Green Community Alive and Well at Blogher 2012

Some of my green posse :  Micaela  (Mindful Momma), Me, Lori of Groovy Green Livin, Harriet (Climate Mama), Leigh  (Green 4 You), Katy (Non-Toxic Kids) and Brenna (Almost All the Truth).  (Picture by Lori) at Moms Clean Air Force Party. (Missing from the picture are  our fabulous hostesses, Ronnie Citron-Fink and Dominique Browning.)

A couple of weeks ago, 4500 women descended on New York City for Blogher 2012.  In all the years I have been blogging, I have stayed away from this conference.  It just seemed too overwhelming even for a social butterfly like me.  This year, I bit the bullet to see all my green mom friends.

Was it chaotic?  Absolutely, in a like a Loehman’s having a huge sale chaotic.  And there was hardly anything to eat if you were a nondairy eating vegetarian.

When you sit in front of your computer and laugh at your own jokes, you yearn to get out and meet real people.  So, off I went to NYC  hoping to meet new connections.  For me,  it was so crazy.   I felt like I was on a moving conveyor belt going from one function to the other.

Highlight!

The keynote speakers were amazing:  Martha Stewart, Katie Couric, Christy Turlington Burns, Soledad O’Brien and Malaak Compton Rock. (Photo of Christy Turlington Burns by Lori Groovy Green Livin.)

Martha was her amazing self with these awesome great orange wedges.  The woman is a powerhouse. Katie Couric was so real and down to earth.  The crowd erupted when she stated she loved the smell of estrogen in the room. Go Katie. Go Katie. And yes, the woman has some biceps.

As she walked across the stage to leave, people swarmed the bottom of the stage, passing her cards and reaching out to shake her hand.  What struck me was her lack of “star” quality as she shook people’s hands and acknowledged others as she was escorted from the stage.

Me and my big mouth had an exchange with her as well as I thanked her for getting the word out about colon cancer.  She said, “did you get your colon screening?” and I said absolutely.  What a gracious lady.   (Y’all know about my pre-C polyp?)

And Great news!  Katie picked me to help her with her new show.  (And then someone pinched me.)

The last panel that I attended featured Soledad O’Brien (CNN) Christy Turlington Burns, and Malaak Compton Rock.  They all spoke about the charitable organizations they founded.  And yes, Christy Turlington Burn is drop dead beautiful. I swear she didn’t have on any make-up.

Afterwards, both Christy and Malaak came to the end of the stage and kneeled down to talk to the Blogher women.

At one point, I saw Christy seated on the stage hugging people.  Malaak was engaged in deep conversation with others.  The whole scene took my breath away.  We think that “stars” are so aloof, but both these women were shining examples of the depth of their caring.  So, beautiful.

I even got a photo op with Soledad O’Brien.  She couldn’t have been more gracious. I thanked her for being such a wonderful storyteller.  (Um, from one storyteller to another. She even leaned over and said “nice work to me.”  And then someone pinched me again.)

Oh  the multitude of vendors, swag, and classes to attend. Unfortunately, I didn’t really learn anything in the classes since I am a jaded old blogger.  How can you teach an old dog new tricks?

The Best Part

The best part was rooming with Brenna of Almost the Truth, and seeing all my green friends throughout the weekend.

Lindsay Dahl – Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Blog; Janice Roodsari-Momma Words (her camera) Katy Farber – Non-Toxic Kids; Heather Clisby – Second Chance Ranch; Lori Popkewitz Alper – Groovy Green Livin; Tiffany Washko – Nature Moms; Beth Terry – My Plastic free Life; Stephanie Moram – Good Girl Gone Green; Micaela Preston – Mindful Momma; Sommer-Green and Clean Mom and Me at dinner.

And We Danced and Ate Too.

We danced. (By the way, I taught Madonna ALL of her moves.)  I kept telling the DJ to change the music since it all started sounding the same afer awhile.  He politely ignored me.  He clearly wasn’t reading his audience.  Doesn’t he know I am a 4X bar mitzvah party mother. I could out DJ him any day, any time.

Our final night together, we all gathered together for one last meal.   Again, my big mouth got to MC the dinner to break the ice. (I am now forever barred from asking any more questions from these green mamas.)

Note:  Some of my other green gals, Lisa of Condo Blues, Penelope of Toxic Baby and Karen of EcoKaren  are not in any of my pictures, but I got to spend time with them as well.

Will I go again next year?  Probably not.  I loved seeing everyone but think there has to be a better way to connect.  I am open to suggestions, green mamas.

Join the Conversation:

• Did you feel like you were Goldilocks at Blogher?  Too overwhelming?
• Do you like going to conventions or conferences?  What is the best part?
• How do you connect with people online?
• Any Blogher highlights?

 

 

 

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