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BlogHer '09: We listened. We mulled. And here are some of the decisions you've helped us make

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Almost six weeks ago Lisa, Jory and I asked for your feedback and help on making BlogHer '10 even better than BlogHer '09 in a post we called: We're listening. And here's what we're mulling over so far...

We asked five different questions, and you answered. Thank you so much for your help. You didn't always all agree, but you all took the time to share your feedback constructively and sometimes at great length! It is exactly that willingness to jump in and help us work through the tough issues that continues to make BlogHer the conference the community built.

So, now it's time for us to respond and let you know what we took away from all of your amazing feedback. Some of this stuff is, well, complicated, and we're still mulling it over, but in other cases, we've made some decisions, now that we know how you all feel about them. Here were the questions:

1.How can we appropriately acknowledge BlogHer’s official sponsors?
2.What is the proper place for conference swag?
3.How should we respond to the many unofficial parties that are held?
4.How should we respond when members of the community do things that hurt the community?
5.Finally, who is BlogHer for, what do we discuss at BlogHer conferences and how do you think we could communicate it, so that people know it?

But, you know what? We're going to reverse the order in which we address those questions, because it seems only right to start with questions about this community first.

5. Finally, who is BlogHer for, what do we discuss at BlogHer conferences and how do you think we could communicate it, so that people know it?
BlogHer's annual conference is for bloggers who blog about every topic under the sun, and we work hard with teams of bloggers to create conference programming that reflects the diversity of our community. So, what can we do to both maintain that diversity of content and to make sure more people (including the media, by the way) know about it?

Here are some of the things we're thinking about sessions:

  • Writing, writing and more writing: We've definitely heard you on wanting more writing programming. When we announce our call for ideas later this week, you'll see we've added a Writing Lab track. Start sharpening your own pencils to suggest the kind of programming you'd like to see in that track!
  • The mommy track: When we issue our call for ideas, you'll see a new Writing Lab track, but you won't see the MommyBlogging track. We introduced that track in 2008 for the very first time, mostly to acknowledge the strong presence of parenting bloggers in our community. After just two years it doesn't seem to make either moms or non-moms happy, so after two years of doing that track (after not having one the first three years) we're going to retire it.
  • Geek Lab: Yes to more Geek Lab. No to this year's set-up. Our 2009 experiment that worked as far as the content, but didn't work because we didn't feature that content properly. Next year we'll plan a better set-up, longer sessions, more intermediate sessions. Check, check, check!
  • Promoting the programming: We need to make as much of a fuss over the programming as we do over the parties. We as BlogHer; we as a community. We're thinking about lots of ways we can do that, and we're thinking of what kind of tools to provide you, so it's as easy to share what sessions you're excited about attending as what parties you're excited about attending. We hope you'll feel the same way and will help us!
  • The Community Keynote: Nest year we'll plan a tad shorter community keynote, with tissues PLENTY of tissues on each table! 
  • 4. How should we respond when members of the community do things that hurt the community?
    This is a tough one. While sponsored bloggers have attended previous BlogHers, 2009 was the year it became somewhat commonplace to hear about individual bloggers being sponsored to attend by companies. We don't know exact numbers, but we doubt that more than 20% of attendees had any such sponsorship.

    However, we learned from your comments that, unfortunately, a few sponsored bloggers may have given the majority of them a bad name. While we already have guidelines for sponsored bloggers, we learned from your comments that these guidelines need to be strengthened in the following ways, in order to try to give sponsored bloggers even better guidance:

  • We created guidelines that encouraged sponsored bloggers not to
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    mommywantsvodka 5 pts

    I love all of the changes you've made. I'm planning to come out again for BlogHer 2010. Sounds like you've really listened to the suggestions we've made and that's awesome.

    Julie Marsh 5 pts

    You three are amazing.

    I was disappointed to miss BlogHer09 after being a loyal attendee at BlogHer06-08. But now I'm more excited than ever to attend BlogHer10.

    Thank you for all the careful thought and hard work you put into everything you do.

