My name is Teemu Rytkönen and I am a package owner for two symbian foundation packages (SW Configuration apps, SW Configuration mdw). Lars asked if I could try write a few lines about the Towel day event, that was kept in Turku 25.5.2009. And of course I volunteered with great enthusiasm 
The day started off by a gathering to a old steamboat named S/S Ukkopekka. In which we were aiming to start the cruise at 11:30 for a two hour cruise along the Aurajoki river. I think we were few minutes late, but did not bother anybody. We received the most important thing for a package owner when arrived to boat, towel day towels that say; “Don’t PANIC!”
The weather was great and people were relaxed and in live discussion already before the free beers, which is quite rare in event that mostly includes Finns Mr Lee Williams gave us quite inspiring opening words as we cruised off the peer. After lunch we had few workshops on three different topic and I don’t remember all of them. Only the one that I attended, which was about SEE (Symbian Exchange & Exposition). The SEE is basically a the open source replacement for Symbian Smartphone events and the first SEE is going to be kept on October 2009.
During the workshop one clear doubt or concern was repeatedly brought up by different package owners, which was that;
How can I get people to contribute to my package?
So main concern was, that how can we build a successfull community around Symbian foundation? Everyone recognizes that this is a exellent opportunity, but the setup it is quite a new scenario from anything seen before.
Generally speaking the event was a huge success, thanks to Lars and all Symbian foundation people who arranged. I for one had great fun and I believe that so did everyone else. Looking forward for the October SEE and next Towel Day!
So, Thanks for all the fish/beer
Ps. See more pictures of the event at Towelday09
great to hear it form you Teemu!
Glad you enjoyed the event. Thanks for sharing.
Hmph, “Symbian Exchange Exhibition” … Not too bad, but might confuse with SonyEricsson Exhibition
Hi Teemu,
There are people out there with something to contribute, so I think the next step towards a successful community is to get those contributions accepted into the code. That needs to be done in a visible way: “I can see that X has had a contribution accepted, perhaps I can make one as well…”.
I have some suggestions for how to do this now, even before everyone is fully up to speed with Mercurial – if any package owners or potential contributors want to get going on this, please contact me or Lars,
William Roberts (williamr@symbian.org)
Hi Teemu
Is the new SEE going to be different to the Smartphone show?
Hi!
I haven’t been to the smartphone shows, so cannot compare. But to my understanding, yes. It aims to more of an open source conference and get together for anyone interested or involved with Symbian foundation.
[...] you can be part of the process, I’ll describe the event that resulted in two of the programs. On Towel Day, while my colleagues Lars and John were on the lower deck of the boat talking to the members who are [...]