Fall 2009 Conference

The Fall 2009 Communications Network Conference has sold out.

Due to an unexpected response to early promotions, all available spaces have been taken and we have started a waiting list. To be added to the list, email conference09@comnetwork.org

The Speakers

This year’s event – which runs Oct. 14 -16, 2009 at the Ford Foundation's landmarked building in midtown New York – features not one, but two keynote speakers.

On Wednesday evening, New York Times columnist Frank Rich kicks off the event, sharing his insights into  the news business. Then, the next morning, we hear from Internet and social media guru Clay Shirky, who is doing some of the most interesting writing and thinking about the very forces changing the news media and all other ways we communicate these days. 

                 

  Frank Rich                                   Clay Shirky

As for the rest of the conference, we’re putting together a terrific lineup of sessions that will provide lots of useful information about making the best use of web 2.0 and social media tools, how to communicate for impact (especially in these tough times), what it takes to influence policy, and what happens when you create successful collaborations between communications and program staff.

--Click Here To See Who Is Attending

--Click Here To Read More About the Conference Speakers

--Click Here for a Session Schedule Chart and the Full Agenda

--Click Here for materials to download to help you prepare for the conference or to refer to later.

Get Involved: Join Our Gorilla Engagement Squad

At the 2007 Communications Network Annual Conference in Miami, attendees were urged to get their "feet wet" with social media. Judging from all the tweeting, blogging, and posting of video going on all throughout the foundation field, it appears that many of you heeded the call. 

This concept sparked the 2009 Gorilla Engagement Squad, which will make its debut at the upcoming Fall Conference in NYC.  We've finalized our list of volunteers who will help us capture and share the highlights of the conference using social media tools. 

--Click Here for the essential details, and to see more about who's on the squad. 

 

 

What To Do While You're In New York City

As always, there will be plenty of time to meet new people, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and especially for those of you from out of town, to enjoy New York City.

--Click Here for a guide of what to do in New York City

As we previously announced, we’re not holding rooms at a hotel. Instead, you need to make your own arrangements. You can either find a hotel, and undoubtedly at a terrific price, or as several of you have told us you already plan to do, you might consider staying with friends and relatives. We’ll also be putting together a list of hotels shortly that offer good rates for conference attendees.

Thank You

A special thanks goes to members of the host committee for their efforts to make your time in New York City as enjoyable as possible.  They are: Alfred Ironside and Fionna Guthrie, Ford Foundation; Claire Baralt, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; Albert Chung, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation; Gail Fuller, Rockefeller Brothers Fund; Lauren Russell Geskos, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors; Michael Remaley, consultant; Barry Scholl, Commonwealth Fund; Vince Stehle, Surdna Foundation; Mary Trudel, Wallace Foundation; Teri Wade, The Foundation Center; and Katie Zutter, The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Finally, we want to thank the Ford Foundation for making it possible to hold our conference in its beautiful building, and also acknowledge our conference sponsors: The Atlantic Philanthropies, The California HealthCare Foundation, Open Society Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, DeSantis Breindel, Hattaway Communications, and Lipman Hearne.

If you have questions, need more information, feel free to email conference09@comnetwork.org.

Photo Credit: Frank Rich (Brigitte Lacombe)