    Julie @ ( http://twitter.com/ ) The Mom Slant ( http://themomslant.com )

    Al_Pal 5 pts

    I haven't been to BlogHer [yet], but hope to be able to this year. The improvements sound good, and the coupons really sound excellent -- I know leaving swag behind is a big issue, particularly if it is liquid in a bottle that is above the carry-on limit.

    Cheers!

    Jill Miller Zimon 5 pts

    I got my start as a freelance writer by writing about parent/kid gift-giving issues and parlayed that into an every other month column that's now in its sixth year in a regional family magazine.  But most people in blogging know me from my political writing so go figure. There's no question that topics related to a writing track can dovetail with parent blogging - so I wanted to point to the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop conference ( http://www.humorwriters.org/Index.html ) is a great one to take a look at for the kinds of sessions they provide re: writing as a craft and then how you use that craft for whatever your topic/interest might be.

    All sounding great - so glad I've registered already for BlogHer '10.

    Jill Writes Like She Talks ( http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com )

    whymommy 5 pts

    Thanks for listening -- it sounds like you're really being proactive on addressing issues (as you have been in the past), and I'm off to sign up for BlogHer 10!

    Susan

    http://toddlerplanet.wordpress.com & http://motherswithcancer.com

    whymommy 5 pts

    A big YES on coupons.  They're easy to carry, don't cause problems, and allowed me to consider the product at my leisure.

    In  fact, when I did my Big Swag Roundup (http://reviewplanet.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/blogh... weeks after the conference, I found that sponsors who provided coupons stayed on my mind a LOT later than those who brought product -- and I was much more likely to go back and purchase that item again later, without a coupon.

    The only exception to this was where I had to go to a store I don't normally visit -- like the GAP jeans.  I haven't bought them yet.  But Trop50 and Ragu?  Have been on my list nearly every week since.  And I've already ordered again from Land's End, which had slipped off my mind -- but slipped right back with a $10 coupon in my bag.

    Susan

    http://toddlerplanet.wordpress.com & http://motherswithcancer.com

    Sharnia 5 pts

    HIya I am new to blogher and from Australia. I am new Mama also.

    It is my dream to go to NYC it is also my dream to become a fabulous blogher. 

    I would love to attend this event - at the moment it is but a pipedream but I want to make it a reality.

    My question is when do you have to book and where can find out more about it - can you point me to some further info.

    Sorry if the info is right in front of my nose I am in a hurry and just excited at prospect.

    Are there many Australians who attend?

    What kind've things could I expect to get out of the conference if I do manage to go?

    http://chroniclesofsharnia-sharnanigans.blogspot.c...

    Beth Terry 5 pts

    I love Liz Henry's idea of having tables for each of the blogging platforms in the Geek Lab with experts on each of them.  I don't necessarily need to see the code printed out, but it would be great to speak with experts on Blogger, Word Press, etc. about specific issues/questions.  I've been using Blogger since 2002 and am getting ready to migrate over to Word Press which is a completely different ball of wax.  And I don't need a whole session on Word Press, just answers to specific questions.  Actually, I need this right now.  Maybe you could send the Geek Lab to my house this week.

    Water -- totally with you on needing more stations clearly visible.  And please let's not provide plastic cups at the water stations next year.  I know you guys probably didn't know the hotel was going to do that.  At several conferences I've attended (with just as many people), actual water glasses are provided in the rooms rather than disposables.  Or at the very lease, perhaps compostable cups could be provided, although I don't know that NYC has composting facilities so that's probably not a great idea.  My vote is for durable glass and providing some incentive for women to refill their own bottles.  Don't know how that could work.  Maybe random prizes for women "caught" filling up their bottles throughout the conference?

    Oh, what if one of the sponsors provided a green superheroine who would wander around the venue all weekend spotting acts of greenness here and there and rewarding them with some green eco-friendly prize.  Acts of greenness could include filling up a reusable water bottle, filling up a reusable travel mug with coffee (assuming the alternative is a paper cup), putting something into the correct recycle bin, turning unwanted swag in to the swag recycling room, etc.

