Have an opinion on the state of APIs - application programming interfaces - or just want to know what the heck all the discussion is about? Then join us this Friday for a live debate between the major players in nonprofit software and find out what's going on with APIs and what it means for nonprofits.

You'll hear where vendors on the panel are moving and what the tangible benefits will be for nonprofits. The speakers will also give their opinions on why openness matters and what open APIs mean for the open source movement.

Mark Bolgiano from the Council on Foundations will moderate the debate and our panelists will include

Tom Krackeler, GetActive
Zack Rosen, Chapter Three
Steve Wright, Salesforce
David Lawson, Kintera
Peter Campbell, Goodwill
Dave Crooke, Convio
Nick Ballenger, Democracy in Action
Shaun Sullivan, Blackbaud

NTEN will be there to act as hosts and round it all up for you. You can listen in with us on Friday, October 20, at 10:00 am Pacific time or listen to the podcast we'll release the following week.

We also invite you to enter the debate. If you hear something that makes you jump out of your chair - in elation or anger - or if you want to add something we missed, write about it. We're asking NTEN members and friends to quickly write up their opinions on the debate and send them to us. Select rants will be posted on our blog and featured in our newsletter. And of course, we hope you'll post your thoughts on your blogs too.

The Details

> Live Debate: Friday, October 20, 10:00 am Pacific. Dial 866-740-1260 to call into the debate, and enter passcode 3979000.

> Written Rants: Send us your take on the debate in 150 words or less by Tuesday, October 24, to make it into the newsletter. Don't forget to send in a photo of yourself!

> Blog About It: Think 150 is too limiting to make your point? Blog about the debate and open APIs and use the tags "NTEN" and "NPTech" so we can find you.

> Read About It: We'll feature a roundup of the debate and your rants in our October newsletter coming out next Thursday.

If you have any questions, just let us know!