GnomeDex, a blogger tech conference in downtown Seattle the week after next, features
Sen. John Edwards (D-NC).
The senator is a long-standing supporter of technology - including podcasting and blogging. Every year, we wonder how we're going to top ourselves. When conversations started with Senator John Edwards' office, they were intrigued and enthralled with our approach to content! Senator Edwards will quickly turn his time over to the Gnomedex audience, fielding questions and fostering discussion over how technology could and should play a role in our world. This is fantastic! I'm sure you'll agree, no matter your political persuasion. This is a tremendous opportunity to have your voice heard. Does anybody know any political bloggers out there? I don't know any
(that last part is snark, BTW)
I credit the yearlyKos exposure for the prospective (presumptive?) candidates and other party leaders who showed up there to talk, and, more importantly, to listen, with helping bring this about.
I've got a ticket! Background and a call for your questions and comments, below the fold.
I'll be signing up with
ePluribusMedia to do some reporting from the event (although I expect it to be very well-covered given that 98% of the attendees are bloggers), and soliciting questions here (not just for the Senator, but for the other bloggers as well). Please add in comments, should you feel inspired:
what should we be asking? What sets the right frame for the coming race?
Here's the basics of the event, which uses an unconference format that's a little more free-form than yKos, with designated discussion leaders that help break out of the stage-vs-audience format some of us struggled with in some sessions:
Gnomedex is a Tech Conference- Who? Influencers, Entrepreneurs, and Enthusiasts!
- What? A confluence of leading bloggers and new media!
- When? This summer, June 29 - July 1, 2006!
- Where? Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle, WA!
- How? Tickets are available now! Almost sold out!
- Why? Because all things are possible!
Another attempt at describing it should sound familiar to yKos participants:
- Business Models Brought to Life
- The People Aggregator
- Movers, Shakers, & Deal Makers
- A tap into the Conversation Economy
- Thought Leaders, Industry Influencers, Entrepreneurs
- Continuous online conversation and PR
- The most affordable conference of its kind
- Important for new, existing company strategies
- Essential for the success of Internet businesses
- An annual conference that sells out early
- Hoping you'll register today!
I had an intuition about this event early this year based my experience there last year (where Microsoft used it to announce RSS support in Windows Vista, but for me the person-to-person connections were what really mattered), so bought not just one but an extra ticket (assuming that a friend would be able to join me); they're now sold out (for the main hall) and a healthy secondary market has developed, so I might even be able to cover my costs in the process. My primary motivation was to do outreach around the concept of living in community/aging in community (as I did at my yKos table), and that will remain my focus.
A special call-out to all you early risers in Newfoundland and Labrador (congrats on the name change, folks, I guess I was kinda distracted and missed that), you get first dibs. What should we be asking Edwards, and the bloggers there?