Re: Great people gather in Jerome to share world view

I was in Jerome too. I was really inspired by the great people I met and to share what we are doing. We are excited about the training programs we are doing in July in Idaho Falls and in August in CoeurdAlene called Camp Democracy. I have worked in the labor movement for over 20 years and love learning about the connection with other movements like the women's movement and human rights. I keep learning more every time I gather.

Keep talking!

Jim and all, thank you for inviting me to Jerome to talk a little about the Internet and online networking this weekend.

I suggested that Jim put up this thread so that people who attended the conference could reflect on their experiences and also have a place to "debrief" after they leave. So often, the greatest discoveries and inspirations come after you've left a conference. Well, this can be a place to share those.

I wanted to leave a few links to explore, too. I am a big fan of the National Council for Dialogue and Deliberation's site,

http://www.thataway.org

as well as that of the Study Circles Resource Center

http://www.studycircles.org

both of which have many resources for folks who are creating positive community change.

I am proud to support the work of UVI and now UAI, and I wish you all the best in your important work.

Re: Great people gather in Jerome to share world view

Thanks to you, Julie, more folks are open to the idea of interacting on the internet, brainstorming, adding tools to support each other in organizing to bring about positive social change on the local, state and national level.

Re: Great people gather in Jerome to share world view

The Ascension Priory is always a source of inspiration for me. In the past five or so years, it even inspired me to attend public meetings to speak out against loosening regulations on CAFOs in Bonneville County. :)

I think the work UVI has done is crucial. I look forward to the next 12 years.

Re: Great people gather in Jerome to share world view

I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend in Jerome also. Meeting the people behind the gorups that make up UVI gave me a deeper understanding of the organization and its possibilities. I am inspired to work even harder to encourage a wide spectrum of activists to come to the Idaho Falls Camp Democracy. We need to support each other as we work on social justice issues.

Thanks, Julie for moving me to start commenting on blogs. I have been a blog reader for a long time but I have been too busy/lazy to comment.
Perhaps you will even see a new blogger on the blogosphere. I just need a catchy name for it. Any suggestions?

How about a nudge?

Jim, now that the retreat has been over a week, you might want to send an email to your participants to remind them about this thread as a place to continue debriefing and sharing ideas gleaned from the conference.

Sometimes people need an extra little nudge to take part!

Re: Great people gather in Jerome to share world view

Virginia, don't forget you also have a blog at your MySpace (and yes, please add me as your friend - Alex, you, too). You can blog right there if you like, or here - Jim could set you up at the latter.

I find that the best blogs are ones that have a strong voice (or voices), and that focus pretty tightly on a specific topic, whether it's politics, public life in general, music, knitting, or what have you - whatever you're passionate about. It's your individual voice that will make it worth writing and reading!

But remember the power of community. With 80 million blogs, it can be heard to get heard, which is why it's sometimes best to use the existing tools (like this blog or your MySpace). Another plus to this approach: You may not feel you have to write every day or even every few days. You can just write when you have something to say.

If you would like to set up your own blog, Google's Blogger tool or Live Journal are both free and easy to set up. For a bit more functionality for a low cost (starting about $7 or $8 a month), I really like TypePad and WordPress.

One more thought for now

As I mentioned at the conference, I am coming to believe that event or project-specific blogs are a great way to harness energy and ideas. A blog doesn't have to last forever!

For an example, check out the Pandemic Flu Leadership Blog.

http://blog.pandemicflu.gov/

It will only be online fcor five weeks, but it is giving everyone from homemakers to medical experts a chance to discuss how we can be better prepared for when (not if) a flu pandemic strikes. I find it fascinating that an agency of the federal government - in the Bush years, no less! - actually put up a blog to invite citizen engagement on this topic!

Imagine if blogs had been more widely used for public dialogue in the run-up to the Iraq war. Imagine ways they could be used here in Idaho to generate citizen comment - before a school bond election, for example, or to organize opposition to a coal-fired power plant, or to build a case for better public transportation/driving less. I'm trying to do the latter here ... http://boisebusblog.blogspot.com/

With the easy-to-use tools I noted in my post above, we can broaden the idea of what a blog can do and be.

Materials from the retreat

We have notes and other materials from the retreat. If anyone would like copies feel free to e-mail me and I'll send them. There were some particularly useful materials on grassroots fundraising. I have electronic copies if you would like.

Re: Great people gather in Jerome to share world view

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