verb: engage; 3rd person present: engages; past tense: engaged; past participle: engaged; gerund or present participle: engaging
1. occupy or attract (someone's interest or attention).
"he ploughed on, trying to outline his plans and engage Sutton's attention"
synonyms: capture, catch, arrest, grab, seize, draw, attract, gain, win, captivate, hold, grip, engross, absorb, occupy
"the tasks must engage the children's interest"
involve someone in (a conversation or discussion).
"they attempted to engage Anthony in conversation"
2. participate or become involved in.
"organizations engage in a variety of activities"
synonyms: participate in, take part in, join in, become involved in, go in for, partake in/of, occupy oneself with, throw oneself into; share in, play a part in, play a role in, be a participant in, be associated with, have a hand in, be a party to, enter into, undertake, embark on, set about, launch into
"they like to engage in active sports"
establish a meaningful contact or connection with.
"the teams needed to engage with local communities"
Organizing a Lotus User Group and events for free (for attendees), can only be done by the generosity of sponsors.
We've only started a few years ago, and we already have over 800 members.
For our next 2-day event, coming up on March 31th - April 1st, 2011, we expect around 250 attendees (per day), consisting of both Business Partners and End-Users.
We'll have many famous speakers from around the world, and our keynote speaker will be a top executive from IBM: Kevin Cavanaugh (IBM Vice President Messaging and Collaboration Products).
In 2010, Alistair Rennie was our honored guest; in 2009 we had Ed Brill.
BLUG gives you the opportunity to meet and present your products and services to the top Lotus users in Belgium, Luxembourg, and surrounding countries.
This year, the event is taking place at the Crowne Plaza hotel, in Antwerp, Belgium. This hotel has excellent facilities and is very well located.
We got 4 simultaneous sessions in 3 tracks. All session rooms have direct access to the lounge. Here is where the lunch and coffee is served, and where the sponsor booths are located too. This way you'll have plenty of exposure.
For each booth, we provide a (high or standard height) table, your own custom roll-up banner with your logo and website, a power plug and wireless internet. Of course you can bring your own (limited) booth material (max. 8 m2).
You need to bring your own PC/Laptops, monitors (don't forget adapter plugs).
If you are giving away a prize for the raffle during the Closing Session, make sure you bring a 'jar' to collect business cards.
On Wednesday you can set up your booth as of 17.30h. The conference area will be safely locked during non-event hours.
On Thursday evening, there as also Speedsponsoring (5-minute elevator pitch, 10 times in a row), which will help you to get your message across to all attendees.
You can always ask one of the speakers to do a speed-geeking presesentation in your booth, if you prefer that.
At the bottom of this page is a link to a form we require you to fill in.
This is the list of sponsors for 2010, and for 2009. We would like you to be there this time too, just like these generous sponsors for 2011.
We have assembled the following packages:
*Every sponsor is encouraged to submit one or more give-away for the raffle. If you do, make sure you collect business cards or custom entry forms at your booth and/or during your session.
This raffle will take place during the general closing session on Friday (we prefer you to be present).
If you want to give a donation to support BLUG, please fill in a sponsorship form too. You will be send an invoice (if you provide a VAT nr, the donation amount is VAT excl.; if no VAT nr, the amount is VAT incl.).
Content for the event guide need to be in our possession before March 1st, 2011.
If you require any further information, please contact Theo Heselmans (theo@blug.be).
Note that everyone is entitled to submit noncommercial abstracts for sessions. Here's some more information about abstracts.
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:
BLUG
Heiblokken 1
B-2250, Olen
Belgium
If you hand over those items to us at the hotel before 16.30h. on Wednesday, there is no need to ship them.
If you are too late, and the attendee bags are filled, you need to hand them out in your booth yourself.
**All submitted sessions are subject to the BLUGs approval
**We have a maximum of 4 commercial slots available per day. First come, first serve.
I have been to numerous events over the years and this was be far the best one I can remember. The structure, venue and content was great.
Wonderful event, one of the best I have been to. Focused on IBM Notes/Domino and Connections. Just what I want.
Theo (and team) did it again ! A very professional conference, with a great value for me as a Customer!
My first Engage, and despite the long travel distance for me, hopefully not the last.
It's a privilege to be able to attend Engage and this year was, most probably, one of the very best out there!!
Awesome event, for sure an organizational masterpiece. Excellent! It's hard to believe the Engage staff is not organizing conferences as principal job ;-)
It was the best event I attended so far. And I attend about 5-8 each year!
2nd time for me attending Engage, but it was incredible again! 2 days packed with extremely informational content, a great venue and a great community!
We did more business and collected more leads during Engage 2017 in Antwerp, than at IBM Connect in San Francisco.
As a first-timer I didn't really know what to expect. The organization of the event positively surprised me!
A premiere event that rivals anything produced by any other organization. Great job...AGAIN!!!
It's a treat to always keep coming back for more! Well done, once again, and look forward to the 10th edition next year!
It is mind boggling to see two people create an event that rivals those put on by larger vendors with dozens of resources.
And huge thanks to Theo and the others for giving me my first international speaking engagement!
Theo is a legend, Theo has style. And he is putting together the best event in this space, year after year.
Engage was my first UG as a speaker and it has developed into arguably the premier user group for ICS in Europe.
Yet again a brilliantly done event. One that is used as the yard-stick by which all other user group events are measured.
Theo and Hilde did it again: Engage was bigger than last year, venue was impressive and the event most successful.
It was a pleasure, due to the efforts of Theo his team, the sponsors, the location and the participants. Much appreciated!
I was extremely impressed on all levels. Thank you to Theo Heselmans for the opportunity to speak at this event!
I’ve been to several of the past Engage conferences and Theo always puts on a great event but this was better than ever.
What can one say about this Engage, Eindhoven, NL. It is in fact THE European user group meeting,...
Theo Heselmans has raised the bar yet again as to what can be achieved with organizing an IBM User Group event.