The busy bees--all eight of them--who are the staff at Netroots Nation have been hard at work for months to bring you the best convention yet this summer, July 17-20th in Detroit. Their output has been augmented by another hard-working crew, the panel selection committee, whose principal tasks have just concluded. And there are others--fundraisers, the board members, co-sponsors--who have contributed countless hours to this event already, to say nothing about the activists who have drafted the proposals out of which have been chosen the panels, trainings, and screenings to be presented in July. Now it's our turn to help this event live up to its potential as the single biggest annual gathering of progressive activists in the country.
Most anything you want to know about the convention can be found at the website, NetrootsNation.org. Besides checking in there regularly, it's good to watch for Cheers and Jeers diaries by Bill in Portland Maine in which he provides updates and reminders. His latest one, with news about panels and the keynotes, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, is here. For that matter, thanks to navajo, the Connect! Unite! Act! diaries are providing current RSVP lists about two important Daily Kos components of an NN: the Cheers and Jeers dinner on Wednesday night, and the plenary tables reserved under the names of local Kossack groups. The latest version of both can be found here. Please send a Kosmail to navajo if you want to be added to one or both of those lists.
There's no real shortage, in other words, of solid and useful information about the upcoming Netroots Nation extravaganza. But I'd still like to share some details with you that might otherwise escape your notice. And I'd like to encourage you to take part in the event process as you are able, above and beyond your attendance and support.
Registration at a Bargain Rate
1. A full scholarship to Netroots Nation could be yours--covering registration and lodging--if you are one of 30 winners of this year's program sponsored by Democracy for America. Please follow this link to sign up for the competition. And don't be dismayed by the seeming impossibility of catching up to the five current front-runners. It's true, those who finish in the top five slots by votes are guaranteed their spots. But with some ambitious social networking, including some strategically-placed diaries on Daily Kos, one of those top five vote-getters still could be you. Even if not, the committee choosing the other 25 winners has a fair amount of leeway in their decision-making, although the process is weighted toward the higher vote-getters. I encourage you to try, no matter where you're from, especially but not only if you are a newbie to NN. I won one in 2012, and it was a great, inspiring experience to take part in the program. Time is running out, however: the deadline for the competition is this coming Monday, May 12th. Sign up today and start mustering your supporters!
[It's time for voters to make their wishes known, too. Contest rules state: "Individuals may only vote for each applicant once." As it is for the application process, the voting deadline is Monday, May 12th.]
UPDATE: Tonight's the deadline! Voters must vote by 11:59 PM PDT. Please see this diary by Shoshanna D for the names of the three Kossacks in the running--Horace Boothroyd III, Triciawyse, and ZenBassoon--plus another person Shoshanna recommends. Good luck to all!
2. Michigan residents get a significant discount on registration: $195 for all four days. The organization seeks to encourage local networking, and one way to do that is by offering this special rate. To obtain your Michigan discount, follow this link. (Please note there is a small additional fee requested of every attendee, to support special initiatives such as disability access.)
3. Students may register for an even deeper discounted rate: $95 for all four days. The "Youth Registration" fee is available to all students enrolled in high school, community college, trade school or university. Please follow this link for access to that rate.
Note: Rooms available at the Marriott Renaissance Center for the convention rate are nearly sold out. Please follow this link if you are interested in staying there at the special rate. (Other rooms will still be available for a while, just at a higher price.)
4. Volunteering at NN14 for a reduction in registration is another great option. A partial or full rebate may be granted, depending on the number of shifts worked.
The type of volunteer work needed includes, but is not limited to:
· Bag/swag stuffing on Wednesday
· Setup/breakdown of exhibit hall, including Daily Kos lounge (Wed set-up, Sat take-down)
· Registration Desk staffing, every day
· Runners, every day
· A/V quality control, every day
· Video Team, every day
Obviously, some of these tasks require specialized expertise while others do not. From my limited personal experience, let me say that it's fun to take part. You get to meet other Kossacks and NN attendees in an entirely different way, which is also a good thing.
If you are interested, please send an email to volunteers@netrootsnation.org
Please join me below the jump for ways to help before the event. Much of the following information is directed toward current residents of Metro Detroit, but you are welcome to read on to see if there is something you could contribute, no matter where you live now. Furthermore, if somehow you have missed the sister diary about upcoming Motor City Kossacks meet-ups during May and June, please check here.
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