Sheldon MainsLast week, I had the great pleasure of attending the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Technology and Communications Conference. I went to A LOT of events. Some things are always the same -- the chicken lunch, for example. Minneapolis had a bunch of really cool takeaways, though:

Flickr Photo: entr_pyHey ladies! What are you doing on March 31st? What? Nothing? Well, now you have a date. Join me at the Women Who Tech Telesummit!

Defying the stereotype that the tech world belongs to pocket-protector toting guys hooked on sci-fi and video games, hundreds of women are gearing up for the “Women Who Tech” national telesummit. These are no ordinary women either. The participants are the cadre of women from coast to coast who leverage their tech savvy to inspire change and transform the world.

Among the sessions:

• Web 2.0: What’s Hot? What’s Not?
• Cracking the Boys Club: Women and Social Capital
• Everything You Wanted To Know About Tech But Were Afraid To Ask (a man)
• Breaking Through the Digital Ceiling

Panelists include a “who’s who” of women on the forefront of social change and technological progress. Among them: Arianna Huffington of HuffingtonPost.com; Joan Blades of Moveon.org and MomsRising.org; and Lynne Johnson of Fast Company, just to name a few.

Are you an NTEN member? Of course you are! And as a special member benefit, you can register for the 2007 Bridge Conference in Washington, DC at a discounted rate. We're organizing the technology track at the conference and hope to see you there!

The Show: The 2007 Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising
The Dates: July 8 - 10, 2007
The Venue: The Hilton Washington, 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC

With access to 90 cutting edge educational opportunities, the chance to network with more than 1,000 colleagues, and exposure to experts, the Bridge Conference is a truly great opportunity with an outstanding return on investment for you and your organization.

Register for the 2007 Bridge Conference before June 8 and get an additional Early Bird discount by visiting www.bridgeconf.org.

(Oh, and if you're not an NTEN member yet, join today!)

We've partnered with the 2007 Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference and now NTEN members can register for this great event at the member rate!   

So you can find answers to questions like:

• What are the most effective and innovative ways to get your message out there?
• How do you integrate web and mail to maximize your fundraising and marketng campagins?
• How do you develop innovative cause marketing campaings?

Here's how:

Whew! After the CRAZIEST (in a great way!) NTC ever, I can't believe I'm thinking about another conference, but here it is! NTEN is coming back to Washington, DC, for the Association of Fundraising Professionals' conference.

The Show: The 2007 Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising
The Dates: July 8 - 10, 2007
The Venue: The Hilton Washington, 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC

With over 75 sessions ranging from Direct Response and Integrated Marketing to Major Gifts and Foundation Grant Sessions, focusing from Nonprofit to Business-to-Business Direct Marketing - this conference has something for everyone!

For a complete schedule of Tracks, go to www.bridgeconf.org!

There has been some community commentary about the value of getting together at the Nonprofit Technology Conference. The NTC is the largest gathering of its kind with more than 1,000 technology leaders from the nonprofit world converging, this time in Washington, DC. Every year there is someone who believes that getting together in the age of the web is a waste of time. We think its very important. Face-to-face gatherings are an essential part of cementing a community, building trust and relationships for collaboration, fermenting ideas (innovation happens when smart people talk - in person and over a beer), and of course (lest we forget!) have some FUN away from the daily grind to remember WHY we do what we do every day.