As Chairman of the Board of Directors of Netroots Nation, I'm thrilled to announce that it's time to start setting the agenda for Netroots Nation 2009 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Over the next four (and hopefully eight, and beyond) years, we have a remarkable opportunity to work together to push progressive policy into legislation. There's no better place to strategize our priorities and plan how to make them a reality than at Netroots Nation, the grassroots event of the year.
In order to create the most well-rounded agenda possible, we need your input. Can you help us develop and organize the sessions that you’ll attend at Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh —- and help shape the conversation for progressives in 2009?
It's easy to get involved. Click here to submit your idea for an engaging session that will bring in multiple perspectives on a relevant issue. The deadline for submission is March 31.
We want to see proposals on key issues like the economy, health care and energy policy. And we also want to include sessions about successful offline and online organizing tactics. You should take a look at last year's agenda to get a better sense as to what we've done in the past, but you're certainly not limited to that in any way, and we certainly welcome your creativity in thinking about lively session formats -- because "moderator + 4 speakers on a dais" is by no means the only way to do things.
Speaking of changing things up, we listened to your concerns about feeling overwhelmed last year, especially on Saturday, so look at the new schedule -- we are going to start doing substantive panels Thursday morning this year while spreading the caucuses throughout the schedule, with Sunday devoted to community service in Pittsburgh rather than more events in the Convention Center. (In other words, if you don't show up until late Thursday afternoon, you will miss out on stuff.) We're also going to try to have fewer things going on at once during each session -- last year's grid (PDF) presenting as many as 12 must-see events at once meant that not everyone could attend everything they wanted, which was a shame both for you as attendees as well as for our speakers, who spend a great amount of time preparing for the conference and want to reach as wide an audience as possible.
We want this year's agenda to reflect your interests. And your interests are best expressed by your proposal.
When you're brainstorming, here are a few things to think about:
Click here to read the full list of guidelines and submit your idea.
By submitting a proposal, you are taking responsibility as the organizer of the session. We’ll help you along the way, but ultimately, it’s your baby, and you'll need to secure the participants, determine the contours of your session and promote the heck out of it in the months leading into NN09.
This is just one way you can get more deeply involved in the Netroots community. Will you join us?
Thanks in advance for helping us plan the best Netroots gathering ever!
P.S. If you haven't registered yet, click here to reserve your spot and get the lowest rate. And if you're a student, be sure to take advantage of our special $50 student rate!