Organizing a User Group and events for free (for attendees), can only be done by the generosity of sponsors.

We've started about 6 years ago, and we currently have over 1100 members.


For our next 2-day event, coming up on March 17-18, 2014, we expect over 300 attendees (per day), consisting of Business Partners, End-Users and IBM-ers.
This is our 12th event/meeting!
On previous occasions, we had some famous speakers (2013) and also in 2012, 2011, 2010.
We'll have great speakers from around the world again, and our keynote speaker will be this top executive from IBM: Kramer Reeves, Director, Product Management, IBM Messaging and Collaboration Solutions
Alistair Rennie, General Manager of IBM Collaboration Solutions, has agreed to come, and do a keynote on strategy!
Louis Richardson, Social Business Evangelist and Storyteller at IBM ICS, and Scott Souder, Product Manager for IBM Notes, iNotes and IBM Connections Mail, honored us in 2013.
In 2012 Chris Crummey joined us, in 2011 Kevin Cavanaugh came, in 2010 Alistair Rennie was our honored guest; in 2009 we had Ed Brill.
Engage (by BLUG) gives you the opportunity to meet and present your products and services to the top IBM software users in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and surrounding countries.

This year, the event is taking place at the Chassé Theater in Breda (NL). This modern venue has excellent facilities and is very well located. Only 30 minutes drive from Antwerp.
There are hotels nearby. Use the hotel link for information and for better-rate room reservations.

We got 4 simultaneous sessions in 3 tracks. Most session rooms have direct access to the central lounge. Here is where the lunch and coffee is served, and where the sponsor booths are located too. This way you'll get plenty of exposure.
For each booth, we provide a at least 1 high table, 2 bar stools and your own custom roll-up banner(s) with your logo and website (printed by Engage), a power plug and wireless internet.
If you like a booth, the deadline for submitting the sponsor form is Feb. 15th.

Of course you can bring your own (limited) booth material (max. 4 m2).
You need to bring your own PC/Laptops, monitors (don't forget adapter plugs).
If you are giving away a goodie (we hope you do) during the Closing Session, for your booth visitors only, make sure you bring a 'jar' to collect business cards.
All attendee badges will have QR-code. If you scan these, you have essential info like name, company and email address.

On Monday morning (the 1st day of the event!) you can set up your booth as of 6.00h (6am)!. The conference area will be safely locked during non-event hours.
For Monday evening, we provide a social event the 'Speaker Dinner' (for speakers, Business Partner representatives (max. depending on sponsor level) and IBM delegates).
Place to be: the 'Brasserie' inside the Chassé Theater.
We'll start around 20h (8pm). Do drop in if you are late. No fixed closing time, so I guess by 11pm we'll still be there :-)

On Tuesday evening, there as also Speedsponsoring (4-minute elevator pitch, 12 times in a row), which will help you to get your message across to all attendees.
The bar is open, and we'll throw in some prizes to make it more appealing for people to stick around. Let us know if you have a special prize for Speedsponsoring.

At the bottom of this page is a link to a form we require you to fill in.

We would like you to be there this time too, just like these generous sponsors for 2014.
This is the list of sponsors for 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and for 2009.
Sponsor entries need to reach us before Feb. 20, 2014!
Due to limited number of booths, we had to decline some sponsors last time.
Don't wait too long!

We have assembled the different packages. All details in the table below.
The package fees are in EUR, exclusive VAT. If you are not located in Belgium, no VAT is charged.

IMPORTANT:
On the sponsor form, you can enter the invoice amount yourself. This allows you to donate more than the level requires.
This is the only way for us to keep this event free to attend, so please be generous!
As an incentive you can invite extra people to attend the Social Event 'Speaker Dinner' on Monday evening.
Update: Contrary to previous years, there is no longer a level-limit for Benelux Business Partners!
 
Level
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Available to
3 comp.
SOLD OUT
5 comp.
2 LEFT
12 comp.
1 LEFT
all
on or after January 20, 2014
after January 20, 2014
€ 7.500
€ 8.500
€ 4.500
€ 5.000
€ 3.000
€ 3.500
free*
Prime logo placement and info on website
-
-
-
Logo and info on website
-
Tweet when sponsorship is confirmed
-
Logo on Sponsor banners throughout the year
XL
L
M
S
Ad/Info in Event Guide
1 page
A5
1/2 page
A6
1/4 page
A7
-
Logo on cover of the Event Guide
-
-
-
Logo on attendee bag
-
-
-
Goodie or flyer for attendee bag
Booth at 2-day event
Large
Standard
Standard
-
High Table in booth
2
1
1
-
Bar stool in booth
4
2
2
-
Roll-up banner with logo
2
1
1
-
Logo in Opening Session slide
XL
L
M
-
Speedsponsoring
-
Commercial session**
1
1
-
-
People invited to the Speaker Dinner
4
3
2
1
Extra people for Speaker Dinner
(above level donations)
1/€1.000
1/€1.000
1/€1.000
-
Staff allowed to attend the event
10
7
5
2

*Free for Bronze: Freebies, give away goodies, discounts are a must!
**All submitted sessions are subject to the Engages approval

IMPORTANT: As we had some problems at previous occasions, new sponsors have to have the invoice paid, before we mention anything more than your Logo on the sponsor page.
As soon as we get your payment, we will put all your information on the page, and your logo on the homepage. We will also send a tweet about you becoming a sponsor.
For silver level and up, that also confirms your booth.

*INCENTIVE: We expect to reach the maximum number of attendees rather quickly.
We want to give priority to users/customers!
Each sponsor is therefore limited in the number of staff members they are allowed to register, depending on the level (see above)!
However, we will supply each sponsor with a unique URL. Use this URL in your mailings to your own customers, and/or on your website.
For every 4 registrations we receive, using this URL,
you are granted 1 extra staff member to attend.

Every sponsor is encouraged to submit one or more give-away for the Closing Session and/or Speedsponsoring. If you do, it's up to you to collect business cards or custom entry forms at your booth and/or during your session. You can also choose to have names picked from all attendees/speakers/sponsors.
The give-away will take place during the general Closing Session on Tuesday (we prefer you to be present).

Content for the event guide needs to be in our possession before March 1st, 2014.
Make sure your advert a good print quality letter on A4, we can resize and embed.
Platinum level: The ad size is a A5 sized paper
Gold level: The ad size is 1/2 of an A5 sized paper (thus an A6)
Silver level: The ad size is 1/4 of an A5 sized paper (thus an A7)

If you require any further information, please contact Theo Heselmans (theo@engage.ug).
Note that everyone is entitled to submit non-commercial abstracts for sessions. Here's some more information about abstracts.

Submit your sponsorship here.

If you have items (flyers, documentation, discount vouchers, CDs, pens, gadgets,...) to be included in the attendee bags (subject to our approval),
we need them at least 1 week before the event, in a minimum quantity of 300 copies. Unused copies will be returned to you at the event.
Please ship them to, BEFORE March 12th:
BLUG/Engage
Heiblokken 1
B-2250, Olen
Belgium

If you hand over those items to us at the hotel, near the venue, before 15.00h. on Sunday, there is no need to ship them.
If you are too late, and the attendee bags are already filled, you need to hand them out at your booth yourself.