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On the eve of heading out on a cruise to completely relax for a week, I'm pondering......
On Monday, I returned from ten days in Austin. They were ten of the most exhausting, rewarding days of my life. Last year, in Chicago, I attended my first Yearly Kos Convention. I happened to run into Gina and volunteered to help out in 2008, as I had some experience with exhibit halls and with convention selling. I was then introduced to Linda Lee and Carolyn Dulchinos, and cards were exchanged. I followed up in September, and before long, the volunteer position of Exhibit Hall Manager was mine.
I had no idea what I was getting into.
It was aggravating, rewarding, stressful, hilarious, frustrating, drama filled, and above all, friendship building. The positives far outweighed the negatives, and I wouldn't change this experience for the world.
So now, post conference, we're in the information and feedback gathering stage. Our wonderful chairman of the board, AdamB, has been tenacious in requesting and responding to feedback. We've learned a lot of lessons and have great plans for implementing as many suggestions as we can for next year. I love that this event is heading into its fourth production.
If you think about its origins - a group of volunteers headed by Gina Cooper that decided, "hey, this would be a good idea", to where it is today - a conference that looks and feels more structured and well put together than gatherings hosted by organizations with a far larger staff - well, it's just amazing. As of today, Netroots Nation has just four full time employees, and about the same number of key volunteers who donate as much time as they are able. In the run up to the opening of the convention, sixteen to twenty hour days were the norm. Seven days a week. During the convention, the days were no shorter, but they were a hell of a lot of fun because we were with everyone else, and we were seeing what we've worked so hard on for a year come off with relatively few glitches. And the thanks and kudos from the attendees could not be more welcome - to each and every person who took the time to thank us, we thank you - those simple gestures mean much more to us than you can know.
I would like to address a few things that have been floating around the tubes:
Speakers
While the meat of the conference are the panels and the people who attend from all over to learn from each other and make those valuable connections, the big name speakers can add excitement, bring in new people and make the press nuts. However - scheduling these big names can be a little challenging, to say the least.
SO... when Al Gore's people contact us and say here's his timeframe, can you make it work? We do. We'd have loved to have Al as our Saturday night keynote, along with Donna Edwards. Unfortunately, this just wasn't possible. In addition, Al Gore was NOT brought in to rescue Speaker Pelosi. Her time slot was always an hour, and as I said, that time slot was the only time Vice President Gore was available. As far as the surprise (even if it was one of the worst kept secrets at the Kos party), the lack of publicity was at the request of Vice President Gore's staff. - You should have seen Mary's face when she was told she could not use it to pull in more Media!
Van Jones was out of the country until Saturday night. We'd also have loved to have him speak in a higher profile slot, but in my opinion the effort that he made to attend this convention speaks volumes. I also know that we're reaching out to him to have a bigger profile role next year.
Likewise, when Gov. Don. Siegelman's people contacted us to let us know that he was able to participate in Netroots Nation, but his time window was severely limited, we jumped at the chance, and made space for him.
Venue
We tried selecting venues by throwing darts at a map, but Nolan sucks at darts and they kept landing somewhere in the Labrador Sea, so that didn't work. Seriously, when trying to determine what our options are for future Netroots Nation locations, we take into account the things that are crucial to our attendees and we put these criteria into our search for venues. We are trying to be as even handed as possible with geographic selection. Next year, we're on the eastern side of the country. 2010 will see a return to the western portion of the country. For 2011 and beyond we will continue to look at New Orleans while also seeking to sustain the same geographical diversity we've had in our first five years.
The reality of planning an event like this is that you have to be able to plan ahead, and not all venues can handle our needs. I was delighted that we were able to put in the not insignificant effort (while working to put on this year's convention) to nail down a site for 2009. Being able to select a site a year or two in advance means better prices for our attendees. It also means that we have more and better options to choose from.
We are continuing to work toward making our conference affordable and accessible to as many as possible. Our sponsors and exhibitors are very instrumental in this endeavor. For example, a full conference registration in Pittsburgh without participation of our sponsors and exhibitors would cost upwards of $900.
At any rate, I'll be happy to answer any questions in the comments. Much as I love you guys--it's my holiday! Love the constructive criticism--please keep it in that vein? In addition, I invite you to continue the discussion over at our feedback site: http://getsatisfaction.com/... We are listening and have a 22 page (and growing) document filled with great suggestions to improve upon 2008 and make 2009 the best Netroots Nation ever.
Finally, please consider volunteering - this effort cannot be successful without the willingness of people to volunteer. I met so many really great people this year because they just stepped in and did what needed to be done. If you're interested, you can send an email to marna@netrootsnation.org and I'll make sure you're on my volunteer database!
Without further ado, here's what you all came for - tonight's Top Comments!
From noweasels:
Mnemosyne schools Meteor Blades on the essential graf in any "Bin Laden captured" story, particularly one datelined "Dallas."
