The party was great. We were wondering how to integrate the Bilbo and Frodo Baggins theme and also the missional conversation about the web but things manages to composite quite nicely. Each one of the 30 or so guests identified themselves, or were given an identity, and wore their LOTR badges. It was amazing to see the variety of people there - pastors, geeks, software engineers, people working with the poor. It was nice to see them all in the 'Fellowship of the Ring', thinking together.
Brad Sargent was let loose on the crowd with his huge LOTR posters and action figures. Thanks Brad.
As for the question "How can we take advantage of the opportunity of the web" and related questions, I don't think we answered any of them at all. But we met each other and started the process and already began to see huge potential through networking, friendship and common vision. Lets keep the conversation rolling and stay in touch with each other. Maybe we should do this again.
Thanks to Michael Toy and family for being wonderful hosts. Your house is really so much fun. I am staying in the Hobbitat which is built underground in his back yard. You can see the skylight in the back of this photo. What a treat!
Joe Hernandez of CityTeam came early to cook a really wicked BBQ. Those beans were great! Thanks to the CityTeam people that contributed food. You guys rock! CityTeam are initiating a new project called Reaching the Online Generation.
Michael A. asked me to write down some of the helpful books and resources I mentioned. Heres a few:
Wikinomics [on TSK], The Language of New Media (PDF), The Long Tail, Linked, Starfish and the Spider.
For some more of my thoughts on topics that came up, read Reclusing Ourselves to Death and 1024 Window
Bloggers in the Fellowship of the Ring?
Apart from the bloggers already mentioned, there were more. Pastor and Triathlete Dan Perkins has already blogged some thoughts on the party. Jon Reid, who I got to meet face to face after many years of blog-chat, was there. I know there were a lot more bloggers. Joshua Rudd, who has been blogging since 1996 [yes - longer than me] was there with his family. I actually stayed with them on Sunday night.
Oh - Michael Toy reflects on the party on his blog as does Jon Reid.
If you were there and have a blog, would you mind leaving a link in the comments below? Any photos?
Thanks to everyone who came. Lets stay in touch. Lets do this again and next time move it to the next level.
Technorati Tags: bilbo , frodo, lotr, michael toy, puppy, silicon valley
