The 2008 conference themes--making technology relevant to communities, online politics 2008, uniting movements for social justice--come together under the heading, "Connecting, Collaborating and Communicating" ...with each other, with our constituents and with a wider audience as we work to spread our messages of social change out to the public. This year we expect 150 participants. The deadline is for preliminary proposals is Monday, April 28, 2008.

We will first ask you to submit a preliminary proposal that contains the basic workshop concept but not every last detail. This way, if your proposal is not approved you won't need to spend too much time on it. The proposal process will be somewhat competitive; we are likely to receive more proposals than slots.

We strongly recommend that your preliminary proposal be designed to fit into one of the five classes of workshops listed below. The conference web page will be updated as the deadline nears to indicate if any of the workshop classes have too few (or too many) proposals. We are encouraging all workshops to include a group facilitation or Q&A component to involve the participants. We anticipate that there will be 15 to 18 workshops; 3 or 4 per "class."

Classes of Workshops

A. Peer-to-Peer Tech Problem Solving

Session focuses on a key nonprofit problem and offers multiple perspectives, from panelists and audience, on solving it. Suggested problems: online donation processing, updating my web site, getting my contact/gift into a good database, engaging my members via email.

B. Peer-to-Peer Organizing Problem Solving

Session focuses on a key community organizing or grassroots organizing problem and offers advice, solicits suggestions from the group, on selecting technologies which help the organizers solve this problem.

C. Product or Project Presentation

Session that says, we developed x technology, we have brought along an end user who loves it, the technology is accessible and relevant to groups engaged in grassroots organizing.

D. Consumer Reports

Expert(s) evaluating various products or software choices or educating audience on how to be a smart consumer, or how to be able to intelligently evaluate what a vendor proposes.

E. Open Space session

Session will be led by an experience facilitator. Only a general topic area will be announced, and the participants will shape the session dynamically.

We suggest this format for sessions that will focus on cutting edge stuff that is more dynamic, changing, evolving. Possible session topic: web 2.0

Go to our online RfP form here

Sample Topics

Please use these topics as general suggestions, but feel free to create a new topic.

• Making technology relevant to communities
• Making web sites more accessible - w3c compliance, bilingual, etc.
• Options for donor databases
• Demonstrations of groups using ODB
• How to run a low-cost email advocacy campaign
• What are content management systems?
• Developing free software
• Using Twitter, YouTube and Flickr with your constituents
• Getting started in blogging
• Usability in Open Source Software
• Using GIS to target or to educate communities
• Using free Internet resources
• Online politics 2008
• How all sides use technology in '08 elections
• Cyber campaigns: what works, what doesn't
• Tools to mobilize at the local level
• Viral Video
• Online and Offline Marketing
• Web 2.0 organizing techniques
• Free and easy services available from Google
• Introduction to online organizing
• Uniting movements for social justice
• Raising funding for technology
• Using RSS to share information among organizations
• Text messaging for organizing
• Podcasting
• Speed Sharing
• Future of online directory sites

Preliminary Proposal

This list is also available as a web form. You preliminary proposal should contain the following:
1) Workshop Class you are submitting this for (please select only 1)
2) Name
3) Address
4) Phone
5) Email Address
6) Catchy Title
7) Candidates for who might be on your panel and what they bring to the table (if applicable).
8) 40-50 word description of your panel.
9) Audience (indicate who your workshop is designed for: non-technical audience, people with some tech background, or advanced techies/software developers)
10) A/V Expectations. Most rooms will be have a hookup to project
SVGA video from your laptop port.

__Please check here if you will not need to project 800x600 or
1024x768 video.

__Please indicate here if you will need anything else A/V wise
__________________________

Selection Process and Criteria:

Preliminary Proposals must be received by April 28, at conf2008@oc-tech.org, or on the web. Participants will be notified by May 1 if their proposal is accepted; if you submit your proposal earlier, you may be notified earlier. A highly motivated team of 19 organizers are planning this year's event, and additional volunteers based in Boston are welcome. For more information on volunteering, please contact Suren at (617) 720-6190. If your preliminary proposal is approved, you will be asked to submit a final writeup by May 22 in order for it to be included in the conference program. Final writeups must include a 1/2-page workshop outline (not required for open space sessions), presenter/panelist bios, and a 1-sentence overview of the topic each panelist will speak on, for panels.

Workshops will be selected to create balance in addressing different audiences and levels of technical expertise. We also strive to achieve gender and racial diversity in terms of who is presenting the workshops.

While we are unable to provide an honorarium, presenters will receive free admission (not including the food & transportation) and will have an opportunity to network with about 250 non-profits and technical consultants. This is a also great chance to share your knowledge on a subject you are passionate about.

Thank you for your interest,

The 2008 Grassroots Use of Technology Agenda Planning Committee