After a highly successful inaugural event in April, Ignite Lincoln is coming back January 20 with another series of amusing, rapid-fire, five minute presentations on a multitude of topics. Ignite Lincoln will bring the community some enlightened local entertainment.

Ignite Lincoln is currently calling for presentation submissions from speakers of all backgrounds to create a five-minute talk that will inspire, teach, make people think or make them laugh. Prospective speakers are invited to submit their presentation outline at Ignite Lincoln’s website, http://ignitelincoln.org. Approximately 16 speakers will be selected to give their talk on stage at the Bourbon Theatre, downtown.

The Ignite format consists of giving each presenter 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds following the motto of “enlighten us, but make it quick.” Selected speakers will include entrepreneurs, technologists, do-it-yourselfers, creative professionals and enthusiastic knowledge-seekers.

The first Ignite Lincoln event, in April, included presenters who gave talks about diverse topics, ranging from building a community to skydiving, and included speakers like Tom Casady, Lincoln’s chief of police, and Jay Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Firespring. The venue ended in a full house with standing room only. Videos of the presentations are available on the Ignite Lincoln website.

Ignite Lincoln is part of a series of global events. Ignite started in Seattle in December 2006 as a way for people to share their ideas with their local community. Since then, over 200 Ignite events have been shared all over the world.

The deadline to submit presentation ideas is December 13th. The event will take place at the Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O Street, from 7 to 9 p.m. on January 20, 2011. Tickets are free. Full details about Lincoln’s semi-annual event are available at ignitelincoln.org.

More about the event organizers
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Justin McDowell is Ignite Lincoln’s organizer. Having organized several successful small-scale events, he decided to take the reins on a city-wide project that would bring inspiration and goodwill to Lincoln’s community. His alter ego is a web designer for the Arbor Day Foundation and he also maintains his website at revoltpuppy.com.

Recently having finished his masters in theoretical ecology, Aaron Alai is volunteering for the Ignite Lincoln event because it parallels his main interest. He is passionate about bridging the information gap between professionals and the general public. He typically uses physical computing to educate the public but wants to learn more about different avenues of getting the general public interested in learning.

Beckie Albee brings her marketing, event planning and volunteer experience to Ignite Lincoln. She loves living in Lincoln and is passionate about community involvement. She was excited to volunteer with Ignite Lincoln because it’s a great opportunity for community members to come together, share new ideas, inspire others and entertain. By day, Beckie works as a Communications Specialist at Lincoln Benefit Life.

Ali Schwanke is an avid marketing professional and entrepreneur. She spends her time planning and executing marketing strategies for Leadership Resources. She is also the owner of alisonanne.com, where she freelances photography and marketing consulting. Ali is passionate about sharing creative ideas and engaging the community of Lincoln through Ignite Lincoln and similar types of events.

Rachael Wells is an environmental artist whose day job is an Organic Research Technician. She is passionate about participating in and exploring the diversity of Lincoln.

Ellen Wright, an Environmental Health Educator, relishes engrossing speeches and discussions that both entertain and push one’s frame of mind. Looking to connect diverse groups of people in Lincoln and facets of thinking,  Wright joined Ignite Lincoln.

Dave Gilsdorf is new to the Ignite Lincoln team. Having been impressed by the April event, he hopes to help make each event even better than the last. During the day he is a software developer for National Research Corp.