Dallasdoc on why the media can't disguise reality anymore.
Hellenic Pagan provides a first-hand look (and unique perspective) on the Bush Administration's agenda for our National Parks in mcjoan's superb front-page post An $8500 Ticket to Yellowstone.
Inventor coins the perfect bumper sticker slogan.
From Trashablanca:
I had to submit this because I laughed all through this thread:
Dear Laura and Ge0rge:
From jlms qkw:
nonnie9999 regularly entertains the diary rescue folks with a mocked up dvd cover. she had a special request for the new mccain ad, and made this for us:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
From marykk:
Marykk felt that this comment from carver in GregMitch's diary needed to be submitted
From Rachel Griffiths:
Visceral's direct, honest response makes me wish I had 'gilly weed' There aren't enough lifeboats for everyone
and surviving what's to come is going to require us to grow gills and fins.
My picks:
zic had this comment that just spoke to me in nathanrudy's diary. From the same diary, this thread did as well. I feel like a zic stalker!
this comment from happy camper makes a very good point, in zenbowl's diary about Fox's antics.
MLDB gives us this beautiful vision of the future in Sweet Liberty's diary.
Clyde the Cat perfectly captures one of the main reasons I come here with this single comment.
Fasaha starts of a hilarious thread here.
Top Mojo tonight is courtesy of Brillig:
Top 31 (ties included) comments excluding search-identifiable tip jars and first comments:
1) You think they care? by RonV — 177
2) As I noted elsewhere recently..... by dweb8231 — 169
3) Stupid, stupid New York Times . . . by nyceve — 167
4) Fuck off. by noweasels — 99
5) Two parts not caring, three parts incompetence. by VirginiaDem — 97
6) Producer Chris on Stephanie Miller... by daulton — 94
7) Older voters know he's too old by hackwriter — 91
8) out...48-41 by DemDog — 86
9) Ha! So he only meant to lie to his family by citizenx — 83
10) especially after eight years ... by MikeTheLiberal — 81
11) Who are you? by Califlander — 79
12) The media can't disguise reality anymore by Dallasdoc — 78
13) You're lying. He called them. by slinkerwink — 75
14) But its not by real world chick — 70
15) This guy is a real weasel by jenontheshore — 69
16) By achieving such high poll numbers, by WIds — 64
17) This is bad news for Obama somehow...... by citizenx — 63
18) If adultery is a disqualifier.... by 8ackgr0und N015e — 63
19) Hmmmm, what happened by Frankenoid — 62
20) SUMMARY: (warning: hijacking) by homunq — 61
21) And the media won't cover this by VirginiaDem — 60
22) The ghost of Molly Ivins by Randgrithr — 60
23) Good Morning, Gardeners! by PhillyGal — 59
24) My very conservative boss surprised me at work by Happy Days — 59
25) Because harassing him would make things better? by sheddhead — 58
26) Presumptuous by AndrewMC — 58
27) This little bird by Kayakbiker — 57
28) Rocky Mountain Wildflower explosion by Brahman Colorado — 57
29) Broccoli! by nika7k — 56
30) As I said in the other diary by jenontheshore — 56
31) Excellent, Eve. by TomP — 56
Top comments (ties included) with no exclusions:
1) tips for the truth by zenbowl — 471
2) Amazing by VirginiaDem — 397
3) tips, comments, attacks etc by testvet6778 — 330
4) Tip Jar by Erik W — 328
5) tip jajr by nathanrudy — 281
6) Tips for Bob Herbert by LaughingPlanet — 261
7) I want the same kind of attention ... by Meteor Blades — 256
8) Tips n/t by DanK Is Back — 202
9) Oh, AND... by JeffLieber — 186
10) Are you a so-called uninsurable? by nyceve — 180
11) You think they care? by RonV — 177
12) As I noted elsewhere recently..... by dweb8231 — 169
13) Stupid, stupid New York Times . . . by nyceve — 167
14) Here's to Zeleny for not holding a grudge by Tax problems — 107
15) I hope I don't have a heart attack before by secret38b — 105
16) Tip Jar by sheddhead — 103
17) Fuck off. by noweasels — 99
18) Two parts not caring, three parts incompetence. by VirginiaDem — 97
19) Producer Chris on Stephanie Miller... by daulton — 94
20) Older voters know he's too old by hackwriter — 91
21) 9 Minutes till Gallup comes out! by jenontheshore — 88
22) out...48-41 by DemDog — 86
23) Ha! So he only meant to lie to his family by citizenx — 83
24) especially after eight years ... by MikeTheLiberal — 81
25) Who are you? by Califlander — 79
26) Dammit, tip the trip jar. by eclecticbrotha — 79
27) It s been peaceful week by Ed in Montana — 78
28) The media can't disguise reality anymore by Dallasdoc — 78
29) You're lying. He called them. by slinkerwink — 75
30) This is good stuff on a Friday nite, MB by St Louis Woman — 74