Leda Dederich, my close ally and friend, has recruited me to contribute to this year’s Web of Change conference. I’m honored and excited, and since I know about half the invite list already, I’m looking forward to a fun and productive few days.

The description from their site:

Web of Change is an annual gathering connecting senior leaders working at the convergence of online strategy, technology, and social change. Held every fall at Hollyhock Centre on Cortes Island, British Columbia, Web of Change offers an exceptional environment for learning, engagement, and reflection.

I’ll probably end up facilitating two sessions. First, a discussion about “distributed phone banking” tools, which let any volunteer with a web connection make campaign calls from their homes. I know a good deal about the subject after running Congressman John Hall’s Home Team program in 2006.

Second, a conversation about the power of constituent data. As in, how can campaigns and social justice groups use constituent data to better inspire and mobilize their people? We live in the information age. It’s getting easier and easier to collect more about data about our constituents. (Though getting all that data in one place still is painful, which is where dotOrganize fits in … but I digress.) Once we have all that data — once we know our people better — what do we do with that information? How can it make us better organizers, not just better marketers?

Both discussions fascinate and inspire me. If I make any breakthroughs, I promise to report back here!