Communicopia

Come hear Avaaz.org founder and Executive Director Ricken Patel share his secrets on how they built the world’s (and Canada’s) largest online advocacy organization, with 3.3 million active members (320,000 in Canada!), in just over a year.

Avaaz grew out of the MoveOn political action network, who transformed the face of progressive change online in the US. Ricken’s team has built Avaaz into the world’s largest and most active online voice for change, helping to transform the Bali climate change negotiations, buying ads to sway public opinion towards peace in the Middle East, and launching the world’s fastest growing online petition in support of Tibetan independence this year.

We're excited to let you know about the Open Everything Retreat, coming this fall to Hollyhock. Former Web of Change co-convener Mark Surman is at the helm, supported by Jason Mogus, David Eaves, and Mike Lewkowitz, to explore how the meme of "open" is changing everything:

Open Everything is a global conversation about the art, science and spirit of 'open'. It gathers people using openness to create and improve software, education, media, philanthropy, architecture, neighbourhoods, workplaces and the society we live in: everything. It's about thinking, doing and being open.

I was interviewed about 3 months ago for a case study to be published in BC Business Magazine. The authour, Tony Wanless, is a smart guy who does his own corporate consulting in addition to writing a regular column and being a prolific blogger on business issues and trends.