or somewhere exotic (hmmm.. does the Qld Coast qualify as "exotic"?)

Well, last night we went to the potential re-launch of the Sydney Lotus User Group (SLUG - *ahem* - a name change is in the works - Lotus Energizers is the current incarnation - not sure if I like the "z" in Energizers but what can you do?)

Anyway, it was a great turnout for the event - approximately 110 people registered, we were warned that the room only held 60, but that wasn't enough to stop people from seeing the great Ed Brill in person - I think we would have hit the hundred mark in attendance (plus a few IBMers).

From the start, let me say that I was impressed with the night, very pleased with the attendance, and very happy that we went along (it was counter-directional to our trip home so we had to leave the city to go to the presentation and then return home via work).

My favourite moment was at the very start when Ed walked down the corridor to the front of the room... the hush that fell over the crowd which, seconds before, was filled with 50 different conversations and mobile phone calls, there was an air of expectation that Ed was about to launch into an Anthony Robbins-like experience which would change the world. Seriously, if Ed had asked everyone to chant "Go you big red fire engine" it would have lifted the roof.

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