You know Netroots Nation. It's in Minneapolis. From June 16th to the 19th. That's 13 days from now. So you better register quickly. And book your hotel room and flight as well!
This will be my 6th Yearly Kos/Netroots Nation. Yup, I've been there every year.
There are 2 conferences I go to every year. BookExpo, 'cause I'm crazy mad for books and it's my job. And Netroots Nation. 'Cause it's my chance to reconnect to all of you.
Follow my below the fold.
And go register!
Any of you who know me would be shocked to hear that I spent practically the entire first Yearly Kos by myself. I was the person in the back of the room, going from panel to panel, never saying a word. Until Saturday night. When Elise and her sister Whitney invited me to join them at their table. Thanks to them I met fellow Southern California natives thereisnospoon and The KK and his brother Dante Atkins. And openDNA and Reality Bites Back. That's right, I met for the first time people who live about 25 miles from me. We spent a good portion of the night talking about things going on here in California. And that conversation continued throughout the course of the next year.
Cut to Yearly Kos in Chicago. Where, as you all know, Kossacks emptied out the bar. It was the first year of the Chairman's Quiz. Kid Oakland was on my team. As was MarkH, of Biomes Blog fame. Legend of California politics Tom Hayden played with us for a while. (He wasn't very good. ;-) ) We didn't do well. That year I met withthelidoff and dday and Laura Van and Todd Beeton and Brian Leubitz. Really, it's a continuing theme, flying (or driving) across the country to meet Californians. And GoldnI, who's now a Californian. I hugged the wonderful Ellicat and Dreaming of Better Days, who I'd wanted to meet for ages.
Austin was hot. And completely lacking a patio. But I finally met Michael (Common Sense Mainer and Bill in Portland Maine. And the Rescue Rangers, who I'd completely missed out on meeting the year before. And Navajo. Land of Enchantment took a picture of my shoes. (it didn't make her diary.) Team Calitics made a strong showing in the Chairman's Quiz.
Pittsburgh was amazing. I made Laura Van walk all over the City with me. I got to meet nerdette, who is an amazing community organizer. I got a chance to reconnect with Sharoney. There was a lot of karaoke in a very small bar. Vicky Roush and Adam Green and Adam Lambert and Paul Hogarth entertained us all greatly.
And last year we were back in Las Vegas. Glorious, loud, brash Las Vegas. I'd argue a completely different conference from the first YK. But no way less. Netroots Nation is continuously growing and evolving under the very able Mary Rickles and Raven Brooks and Nolan Treadway, along with the other dedicated staff, like Eric Thut and Karen Kolber.
That first year I sat in the back and didn't know a soul.
Last year it felt like I couldn't turn around without seeing a familiar face. (And in Las Vegas, you know that's hard.)
Come to Netroots Nation. Come for the stupendous speakers. Come for the informative panels. And come and reconnect with your community. You know you want to.