    And about that swag recycling, definitely was great in '08 and not so great in '09.  Any chance of getting Zwaggle back again?  Also, we could really use a swag recycling area Sunday morning as everyone is packing and realizing they can't fit everything into their suitcases.  That's when it would be especially useful.

    And just to reiterate everyone else, hooray for more writing sessions!

    Oh, and one more I just thought of... how about a session on blog layout.  Not technical but design-oriented.  What makes a blog look enticing?  What makes it easy to read, navigate, and what makes it look crowded and junky?  How to readers' eyes actually view a blog and what draws the eye where you want it to go?  These are issues I wrestle with all the time.

    Beth Terry@fakeplasticfish
    www.fakeplasticfish.com ( http://www.fakeplasticfish.com )
    ( https://twitter.com/fakeplasticfish )
    FaceBook ( http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=649272144 )

    LadyM 5 pts

    I am impressed with the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of your response to the community! Can't wait for the writing track.

    Lady M blogs at http://www.empress-m.com/

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    BlogHer Food is a one-day conference this year on Saturday September 26th. Yom Kippur starts at sundown on the 27th. Actually, we were aware of that. I'm a non-observant Jew, so checked with a couple of the Jewish bloggers in our community about it. We decided to go ahead, but can see how, especially if you're the one hosting on Sunday evening, traveling home the day of is not the optimum solution. Next year we'll likely do the Food conference in October, and we'll keep our eyes open for the same situation.

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    And we have to thank the community, again, for providing actionable, constrcutive feedback when we asked for it. That makes ALL the difference.

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    FreshRachael 5 pts

    I'm sure you got this before, but I have to say I was really dissapointed that this conference is taking place on the same weekend as Yom Kippur. (It's the most important Jewish holiday.) Maybe next year, you could double check that sort of thing?  Really sad so many Jewish food bloggers can't participate because of that!

    That said, I really do hope to participate some day. It seems like an amazing event!!!

    Liz Henry 5 pts

    I love your thoughts on this!  The drop in and hang out did end up
    working for the last afternoon of the conference. It's like it took a
    while to hit its stride.  It can be a little rough, because some tech problems are 10 minute ones and others take hours!

    One idea I've been mulling over is to
    have "Tour of (platform) code" for major platforms. WP, Typepad/MT, and
    Blogspot.  But with this addition: having tables or areas of the room
    for each platform, with big printed posters up with some of the
    code/panels/elements of the blog's back end marked up and labelled with
    explanations!  So, a visual learning aid to get people thinking and
    looking and talking to each other about it.  I'm a big fan of printing
    things out on paper. It's amazing how clarifying it can be, looking at,
    say, the html for blogspot blog, printed out, with big arrows in marker
    that say "THIS IS THE HEADER" and "YOU PUT A WIDGET HERE".

    Another idea relates to Megan's suggestion. Get people to sign up ahead of time, but based on a goal. "I want to put pictures on my blog" or "I want to rearrange and add to the widgets in my sidebar so they're most effective for readers" would be excellent goals.  If people were grouped by goal, then despite them being on different platforms and the "how to" being different, the groups might be more cohesive and end up helping each other out.

    -----------------

    Liz Henry ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... )

    Composite: Tech & Poetics ( http://liz-henry.blogspot.com/ )

    lizzard@bookmaniac.net

    HeatherSolos 5 pts

    Elisa,

    I have to say of all the things I've read about BlogHer and the conferences this has excited me the most. Thank you for listening to those in the community and those watching the community as an example.

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    Leah and JD, thanks for the kind words. JD, perhaps you should just follow Leah's lead and make it a family trip. How can your husband not want to go to NYC *with* you? And there's plenty for him to do for those times you don't want him hanging around ;)

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    "As a long island girl, I have no excuse not to take the LIRR into Manhattie "

    Awesome. Haven't heard anyone say "take the LIRR inro Manhattie" in a long, looong time :)

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    Oh we heard from lots of people about the water.

