Netroots Nation 2009: Help Set The Agenda (+PHOTOS!)

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My name is Neeta Lind and I blog as navajo at Daily Kos.  It is an honor to be a part of the eleven member panel that will be judging the proposals submitted by YOU  that will set the agenda at Netroots Nation 2009.

The fourth annual gathering of the Netroots (formerly known as the YearlyKos Convention) will be held August 13-16, 2009 at the David L. Lawrence convention center in Pittsburgh, PA.

Please join me below for more details about our panel, submitting your proposal, registration information and a HUGE collection of my photos from the past three conventions.

This panel is comprised of people from all corners of the Netroots. This panel includes: Netroots Nation Staff members Raven Brooks, Mary Rickles and Nolan Treadway; Adam Bonin (aka Adam B); Cheryl Contee (aka Jill Tubman); Jen Ancona; Neeta Lind (aka  navajo); Julia Rosen; Nathaniel Charny (NN Program Coordinator ’07 and ’08); Carolyn Dulchinos (aka No One Owns Me); and Keith Kamisugi.

Last week Adam B posted a diary that details our goal this year of organizing sessions that are creative and involve interaction to help the broader progressive movement.

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:

• How does my idea help the broader progressive movement?

• How will it empower activists to take what they’ve learned and use   it for the greater good?

• Do my proposed panelists represent diversity — of ethnicity, gender, geography, age and viewpoint?

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!

A little more about me:

I am the organizer of our local San Francisco Bay Readers of Daily Kos, the SFKossacks.  We have almost 300 members and are known for our welcome dinners for visiting bloggers.  I’ve also set up another blog as an offshoot from Daily Kos to stand as a forum for the long standing issues regarding Native Americans, Native American Netroots.  I have also moderated the Native American Caucus session at all three Netroots Nation’s past conventions.  I have made the Recommended List a few times for my massive photo diaries of Daily Kos meatspace events.

And finally here are some of my photos from the past conventions starting with Austin, then Chicago and finally Las Vegas.  If these photos don’t make you want to register and attend I don’t know what will.

Photo diary of Netroots Nation 2008 in Austin, TX

I arrive at 5pm to see everyone meeting in the lobby for drinks:

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We begin with the Cheers & Jeers meetup in the lobby to go to dinner:

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Common Sense Mainer and Bill in Portland Maine taking a head count to call in to the restaurant:

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Sharoney!

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Cheers & Jeers, Party of 40 arriving at the restaurant:

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Jerome à Paris and Bill in Portland Maine (Bill seemed particularly crotchety this trip)

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Common Sense Mainer and Timroff shrugging their shoulders:

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Burnt Orange reception and the Cedar Door:

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This guy cracked me up.  He has produced playing cards that feature many republicans that are gay.  He was selling packets like crazy.  I particularly like the Larry Craig card.

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And speaking of republicans;  I loved this guy’s shirt:

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Mike Stark and and Matt Browner Hamlin.  Matt works on Mark Begich’s Senate campaign

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Reality Bites Back

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Back at the hotel we see Darcy Burner arriving as she runs into Markos and Ari.  Ari is going to be one handsome dude:

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The Awful Truth and Darcy Burner:

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Mem from Somerville:

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Mindoca and NYBri

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THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2008

Scout Finch:

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Markos and SusanG

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Howard Dean arrives and gives a rousing speech at noon after his rally at Crawford earlier that day, he said about a 100 folks turned out there.

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Miss Laura

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mcjoan

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Juls from Calitics

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Lithium Cola

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JeffLieber and Land of Enchantment

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teacherken and his high school speakers

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Katie Halper

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trashablanca and clammyc

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Elfling, Hunter and offspring

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Elisa and ct

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eugene aka robert in Monterey

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And later that night:

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dday

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FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008

The Maze of Injustice Panel including Amanda Flott, center with Amnesty International and Pretty Bird Woman House board of directors Tinnekkia Williams-Three Legs on the Left and the director of Pretty Bird Woman House, Georgia Littleshield.  

Blissing’s diary recapped this panel.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/…

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Shockwave  :: XOXOXO!

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Mary Rickles; one of the chief organizers of this convention

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Myself ::  navajo

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Markos, ct, Miss Laura and Nate Silver aka poblano

Markos, ct, Miss Laura and poblano!

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nyceve blogging

nyceve blogging

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Pastor Dan, Loggersbrat, Andy T and Mrs. Pastor

Pastor Dan, Loggersbrat, AndyT & Mrs. Pastor

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And at the candidates event that night

PASSED HORS D’OEUVRES!!

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Kid Oakland

Kid Oakland!

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cskendrick

cskendrick

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highacidity and Sadie Townsel ( yes, I got Melody’s permission to post)

highacidity and Sadie Townsel

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Nybri and Christine Pelosi

NYBri and Christine Pelosi

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Raven Brooks, finance director of Netroots Nation

Raven Brooks

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Netroots Nation SuperHero :: Nolan Treadway

Nolan Treadway

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Elisa, could she be any prettier?

Elisa

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Free margaritas from Markos

Free Margaritas from Markos

And a fricking laser beam chocolate fountain from Markos!

Chocolate Fountain

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Conga line

Conga Line

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DHinMI with norm in the background

DHinMI

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Al Giordano :: The Field

Al Giordano :: The Field

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Smintheus and highacidity

Smintheus & highacidity

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EddieC

EddieC

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theKK, thereisnospoon and hekebolos

MaryKK, thereisnospoon and hekebolos

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ukiyo

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SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008

OMG!!!!!!!!  IT’S AL GORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Al gore is here!!!!!!!!!

Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi and Gina Cooper

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JeffLieber sees the photos I posted of him in his diary, he is sitting right next to me

Jeff Leiber sees my posted photos of him

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Netroots for the Troops

Netroots for the Troops

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Cedwyn dreaming again

Cedwyn dreaming again

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DemocraticLuntz

DemocraticLuntz

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Obama’s video address to us

Barack Obama's video address to us

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Spawn of OPOL, OPOL, malacandra and??

Spawn of OPOL, OPOL, Malacandra and ?

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Gavin Newsom

Gavin Newsom

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Debra Bowen and norm

Debra Bowen and norm

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Van Jones, Expect to hear more from this amazing speaker, he just got back from an Artic trip with Jimmy Carter and many other dignitaries.

Van Jones

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Obvious superheroes :: blackwoof and wolfmanspike came to my Native American Netroots caucus.  wolfmanspike has Seminole ancestors.  

Don’t know who the cutie is in the hat. The cutie in the hat is Josh Holland from Alternet.  That’s me between the superheroes.

Muscles at Netroots Nation 2008

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Jotter

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vcmvo2 and dadanation :: RESCUE RANGERS!

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And finally from the first 2006 YearlyKos convention in Las Vegas and the famous Mark Warner extravagant soiree at the top of some casino.

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