Today we are pleased and proud to announce the theme, dates and location for BlogHer '09, our fifth annual conference.

One of my favorite seasons is upon us. I'm not alluding to sweater season or snowmen (though I'm all about those leather boots you're wearing, you fashion maven, you). I'm not even referring to the holiday season. Nope, I'm talking about something much, much hotter: BlogHer's annual summer conference.

While we're working on finalizing our BlogHer '09 venue contract, so we can announce that by the end of the month, I am happy to keep BlogHer '09 on your mind by announcing the Call for Ideas for BlogHer '09.

If you're thinking this announcement seems earlier than last year, you are correct! We aim to have this Call for Ideas running for a month and to be able to announce at least a skeleton schedule before the end of the year!

Question: Why a "Call for Ideas" and not a "Call for Speakers" or "Call for Proposals" or something like that?

BlogHer DC kicks off bright and early on October 13, 2008. This is the place to find the liveblogs, which will be posted shortly after the sessions end. Check back often as the links go live!

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Blogging Basics: I Blog, Therefore I Am… How to find your blogging mojo

Online Community building as natural promotional tool

There's still time to register for BlogHer Boston and BlogHer DC...but not much!

Click here to register for BlogHer Boston.

Click here to register for BlogHer DC.

*UPDATE*

The deadline for carpool sign-ups is quickly approaching!  Anyone interested in carpooling to BlogHer DC must email Erin Groh by 12noon PST/3pm EST tomorrow, Friday, October 3rd!  Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

-Original Post-

If you've been waiting to reserve your hotel room (or to register!) for BlogHer BOSTON or BlogHer DC, time is almost up! The last day to reserve your room in Boston is this Friday; DC is TODAY, Monday, September 22.

Reminder:

Today I am disappointed to announce that BlogHer's Reach Out Tour scheduled for next month will now include Boston and DC only. We are canceling Nashville, Greensboro, Atlanta and New Orleans.

We decided to do the Tour one year ago, based on community polling about where BlogHer ’08, the annual conference, should be. Our ambitious plan was to do six full BlogHer Conferences, complete with multiple tracks of programming, full meals, fabulous cocktail parties and schwag.

Now through September 12th BlogHer is running a new contest for BlogHer community members who bring a beginner to BlogHer's Reach Out Tour. Depending on the number of BlogHer Beginners you refer you can get registration discounts...up to a free pass...on your own registration for either the Tour or next year's annual event, and the grand prize winner will receive a free conference pass along with up to $500 in travel dollars for either the Tour or BlogHer '09.

If you're anything like me, you cannot believe it's going to be September already...which means that autumn really is right around the corner, with BlogHer's Reach Out Tour right along with it.

(And also if you're anything like me, you also haven't begun packing for your vacation even though your plane leaves tomorrow morning at dawn. Ahem.)

So before you head into the long Labor Day weekend for your final(ish) summer hurrahs, don't forget to make plans for BlogHer's Tour. We kick off in Boston in only 45 days!