    If we're going to ask you to use a refillable bottle to carry around water, then we better make sure the water coolers are MUCH easier to find, and that there are more of them. Like, everywhere. 

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    I Do Things 5 pts

    You guys are awesome!

    I'm sure it took some time to go through everything that was submitted, especially given all the areas to consider. So I'm impressed that you were able to not only come up with some great resolutions but that you did it so clearly and concisely.

    Yay for writing track!

    Now, I just have to convince my husband I neeeeeeeeed to go. Please don't sell out!

    JD at I Do Things So You Don't Have To ( http://idothings.info )

    LeahK 5 pts

    I just wanted to drop a note to say how consistently impressed I am by you three and the personal dedication you show not only to BlogHer as a company but to BlogHer as its people, both as a group and as individuals. I've always been proud to be associated with BlogHer, and the changes you propose for the future will only strengthen that feling.

    The whole family is looking forward to seeing you all again in 2010 (which will be my fifth time!).   

    conversemomma 5 pts

    I'm impressed. I think blogher 10 is going to be even better than 09, and that says alot. I am over the moon about the writing tracks, and the location. As a long island girl, I have no excuse not to take the LIRR into Manhattie for this awesome conference. Thanks for listening to us all.

    Kelly

    http://www.ordinaryartblog.com

    loraleechoate 5 pts

    "It's going to be sponsor city in there, and we're OK with that. If you
    are not OK with that, we hope you will not go in the Expo Hall :)"

    I loved this line. Just had to tell you.

    P.S. Great job addressing all these issues. My ONLY beef with BlogHer this year was water. But I was a dehydrated bovine at the time so...ya know. Probably won't phase me next year. (We won't go into how much I wish Coke was your sponser, but I have a Diet Coke can as my freaking flavicon. :) )

    Fabulous job ladies. I cannot wait for 2010!

    Megan Smith 5 pts

    I never got to the Geek Lab, too many other things I wanted to see and do but maybe what part of the Geek Lab needs to be is specific appointments with people for specific problems.

    What would help is if there were a Geek Lab triage set up before the conference started. People would submit their particular issues and then members would be grouped into labs based on those problems. Some sessions would be short and with small groups or one on one for minor problems and some would be more in depth for more significant issues and questions.

    Then there could also be free-form sessions for walk-ins.

    Megan
    BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/megan-smith )

    My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute ( http://www.megansminute.com/ )

    Twitter:@MeganSmith ( http://twitter.com/MeganSmith/ )

    Jory Des Jardins 5 pts

    ...that can double as more serious learning places too. Though with Geek Lab we will have to make sure those spaces have reduced noise and more of a lab feel. I want to attend those sessions next time. I'm ready to step up my techy side.

    Jory Des Jardins
    writes on business and career topics at BlogHer, and on her personal blog Pause ( http://www.jorydesjardins.com )

    Jory Des Jardins 5 pts

    Sponsors often ask us what makes for good swag. I like to say things that are useful and sustainable. I will add coupons to the list.

    Jory Des Jardins
    writes on business and career topics at BlogHer, and on her personal blog Pause ( http://www.jorydesjardins.com )

    sassymonkey 6 pts moderator

    Hip hip hooray!!! *Happy dance*

    Regarding the Geek Lab, I'd like to see a balance between the structured and unstructured. I didn't attend any of the sessions because they weren't the right fit for me. I was really hoping to find a spot to just chill out a bit and hang out, and maybe pick up on some geeky things (or possibly even help someone out if I knew how to do something which is kinda laughable!). Something with a drop-in/chill out feel in addition to the more structured sessions. Some people just need help with small things, like maybe they want to know how to add a badge to their blog and they are having trouble. They don't need a whole session for that. A sort of "Help a BlogHer out" spot. And um, a few more spots to plug in a laptop and recharge wouldn't hurt either. ;-)

    Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca/ ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca/ ).

