(No NTEN chat 8/19/08)

Last week, we were lucky enough to have Paul Chaney, President of IBNMA stop by the NTEN Office, to tell us all about the relaunch of the IBNMA (International Blogging and New Media Association). It's only $25 to join, and it's open to all bloggers, whether corporate or personal. Paul told us all about how it was conceived as a trade association, and its mission is "to provide research, information, education and advocacy to bloggers, podcasters, social media consultants and others". I think Paul got some good advice and suggestions from us, for example: building strategic partnerships with other blogging-related groups like Alltop, BlogHer, or Social Media Club; eventually having virtual meetings between bloggers; having mentors or sponsors who would encourage people who have personal blogs. He also said they are thinking about ways they might have corporate or sponsor memberships as well as individual memberships. It was a really interesting chat and we were all enthused about joining and finding out more as time goes on.

Anyway, I am unfortunately not going to be in the NTEN office this week as I am currently in San Diego at ASAE, nor next week as I will be at the beach, but if the Office Hours is still ongoing in September I will be back then. Just in case, I want to say a really big thank you to Lindy Dreyer for hanging out with me in the chat room every week this summer so I wouldn't be lonely in case no-one else showed up - Lindy, you are the best!! : )

See you all on the other side.