entropy association

I attended the second annual Northern Voice conference in Vancouver last weekend. Some of the highlights for me included: participating in discussions facilitated by the folks from NetSquared North, Nancy White, and Kaliya; running into Travis Smith, who attended the same high school as me (15 years ago in Alberta); having lunch with Mary; learning some design tips from Susannah Gartner; and soaking up a lovely presentation by Julie Leung about blogging as storytelling. Phillip Djwa's tips for his experience in blogging activism were also invaluable.

The conference was efficiently organized by Darren Barefoot and sold out well in advance. With just the right combination of corporate sponsorship and grass-roots organizing, this conference succeeded once again in pulling together members of disparate online communities. What it lacked this year in the "wow, we did it" feeling from last year, it made up for in strengthening the relationships and dialogue between participants.

Two recommendations for next year:

• Consider scheduling Moose Camp on the Sunday following the Saturday conference. This would not only increase participation in Moose Camp, but would also foster a sense of group unity. This year I didn't feel the same sense of group cohesion as last year, because smaller group discussions and workshops preceded larger group (key note) presentations.
• Emphasize the importance of participation and skills-sharing in Moose Camp. I was disappointed in some of the sessions that I attended that provided me with little opportunity for discussion or participation.

I'm looking forward to next year and to eventually getting my act together to be a presenter/facilitator.

Strangely, however, since the conference I have had little interest in blogging. I might blame it on the sun, but I've also been also thinking alot about blogging boundaries: How do we strike a balance between introspection and self-expression? Self-reflection and self-indulgence? Self-revelation and self-preservation? Writing and hiding?

While technology provides us with new tools for communication, I think it's important for us not to be seduced by technology. Our relationships may be supported by technology, but they must also be cultivated and nurtured in person, in our offline lives. I don't want blogging to tempt me to write stories, when I can be living them or to communicate from a distance, when I can communicate in person. Technology can build bridges or divide. Can I be a conscientious blogger? I'll explore this thought later...