Communication Overtones Comments
Just to clear things up, I'm not presenting at the January meeting (at least I don't think I am).
My name is listed because I presented on a teleconference that the Blog Council hosted earlier this week.
Fabulous! The meeting sounds promising. I have no issues with the Council meeting privately, but I would like to see what comes of these meetings. What happens during these meetings? What content is being reviewed and in what context? Whose fingernails are dirty? I'd love to be a fly on the wall in that room!
Obviously not all bloggers can participate in the council conversation, buy-in from the blogger community is necessary to carry out the messages.
Josh; Thanks for clearing this up. Your name was there and it was in Orlando. At any rate, they would be smart to listen to you given your extensive experience working with global brands on social media efforts.
Lauren; I like what you said,"buy-in from the blogger community is necessary to carry out the messages." Very astute. I am sure they are listening.
I don't see a problem with what they're doing.
While I know I don't get to many social media conferences I have heard talk about how some of them have become big pitch-fests and it must be hard to learn while everyone's trying to sell you something.
I also know that some of us are really good with buzzwords and we talk a lot about ourselves but these companies are much more interested in bottom-line stuff. We're stuck in evangelist mode, but they're already converted - they don't want another speech on how everything's changed utterly and forever. They want company-specific strategies.
The good news is all of the companies you mention still value the perspective of someone from the outside. There is a legitimate need for that dispassionate observer and advisor, especially when the company is as big as the ones on this council.
The challenge will come when someone takes an "I'll call you when I need you" approach and they don't necessarily realize they need you. Of course, this is nothing new in the field of communications. Or any other field, for that matter. 
The Blogger Council is fine for the corporations involved. They have the right to do whatever they want. Perhaps they will come up with some ideas that the greater community can learn from and use.
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