[Imc] regional IMC shindig?

[Mike Lehman]

I think the idea of a regional conference is a good one. It might be
good to consider having one of these two approaches for a focus:

1) A regional, in the sense of getting together with other downstate
Illinois (and maybe/if Terre Haute,IN?) wannabe IMCs with a focus on
collaborating with their start-up. Our recent experience starting an IMC
in a small, Midwestern city might be more relevant to them than trying
to include all the already-existing regional IMCs, which are mostly in
major cities. The idea of a regional news operation could still be an
important part of this. This approach would be much easier to pull
together (esp. by August) and put on for us than the following approach.

2) A regional that would include ALL regional IMCs, big, little, veteran
or newby. Still a good idea, but maybe a longer term project, simply
because of more groups being involved, a greater need for facilities to
accomodate what may be a much larger crowd (if there is good attendance)
and would require more coordination of an agenda and workshops between
everyone involved. Maybe this is something that might better be a result
of proposal #1?

Mike Lehman