saskblogs.ca

The 2007 Regina BBQ is in the books now, and I’ll say based on the comments from attendees, that it was another good event. Hopefully even more bloggers will make it next year and we improve on our modest attendance.

The turnout was a little too modest for the likes of the only media who showed up this time, since they seemed to have killed the story which was destined for Global News. It didn’t help that the reporter, Jennifer I. didn’t research the story by maybe reading the press release, visiting any of the attending bloggers websites, or show any interest at all in the story. Maybe Kate’s heckling that it was OK that Jennifer didn’t read blogs “because we didn’t watch TV news or read newspapers anyway,” scared her away… but more likely it was just apathy. Never mind that it’s sometimes said that bloggers will one day make TV reporters obsolete…

I’ve had several interviews with media about my blog, and now I see why someone who gets a lot of interviews like Kate, can get fed up with the mundane and ill informed questions directed at web loggers. I’ve had only worthwhile interviews, until Sunday. Someone of Jennifer’s nature, who’s surprised that we didn’t have laptops at our picnic off Wascana Lake, isn’t exactly suited to interviewing a boggle of bloggers. (I’ve just coined that phrase, so if you use it, I may become famous. Gaggle of geese, a murder of crows, and a boggle of bloggers.) I guess I could be more fair, and say that I need to win over people unconvinced about blogging’s charm, and if I couldn’t win over a reporter then it’s my fault or blogging is an uninteresting subject. More likely I think, it’s that Jennifer had her mind made up as to the kind of people at the BBQ, and decided upon seeing a small group that there’s not a lot of people interested in blogging. Considering Kate’s 6 Million page visits, I’d wager that Jennifer erred.

So without the media there for our entertainment, we kicked around a soccer ball a bit, and mostly talked about food, weather, health care, economics, housing boom, climate change, travel, Nepal, worms, elections, and of course our blogs and computers. When the crowd got too large for me to follow all conversation threads, I suppose I missed a range of other subjects.

Monty of Canadian Money Advisor compiled a list of the bloggers who attended. There was a handful of other guests without blogs to link here. Monty’s photo album is the best one online too.

• Saskboy – AbandonedStuff.com and saskblogs.ca
• Kate – Small Dead Animals
• Lance – catprint.ca
• John Murney – John Murney’s blog
• Kevin – UncleMeat
• Laura – Arcologist
• Jeremy – Pilots World
• Jaybird – melonade
• Rhonda – Rescue Regina

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Details of the picnic before it happened… and more wrap up.

Watch for details on Saskatoon’s 2007 meetup coming soon on saskblogs.ca!

The day of the BBQ has arrived, and the forecast is partly cloudy with a perfect 22 degrees Celsius. It should be a great day, and if you’re in town for the Rider game too… GO RIDERS!

I’ve scoped out the barbecue picnic site just meters west of the Science Center parking lot, and it looks like a good one to host the:

See the turn to the Science Center from Wascana Parkway/Broad St.

I’ll try to have a Saskatchewan flag on display at our picnic site, because if it’s a nice day there will be other picnickers out in the park too.

How do you get in on the fun and food?

• Please leave a comment here if you are coming with how many in your group including you are attending. We also have a spot on Facebook where you can also confirm. RSVPing is optional, but it helps me to plan the number of tables and supplies to have ready. (People who have left a comment at another thread on SaskBlogs.ca don’t have to re-confirm.)

• Everyone brings a food item so there will be enough to share in a pot-luck style meal. Please invite your friends. The more the merrier; have them confirm please, or count them in your stated total.

• Krydor has suggested we make an effort to “go green” this year, so even though I’ll have paper plates/cups/napkins/plastic utensils on hand, please feel welcome to bring your own reusable tableware. There may be carpooling opportunities, so if you’re looking for a ride from Saskatoon, or can offer one, leave a note in the comments here.

• Parking can be done at the Science Center’s parking lot.

The guest list so far includes the following who have confirmed they are coming, or are thinking about it. (The number they are coming with are in brackets):

Saskboy (2)
http://www.livejournal.com/users/insanitycase (4)
http://www.canadian-money-advisor.ca/
http://krydoristan.blogspot.com/ (4)
http://www.arcologist.blogspot.com/
http://katesmudges.blogspot.com/
John Murney
Jason Hammond
Tanya (4)
Terri S.
Kyle MacDonald
Amanda S.
Stephen Glauser
Ryan A.
Eric E.
Aidan M.
Karen K.
Ross

Lance

Kate

If you’re not sure what “SaskBlogs” is, it’s a collection of Saskatchewan websites maintained by writers known as “web loggers”. Lance compiled the list, and programmed the Aggregator which lists the most recent writings by the SaskBloggers. The SaskBloggers and anyone interested in meeting bloggers to talk about anything under the sun, are welcome to attend this potluck BBQ. There will be games available such as soccer, and whatever people want to bring to the park.