Hi everyone,
It is going to be hard to summarise the #bestsummitever but I’m going to have a try. I’ve made a public Google Photos album which has most of my summit people images in it. The Summit content is covered under an NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) so we’re all a bit limited in what we can say.
36 Walk Summit Edition
Just before the summit got underway, I ran a special edition of the 36 Walk to commemorate the summit and to offer a bonding event for the people who hadn’t been getting together already at the pre-summit activities. You can read a recap of that walk here.
Who went?
151 Local Guides from around the world all lived, ate, attended summit activities and became family. Like the 16 summit nearly everyone dived into the summit head first and the socialising was going full blast. Even an introvert like me had no shortage of people to interact with. Most of us became very close over the three days making friendships that will go on. Why 151? Wasn’t it meant to be 150? One person who thought they were not going to get their visa in time was replaced by a local person then their visa came through. So we had an extra.
Events
Hyatt Centric Fishermans Wharf: Opening Party
Google Tech Corners (Sunnyvale): Sessions where the Local Guides, Maps, Project X and other programs were revealed to us and feedback opportunities in breakout sessions on various topics.
Googleplex (Mountainview): Android Garden, Visitors Centre and Store
Google Athletics and Recreation (GARfield) Park: Social dinner, games and entertainment
Presidio Golden Gate Centre: Panel sessions and break out sessions on all sorts of LG related topics.
Public Works (Mission): Closing party with games, murals, awards, socials, dinner and drinks.
Family
The summit atmosphere and the sameness of the people who go (thinking of others, joint interests) along with the diversity of persons from around the world generates something unique that I’ve only ever experienced at the summit. Together we become a family. People are at ease with each other. I think I hugged and was hugged back possibly thousands of times. It’s a great happy experience. One that the attendees will remember. It sounds a little corny but the summit genuinely gives me hope for this blue/green ball we float around on in space. The summit proves that it is possible for people of huge cultural and racial differences to interact and be happy with each other singly and together. All it takes is combined purpose and thinking and a desire to be family of humanity. This is the real perk of being a Local Guide. We’re making the world smaller. We’re improving tollerance for those who are different. We’re making a global community. We are Local Guides.
Connect Moderators
Within the great LG community here on Connect, a few of us help keep things running smoothly here, answering questions, moving posts, killing spam,etc. Most of is attended the summit and got to meet each other and had a great time. Being able to meet each other helps us to better understand each other which in turn helps us to work better together to serve you.
My little surprise from the Googlers
During the closing party the Googlers chose Local Guides to receive awards for many things that they did either before or during the summit. I was so surprised when my name was called and I received recognition and a thank-you for organising the World Wide 36 Walk and contributing to improving the Meetup system earlier this year. The objective of the walk is to help people to improve the quality of their photography which for Local Guides leads to better quality submissions to Maps. It is always so cool to hear your name called for something like this to be singled out among the top Local Guides around the world is an honour.
Post Summit Surprise Tour
Local SF @KarenVChin organised a special tour of the Google San Francisco offices including the . We roamed the building getting a bit of a taste for the lives of Googlers. Highlights included seeing
- the views from the offices (inside and out)
- the typical working areas
- some of the relaxation and quiet working areas
- kitchens (where I named some of our party Locust Guides - I guess they were hungry)
- bars
How do you get picked?
A lot of people knowing that I’ve been to two of the summits ask me how to get picked. Well, it’s actually quite easy. All you need to do is
- treat the Local Guides program as a way of helping other people and being selfless - forget about how many kudos and boasting about levels - it’s fine to be happy about those things, but that’s about you - the summit is recognition of your service to others via the Local Guides program
- be a positive friendly helpful contributor here on Connect
- contribute good quality reviews, photos, edits on Maps
- take part in Missions on Maps
- run a meetup or other activity that stands out
- write about yourself well in the application
- create a quirky video that gets remembered
- be really bloody lucky!
The Googlers
The LG team and others who come in for the summit put their heart into this event. They do everything possible for the Local Guides within reason. They put in a staggering amount of work for the purpose of keeping us useful, entertained and happy. At the same time they manage to enjoy the summit with us as part of the family.
In conclusion, the catch phrase for this summit really did ring true. Best Summit Ever. Having the privilege of attending two summits has been mind blowing. I can only hope that I get to go again next year.
That’s it, it’s a wrap for another year. The 151 are still in touch via the hangout setup by the attendees and we still chat continuously. Many of us are organising trips to visit each other around the world.
I’m really thankful to have been able to go again. If by some freaky chance I get picked a third time I think I’ll start in New York to visit the main home of Local Guides.
Of course, last but not least my friend @TraciC and I got do so some jumping together 
Thanks for reading this far, Paul.
