The idea is to create an event which has some elements of an Open Space unconference, coordinated with a structured event- film showings, appearances by national and local leaders, political and inspiring music, some local and some provided by the touring groups. Plus you can join in fun participatory contests, like the "free speech contest" in which participants are given 2-3 minutes to put across a point, and the favorites are uploaded to Blip.tv. and the Unconventional Site.

The issues: How can we create a coalition of real opposition to the existing powers-that-be? Where is the opposition party? What would happen if the Ron Paul supporters, Kucinich supporters, the disenfranchised Libertarian, Green, Republican, Democrats all could find common ground and build a real opposition/coalition party for genuine election reform? What are the most strategic actions we can take together for: media reform, election reform, banking & corporate reform, energy sustainability, human/civil rights and Constitutional freedoms, exposing and holding accountable criminal elements in government and corporations, preventing and stopping wars for empire? Where do we all agree? The current crisis includes the economy, wars based on lies, climate change, the loss of our Bill of Rights. Can we restore our Republic and aspire to Democracy? Add to these questions.........join us and create your own Unconventional unconference You can utilize online tools for organizing like www.barcamp.org

Events are one way to connect; another is to do it is through social networks online. Those of us who wish to make a better world for ourselves, our children and their children are finding each other... There's the NING Social Network , where you can create your own social networks, private or public. If you wish to upload music, video for the Unconventional Tour, or blog or comment, you can join Unconventional NING

The Unconventional Wiki is a way of working together online, especially useful for creating materials, keeping track of collaborations and projects.

Bar Camp is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from participants. An Unconventional way of organizing, which could be quite useful in the grassroots realm for creating real strategies, think tanks for bringing the US back on track.

Facebook is a way for friends to keep in touch, and expand your network of friends, share and explore.

The HUB". Humanity Unites Brilliance. is another social network for those wishing to pursue their humanitarian interests, where groups called "Circles of Brilliance" are created for those with similar interests, eg., Music for Peace.

All of the above are Tools.

Coming together Face to Face and friend to friend; both online and real world are equally important in our organizing. We can follow threads, and send out mass emails, have conferences and webinars online, a thousand friends on MySpace or FaceBook. We can overdub our parts online and never see the band. This cannot replace the experience of feeling musicians playing together, dancing in the same space as others, which gives us a deeper connection, strengthens our grasroots networks and humanity.

We can share musical performances on YouTube; but not the excitement of being in the aura of the music as it breathes and play ys with the musicians together. It's great that if we cannot be there "live" at an event, YouTube extends the life and audience to the entire world. In some ways, this coming together face to face, person to person, in conferences, at rallies and events is like our "Church". ""For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them" There is definitely something to that idea, whether you're a believer, there is a spirit and strength in numbers of people gathering together.

A Political Marketplace, whether giving things away for free or selling books, T-Shirts, resources, DVDs in a festival, at events, in parks, at farmer's markets, inviting tablers from organizations brings new people into a movement.

Survival in the world of activism requires strategies, agreements, and finding ways to be supportive and supported. It's a long term project. Groups like the Santa Barbara Infoshop are providing resources in the do-it-yourself culture which many of us have embraced. Do-it-yourself Democracy. If the politicians won't, we will. There are numerous ways to get involved as a volunteer, even though it seems that time is money, in our culture and that having the extra time and money sometimes seems like a luxury we cannot afford. However, moving away from the limited thinking, if each of us gave one hour a week to community, or even two,, think how much brain and muscle power that would be? What can we do with all this power?

Many of us have become entrepreneurial spirits, and find ways for our day jobs to become our work for social change. Having venues and distribution for our work, becomes of central importance --where real conversations and conversions take place. And it's fun to get out of the house and meet new people!