Check it out--the virtual convention center in Second Life, Virtualis, is having its grand opening today and tomorrow. (For one person's impression after taking a tour, check out Rob Everton's review--not much I can add to it, other than you really do have to see it to believe it.)
Anyway, there's a bunch of good meeting planner info goodies being offered as part of the celebrations. Today I got to check out some of the opening ceremonies, including an address on innovation and education from Stuart Mann, Ph.D, Dean, Harrah College of Hotel Administration, University of Nevada-Las Vegas; and a funny, funny bit from Tim Wilkins. I also made the teleport over from the ballroom to the Eisenstodt learning center (which is unbelievably cool--I have to post some pics from there) for a session by Joan Eisenstodt on learning environments.
I kept having to skip out to get work done (including one time during the keynotes when somehow my mic was apparently transmitting phone-ringing and keyboard tapping noises, even though I and my phone were several rooms and closed doors away. Must have been a ghost in the machine!). But I hope to be able to really get into more of it tomorrow.
If you want to join in the fun, just drop Virtualis founder and President of Corporate Planners Unlimited, Inc., Dan Parks an e-mail. (It's free, but you do have to register with Dan so he can make sure only people who should be there are there--there are some riff-raffy types in Second Life, just like in the real world.)
Tomorrow's agenda looks really good, too, with sessions on emerging technology with James Hogg; a CMP bootcamp; a keynote by Experience Economy author Joe Pine; legal eagle John Foster on international contracts; and fellow legal eagle Barbara Dunn on meetings-related intellectual property issues.
Then on to fireworks and dancing with live bands. I hope to see you there.