What is BarCamp Nashville you ask??? Well, from the official website:

BarCamp is Nashville’s free “un”-conference for the digital and technical community. The BarCamp format was brought to Nashville by Marcus Whitney and Dave Delaney in 2007. It’s free to attend — thanks to our generous sponsors — and the un-conference format encourages community learning: attendees are also encouraged to sign up to present a session. (Did we mention it’s free?)

BarCamp has become the premier technology conference in Nashville, bringing together the best minds and representation of the hottest companies in the internet, entrepreneurial, new media, and software industries, among others. Over 300 people attended the first year, and 2008′s attendance was nearly double. We’re projecting great growth for 2009. Sign up today to attend, and consider signing up to speak as well!

Pretty cool, huh?!?! It was 7 hours of sessions, all 30 minutes in length with lunch available and even drinks from the bar! There were sessions on everything from blogging and podcasting to programming for the web and the iPhone to legal issues surrounding digital content and even how to network at gatherings. Dave Delaney gave a tremendous talk about what happens to your online presence after you pass on entitled, “We’re all going to DIE!!”

I have attended various conferences and workshops in the past and I can honestly say that BarCamp was far and away more informative and beneficial than any other “professional” event I’ve ever attended. We, here in Nashville, have a vibrant and active “tech” community that seeks to not only encourage collaboration among the many tech folks and companies in the area but also to put Nashville on the tech “map” so that we can not only grow the tech community but so that our community can be a leader in innovation in the tech community at large.

I originally heard about this conference from a friend (one of my kayaking buddies) who was on the planning committee for this year’s BarCamp. She suggested I should come since she knew I was looking for something better to do for a “job” and knew that at the very least, I’d have an opportunity to get some good information but also to meet some like-minded tech savvy “geeks”. And, let me tell you, she was absolutely right.

Thru BarCamp, I have made a number of new friends. And, this might sound weird, but for the first time in my 45 years, these friends were NOT related to my work or my school or my family. For the first time in my adult life, I’m making friends without the benefit of these other arenas. And, it is a little strange for me. But, at the same time, it is also wonderful.  Ah, but I digress.  This will all be covered under one of the upcoming Best of Blog Challene 2009 topics, so stay tuned.

The biggest thing I got out of BarCamp was the knowledge and inspiration to take a big step forward and to launch a website based on one of my passions: helping others achieve their dreams, as I mentioned at the very end of my post for the first day of the Best of Blog Challenge.  BarCamp gave me the strength of mind to start The Dream Shepherd.  And, while it’s definitely a work in progress, it is my baby and I am hoping to make it a place for others to find inspiration and the tools necessary to excel and/or achieve their dreams.  After all, it’s better to start a trip than to plan it out forever.  As Lao-tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”  And, the knowledge gained at BarCamp gave me the courage to take that first step.  My journey has begun and I feel awesome!

It is with this in mind that I started feeling that I could give so that others could share in the “wealth” in which this country practically wallows.  But, what do do?  Who to give to? I don’t have limitless funds.  And then, a couple things came to my attention:

Via Twitter, I found an extraordinary young woman named Sloane Berrent and her equally extraordinary friend Doug Campbell.  They had the idea to tie their thirtieth birthdays (2 days apart) to a cause close to their hearts: helping procure malaria nets for orphanages and refugee camps in Northern Ghana.

The goal was to raise $20,000 for malaria nets for orphanages and refugee camps in Northern Ghana. This will be accomplish in conjunction with Netting Nations, a registered 501c3 organization.

Thus, the seven day, seven city “birthday party” event was born.  And, they managed to not only reach their goal of enough money for 4000 nets, but thru generous donations from the netting manufacturer, they actually were able to procure an additional 2000 nets at no additional cost.  One hundred percent of the money raised went into the cause and the netting manufacturer, Vestergaard-Frandsen even donated all of their time and logistics so that no monies donated would benefit Sloane, Doug or Vestergaard-Frandsen.  Inspiring, certainly.  Wait, there’s more.

Thru Twitter again I found  a local Nashville social media specialist and all around cool guy, Dave Delaney, who decided to participate in a cause to gather donations for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation during the month of November when it is renamed Movember. Dave created a local Nashville “Team Nash Stashe” to collectively raise the money.  To date, the team has raised over $2300.00!

Lastly, thru Twitter AGAIN, I became of a non-profit micro-lending organization called Kiva.  Kiva basically creates a means for people with money to loan it, at 0% interest) to people needing money for their business.  How do they do this?  Well, they use a vast network of local lenders and other organizations (churches, outreach groups, etc) that have connections in communities all over the world.  Thru these connections, local business owners and entrepreneurs seek loans, often in amounts that are almost trivial to us here in the USA.  They seek loans to provide materials or equipment to start or grow their businesses.  Kiva collects all of the information about these folks and provides a website where people like you and me can fund all or part of any loan request, in $25.00 increments.  The business owner or entrepreneur gets their loan funded and we get the satisfaction of knowing we helped someone a world away.  After four years of operation, Kiva loans have seen a remarkable 98% repayment rate!!

All of this finally pushed me into action.  I have decided to raise $450.00 for Kiva loan funding during the month of December.  I am simply hoping that upto 45 of my friends and family or anyone else that would like to donate, would provide $10.00 towards my goal.  Please know that I will also be contributing to this effort in a significant way so that the final total might not need to be 45 of you.  Rest assured that 100% of any money you donate WILL go to Kiva.  And, I am working out a means where you will be able to pick which Kiva loanee you would like to receive your loan.  Remember this IS a loan.  Except in some extreme cases, you WILL receive your loaned amount back in the future.  You would then be free to receive your money back or turn it around and fund another business loan.  It’s completely up to you.

So, please stay tuned.  I will have the details and linkage for donating up in the next few days.  And, whether you choose to participate, or not, I would also ask that you help spread the word.  Please forward this on Facebook and/or Twitter.  Just remember that I don’t wish to “spam” anyone so be mindful of how you spread the word.

Peace and love,

Les