    DarryleP 5 pts

    ...Very impressed that you're mulled over these issues so thoroughly and carefully---and responded so quickly---was it really 6 weeks ago??  This was my first BlogHer and I had no major complaints but now that I've read through all the changes, I can see they will change the experience for the better.  I think dropping mommy track and adding writing track is a good, healing and unifying idea --I'm looking forward to see what you come up with for Geek Labs---technology being my personal Achilles heel.  Can't wait to come again in '10.

    http://blog.darrylepollack.com/

    Lisa Stone 6 pts

    ...about the Geek Lab. We are yet mulling...so to speak.

    Lisa Stone
    BlogHer Co-founder ( http://www.blogher.com/member/lisa-stone )
    Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )

    BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News ( http://www.blogher.com/topic/politics-news ).

    Fourth Breakfast 5 pts

    I'm impressed with the changes you've outlined based on feedback.  I think retiring the Mommy track is a good idea. A writing track sounds great.  As for Geek Lab, glad to see I wasn't the only one that was excited by the idea but couldn't quite find a session that worked for me.  I couldn't  articulate what didn't work for me. Happy that sharper minds than mine are putting together a new set-up there!

    Megan Smith 5 pts

    I think these are some great, well thought out solutions to address issues that came up at the last BlogHer.   I had a marvelous time in Chicago and I can only think that I'll have an even better time at BlogHer in my hometown of New York!

    Megan
    BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/megan-smith )

    My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute ( http://www.megansminute.com/ )

    My Review Blog:  Meg's Rad Reviews ( http://www.megsradreviews.com )

    Twitter:@MeganSmith ( http://twitter.com/MeganSmith/ )

    Celeste Lindell 5 pts

    Also, I agree with everyone who's a fan of coupons. I used EVERY SINGLE COUPON I brought home this year, and my husband is now a die-hard fan of Banana Nut Cheerios. :)

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    Thanks for your comments Leighbra, and I'm so glad you were consistently excited :)

    re: mommy sessions: Before there was ever an entire mommy track, there were individual sessions that were clearly about parenting blogging, and I expect there will be again. Some topics really are about parenting blogging...like the session we had last year about blogging about your special needs child. Some session are really about universal subjects.

    re: coupons: I don't expect every sponsor to give only coupons, but I can tell you that a LOT of the BlogHer Food sponsors are putting coupons as their item in the tote bag. They're concerned about giving food and about people being able to transport items home comfortably, so coupons are a great way to help people use your product easily.

    And thanks so much for your kind words. This is personal to us. Jory, Lisa and I still think that we created the best jobs we've ever had, because it's not just a job, it's our mission!

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    Leighbra 5 pts

    I didn't have any negative experiences either, there was just too much good stuff going on to bother lingering on anything that didn't excite me. BlogHer time is too valuable to be in a track/party/PR conversation that doesn't make you giddy.

    So, about the Mommy blogging track, I assume that there still be some parenting related sessions? Because the session this year about body image, and what we're saying to our kids through our blogging was really my favorite. Some great discussion happened in there.

    So, while I'm fine seeing the mommy blogging track disolve, I would hate hate hate to see such valuable discussion slip away!

    I kicked out the idea of more sponsors giving out coupons for their products instead of full sized items to be lugged home in the green team thread about the swag. I am SO happy to see it again here, because I just used the last of my Ragu coupons this week, so that's now 2 months of happy thoughts the Ragu PR team gave me, not just (a FANTASTIC meal and) 10 minutes of PR conversation. If PR teams and reps are looking for ideas for next year, I think the benefits of coupons are vast. 1-your product coupon is way more likely to make it home with the blogger, 2-your product is not going to be discarded because it won't fit in a suitcase causing an annoyance for hotel staff/the blogger, 3-if the blogger doesn't want to try your product, they can easily give that coupon to a friend or relative it might be a better fit for (I gave my Trop50 coupon to my diabetic MIL), 4-the blogger can mindfully experience your product when they get home, separate of the mad PR rush in the expo hall, 5-the cost and waste of a coupon compared to another magnet/key fob/etc is very low for both the company and the planet. Good stuff!

