*** Democracies Online Newswire - http://www.e-democracy.org/do *** This should be a great conference. For those outside the U.S. I really encourage you to try and make it. I have had the opportunity to meet many interesting people across the ponds and to the north - this might be a great opportunity to link up on the civic side with activities in the United States. Steven Clift Democracies Online Newswire News For Immediate Release Date: July 20, 2000 Contact: Pamela Montgomery Phone: 303-571-4343, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Using Technology to Strengthen Democracy National Civic League Conference Set for November DENVER - July 20, 2000 - "Wired for Civic Engagement: Using New Technology to Build Community," the National Civic League's 106th National Conference on Governance, takes place November 9 to 11, 2000, in Washington, D.C. Some of the country's leading experts in technology and community building will gather with government officials, citizen activists, nonprofit organizations, and business leaders to discuss technology, and its potential to revitalize participation in civic life. "Today's technology is allowing all sectors of our society to communicate with each other in ways unheard of just a few years ago. Through technology we have enormous potential to reconnect previously disengaged citizens to civic society," notes Christopher T. Gates, President of the National Civic League. "We're hoping this conference will deepen the discussion about the possibilities this creates for strengthening democracy, and the potential for building healthier communities." Steven Clift, founder of Democracies Online Newsire, and a featured conference speaker, describes "Wired for Civic Engagement" as "one of the first conferences in the Untied States coming from more traditional civil society circles to look closely at civic engagement in the Information Age." Conference sessions will explore the effect of technology on grassroots activism and political campaigns; the role of government and philanthropy; the manner in which different generations are responding to technology; and the digital divide * the economic gulf between those with access to technology and those without. Presenters include an impressive array of distinguished civic and technology authorities, including Howard Rheingold, author, The Virtual Community; Dr. David Matthews, President, The Kettering Foundation; William Galston, Director, Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, University of Maryland, and author, Does the Internet Strengthen Community?; and Kathy Bushkin, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, America Online, Inc., and Board Member, AOL Foundation. Additional confirmed speakers include: - Dr. Paul M.A. Baker, Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology - Michael Cornfield, Research Director, Democracy Online Project, George Washington University - Rebecca Fairley-Raney, Reporter, New York Times on the Web - Christopher T. Gates, President, National Civic League - Dr. Tracy Gray, Vice President, Youth Services, The Morino Institute - Dr. J. Thomas Hennessey, Jr., Chief of Staff, The Mason Enterprise Center, George Mason University - Dr. Kenan Jarboe, President, Athena Alliance - Tom Mushow, Program Director, Syracuse MetroNet - John O'Looney, Public Service Associate, Carl Vinson Institute of Government - Scott B. Reents, President, The Democracy Project - Ari Schwartz, Policy Analyst, Center for Democracy and Technology - Karen Stokes, Executive Director, Coalition for Low Income Community Development - Mark Strama, Vice President, Government Affairs, Election.com, and founder of NewVoter.com, Inc. Session formats will include skills-building workshops, breakout sessions and panel discussions. A concurrent Technology Exhibition will showcase both organizations demonstrating how technology has increased civic engagement, and vendors providing technology designed to build community. The National Civic League is a 106-year-old non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening citizen democracy by transforming democratic institutions. NCL accomplishes its mission through technical assistance, training, publishing, research, and the All-America City Awards. The National Civic League, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, also has an office in Washington, D.C. For further information about "Wired for Civic Engagement," email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To register online visit http://www.ncl.org/NCL/NCG00reg.HTM Pam Montgomery Communications Specialist National Civic League 1445 Market St., Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ph: (303) 571-4343 fax: (303) 571-4404 ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. Clift - W: http://www.publicus.net Minneapolis - - - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minnesota - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667 USA - - - - - - - ICQ: 13789183 *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To unsubscribe instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. ***
