Freshly back from the biggest Web of Change event ever, I’m excited to get some thoughts out of my head and into the noosphere.

This year it was my great pleasure to facilitate the ever-popular “speed geek” (think speed dating). With almost 100 people in the room, the energy and excitement was palpable. And ten passionate presenters managed to deliver their four-minute demos to ten small groups that rotated around the room. Undoubtedly, it was the most information packed 55 minutes of the entire event.  read more »

Every year I’m still amazed to see that first Web of Change announcement in my inbox. Why? I just can’t believe that is has been almost nine months since the last gathering; it feels like I was there just last week.

Well, Web of Change is here again. This year the dates are September 19th - 23rd and, as always, it will be held at the Hollyhock Retreat Centre. If you’ve already been in touch with one of the organizers, feel free to get in touch with Hollyhock and have the first pick of available lodgings. If you haven’t been in touch yet and would like to attend, please drop a quick note to Sarah Pullman with a short introduction. read more »

Had my socks blown off today when I read this:

Dear Friends,

I wanted to let you know about some very exciting news for Donordigital: We are merging with Fenton Communications. I know this is not the typical message on Progressive Exchange, but I think it will be of interest.

As you may know, we have been sharing San Francisco offices with Fenton for the last five years and have worked with together for several clients.

Fenton, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is the largest public interest communications firm in the country. Its 50-person staff serves clients from offices in New York, Washington and San Francisco, offering communications strategy, advertising, branding, message development, and media relations. read more »

Web of Change alumnus and friend to all freedom fighters — Matt Thompson — was nominated for a Webby award yesterday for his fantastic work on the SavetheInternet.com viral video (The Webby awards are like the Oscars of the Internet). He’s a super-deserving and hardworking producer and you should really consider taking 10 minutes right now to support him: go register and then go vote here and here.

Matt says “We never would have been nominated if it weren’t for the efforts of Internet activists, bloggers, videomakers and citizens across the country. Winning a Webby would be a great recognition for those efforts – and help drive new traffic and media attention to our campaign. So please cast your vote – and ask friends to vote as well!”

Matt’s also trying to lure Melanie and I up to Montreal for some birding this spring, and no one can wax poetic about Montreal like Matt can:

The weather is FINALLY getting nice. Soon the streets will be alive with sexy French girls and boys, drinking frivolously on patios scented with the air of maple-dripped swallows and hummingbirds! And the rare triple-toed horndecker is native to Parc Lafontaine, near our apartment! You guys will have to come and bring your binoculars! We’ll pack a picnic full of figs and Cheval Blanc with lemon! What say ye?

Don’t you just want to power up the eco-car and head right on up there?

I sure do!

I have to admit that when I first heard of Internet-based virtual worlds like Second Life some years ago, I didn’t rush out to sign-up and create an Avatar. Given that I’ve never even found the time to play a video game on a computer that I’ve had for three years, it certainly wasn’t high on my list. And, when Web of Change alumni Darren Barefoot created the satirical site Get a First Life, I was laughing pretty hard.

However, the last few months has started to make me re-think my position. Not entirely, but a bit.  read more »

Looks like long-standing friend of Web of Change and post-President of Donor Digital has decided to change the face of online advocacy and fundraising (again!). Madeline Stanionis announced today that she’s started a new company the remove the “talk. talk. talk” and “hype. hype. hype.” from e-dvocacy. She’s also signed up The Watershed Company to be the first sponsor of the 2007 Web of Change gathering. This is all very exciting! The announcement is below … and, if you haven’t read her book, you really should get a copy. read more »

Lots of organizations seem to want to know about “Podcasting” — recording audio interviews or shows that people can listen to over the Internet and via their favourite music management software. Similar to radio shows, recorded interviews and other audio segments can provide a powerful message in a convenient delivery format that can be listen to on the way to work, or while cooking dinner. And, as someone that doesn’t have a television, it provides a connection to the kinds of media that I want to consume without all the visual clutter and advertising that comes with a TV diet. read more »