    Since I did not experience any of the negativity while I was there, I can't speak to the other aspects of the post, but thank you so much for always being proactive. And thank you for being constantly able to define and redefine what BlogHer needs to be, usually when something gets this big, it stops being personal. Not with you guys. Your level of commitment is stunning.

    Lisa Stone 6 pts

    I agree Suzanne, I cannot wait!!

    Lisa Stone
    BlogHer Co-founder ( http://www.blogher.com/member/lisa-stone )
    Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )

    BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News ( http://www.blogher.com/topic/politics-news ).

    Suzanne 5 pts

    LOVE the Writing Track!!!  Great job, as always.

    And anyone who doesn't want stuff dropped in their hotel room can have it sent up the street to my apartment - I love stuff.  :)

    I really cannot wait for the conference in my hometown!

    Suzanne Reisman ( http://www.blogher.com/member/suzanne-reisman ), Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender ( http://blogher.org/topic/feminism-gender )
    Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants ( http://cussandotherrants.com/ )

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    Thanks for the kind words. It is more like you all are excellent partners in this. The feedback, even when critical, was so constructive and actionable. As always, the community leads the way.

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    ByJane 5 pts

    You three are excellent mullers!  Although I love and support BlogHer to death, I didn't think there was anything that could make me consider doing BlogHer'10 (which would be my FIFTH!).  Not only am I impressed with the changes you're making re the parties and the swag and the sponsors, I am thrilled with the inclusion of the Writers Track and removal of the Mommy Track.  I think this alone will change the focus of the conference in a way that returns the emphasis to Blog as opposed to Her. 

    Kudos! Congratulations! and Bravo!  I'm off to mull a proposal for the Writers Track.

    By Jane

    http://midlifebloggers.com 

    http://byjane.blogspot.com

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    I mean about the magnets. Who knew? Or. I guess I knew, but never thought about it in quite the way you bring up. Will go in our best practices document for sponsors!

    re: room drops: It's actually usually the mini-bar staff who do them. People who are i your room every day anyway, but I hear what you're saying. Hence the opt-out :) I loved room drops back when I was in the cable TV industry. I'm not sure what that means about me ;)

    I'm glad you didn't see bad behavior. Personally, I didn't really either. But we couldn't ignore the many reports from people who did!

    And I have to say: The crowd was very understanding about the terrible WIFI situation. After wonderful WIFI in 07 and 08, this was one of my personal disappointments. Obviously on the list to FIX.

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    Elisa Camahort 5 pts

    We appreciate your support.

    Elisa Camahort Page
    BlogHer
    elisa@blogher.com

    My BlogHer profile ( http://www.blogher.com/haystackprofile/viewprofile... ) truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

    Aurelia 5 pts

    Especially in regards to the room drops, because it wasn't overkill or allergies that got me, but honestly, as a woman, I was creeped out by the thought that a strange person had entered my room without my permission. I expect the hotel cleaner, and no one else. (There may be other women who didn't mind at all, but I think there would be a few like me.)

    And in many years of political and business convention attendance, I can honestly say that I have never seen room deliveries without any notice or permission. It was uncomfortable.

    That said, there could also be an option for people who don't want things in their room, to be able to pick them up at the front desk.

    The swag was fine, but could you let them know that magnets are not ok on items because they can cause issues with electronic items we might carry. I ended up throwing anything with a magnet away.

    I still say that the individual bloggers there were very nice and there was no bad behaviour but then again, my experience is male-dominated conventions. And in comparison....well, there is no comparison.

    Beyond that, all I really want is good wifi.

    Deb Rox 5 pts

    I fully support you protecting the BlogHer trademark and dynamic brand that has come to represent a community. Absolutely everything you are advancing in these changes is congruent with the mission of BlogHer. Pretty amazing!

    Deb
    www.debontherocks.com ( http://www.debontherocks.com/ )blog
    www.3smartgirlz.com ( http://www.3smartgirlz.com/ ) consulting