I entered the Virginia political blogosphere in February 2006 as a neophyte to the world of political blogging. Shortly after committing to this adventure, I learned about the plans for a bloggers conference to be held at Sorensen in Charlottesville. I eagerly signed up, wanting to have the opportunity to meet other bloggers and learn some stuff. The conference was not a disappointment (1, 2) but almost from the day it was announced, there were some who were upset about it. As the result, a second conference was scheduled, this time in Martinsville. Some bloggers went to both, others only to one or the other.
Fast forward to 2007. This year, there is no Sorensen conference, no doubt partially due to the amount of angst expressed over last year’s. There will be, however, a Blogs United conference this year in Hampton Roads. My friend, Jim Hoeft of Bearing Drift, and a number of others have put a lot of time and energy into making this a premier event for bloggers and non-bloggers alike. Nevertheless, the BS of last year continues. Sometimes, I just want to say to those who seem to always complain to just grow up.
You know, I’m a Washington Redskins fan but I can still talk football with a Dallas Cowboys fan. So I’m proud to be a member of the steering committee and I’m looking forward to talking about blogging with fellow bloggers and wannabe bloggers and people who don’t even know what a blog is.
Join us or not – it’s your choice. But we’re going to have a great time, so you might as well come 😉
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I thought I had cleared that misconception up long ago Vivian. Blogs United was never intended to be an alternative to Sorensen, at least not in the mind of those that worked to make it happen. I, along with my co-hosts badrose and Mary Rives Brown worked to make Blogs United just what the name implies, blogs from across the spectrum coming together for our common good.
I’m sure that Jim has the same mission in mind as he pulls this year’s version together, and next year’s host, whoever it may be, will do the same.
Alton – while you may not have intended it to be an alternative, there was clearly a number of folks who saw it as such. I’m not going back through all of the posts on the blogs back then but clearly the idea of a second conference last year started with folks who wanted more control over the conference.
In any event, that’s water under the bridge – or at least I hope it will be.
Looking forward to seeing you.