Blogher Conference '07: A World of Difference

Have you ever been sitting at your computer blogging and wondered to yourself, "it would be so neat to actually meet some of my favorite bloggers"? Well hang on to your keyboards and get ready because coming July 27-28 you can have that opportunity. Blogher's A World of Difference 2007 conference will kick off in Chicago, Illinois that weekend. Events and seminars are still being planned at this time, but for now, you can visit Blogher's postings: Blogher '07: Theme, Programming Tracks and a Call for Ideas and Blogher '07: Look Out, Chicago! Location, Hotels and Buttons to read up on the seminars planned so far, hotel locations, and buttons to advertise. This is a big event for bloggers and last years conference went over very well in which Mocha Momma was an attendee and has the photos to show how much fun she had while there. To find out more about last year's conference click over to Blogher '06 Conference News to read the all of the posts of note and discover how much fun you could possibly have at this year's conference.

Tracks that have been scheduled so far include:

"Art of Life Track (2-day) Co-chairs: Kalyn Denny and Jenny Lauck

This track will be devoted to the passions about which so many of us blog...food, art, photography, crafts, knitting, writing, poetry, music and more.

Business of You Track (2-day) Co-chairs: Jan Kabili and Lena West

This track will be devoted to personal and business advancement. We expect to discuss speaker and media training, self-branding and promotion, mentoring, turning your blog into a book or a business, and perhaps even managing your time, your finances, your blogging policies and practices...the business of you.

Community Track (1-day) Co-chair: Nancy White

This track will explore the care and feeding of communities. Possible topics include building bridges between local for-profit and non-profit companies, continuing the discussion of community assistance and relief programs that was kicked off at Blogher '06, how to galvanize social change with your blogs, and wherever else the Blogher community leads us!

Identity Track (2-day) Co-chairs: Jory Des Jardins and Liz Henry

This track is about both the immutable and the dynamic aspects of our lives. Race, gender, age, sexuality, parenting, singledom, faith...many of us blog about who we are, not what we do, and this track will explore your many facets.

Politics Track (1-day) Co-chair: Lisa Stone

While Election '08 coverage and the drive to register women voters would be enough ground to cover, we're also looking to expand the Politics track beyond the U.S...should we be talking about the politics of war, about gender equity worldwide, about how different regions of the world are drawing women into the political process? You tell us.

Technical Track (2-day) Co-chairs: Barb Dybwad and Nelly Yusupova

We're calling in some gurus to help us build two days of Deeply Geeky content. Last year we covered audio, video, photography, tagging, HTML & CSS, SEO and more acronyms galore. What should we focus on this year?

In addition to the tracks above we will have some general sessions, plus some alternative spaces, like an Internet Cafe and a Collaborative Workspace. We are also considering adding an optional Sunday half-day unconference, sort of a "BlogHerCamp" and would love your feedback on that. Let us have it!"

Blogher is also asking for ideas:

The Call for Ideas

So, now is the time to start sending us your submissions. You have until March 16th.

What we're looking for:

-Session ideas. Anything from a line or two to a full session abstract or proposal will be accepted. And you can submit an idea even if you don't want to be considered as a speaker for it. -Speaker ideas. Again, we're happy to have you propose yourself, or recommend someone else.

How to submit:

Please submit via email to me and to the co-chairs for the appropriate Track. Please use [BlogHer 07 Submission_Track Name] in the subject line to help us organize.

Emails:

Every submission should go to: Elisa Camahort: elisa at blogher dot org

plus

Art of Life Co-chairs: Kalyn Denny: kalynskitchen at comcast dot net Jenny Lauck: mizzjenny at gmail dot com

Business of You Co-chairs Jan Kabili: kabili at saga2 dot com Lena West: blogher2007 at xynoMedia dot com

Community Co-chair: Nancy White: nancyw at fullcirc dot com

Identity Co-chairs: Jory Des Jardins: jory at blogher dot org Liz Henry: lizzard at bookmaniac dot net

Politics Co-chair: Lisa Stone: lisa at blogher dot org

Technical Co-chairs: Barb Dybwad: barb at weblogsinc dot com Nelly Yusupova: nelly at cgim dot com

Does it sound enticing yet? If so, start saving those greenbacks for hotel reservations (There are 3 hotel options available ranging from $27.80/night up to $209/night).

Keep an eye out on Blogher for more info as it becomes available.