It's a birthday event a few days before U.S. Independence Day (July 4). There will be ice cream, cake and hundreds of smart, committed people eager to share information and try to make a difference.

If you accept our  invitation, you.ll be able to:

--          Learn from the pioneers of citizen journalism, and find out how they are building community on the web and in print.

--          Join and talk to some of the most-read and most-insightful political bloggers about what will happen in November, 2006,  and in 2008.

--          Meet some of the teachers and kids who are making civic engagement in the classroom cool -- and multimedia.

--          Understand the possibilities for political and group participation -- and journalism -- opened by cutting-(and bleeding)-edge Internet information technology.

Come for three days, or two. And don.t plan on just listening--  At the Thurs., June 29 roundtable summit, join a series of small-group discussions with skilled leaders seeking fresh ideas and solutions from ever participant.

Who else is attending? Check the wiki-list -- and add your name!

Share conversation and ideas in our "Media Cafe" . . . organize a FREE post-conference "meet up" with your group or friends. And at the end of the formal program, take a summer afternoon to raft, hike, bike, view museums of cartoons, basketball, colonial America --  attend a broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" at Tanglewood . . .  . shop . . .  or just embark on a long Independence Day weekend in rural New England.

Most important, leave Amherst with a new sense of optimism and purpose about the future of journalism, media. . . having shared ideas and plans with kids and veterans, geeks and  techno-peasants . . . all of whom have one purpose in mind  . . . fostering participatory democracy and community.

This is not a one-industry conference. We want to open conversations about the future of  governing and community which cross industries, cross cultures, cross politics and cross ages.  And we need your help to do it.  This exploration is taking place on a great university campus . with dozens of volunteers helping in a non-partisan, non-profit effort.

Won.t you help by showing up and adding your voice?

Register before May 29 and save 20% off the full-event conference price of $495.00.  Choose hotel lodging or stay in a university dorm room . fresh sheets and wired Internet . for only $29.00 a night.   Still short on time or money? Choose our Friday-Saturday only track and register today for only $225.  Worried about travel costs . competitive fares are available to Hartford-Springfield.s Bradley International Airport, just over an hour from campus.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE NOW or download our conference program (PDF VERSION).

 Thanks!

--  Bill Densmore, Norm Sims, Mary Mazzeo, Emily Moses, Scott Walker and many collaborators on The Media Giraffe Project.