Society and business are beginning to understand the power of the blogger — not just in entertaining the masses but in shaping opinions, educating the public and building networks. This brave new world – a large part of what is now known as ”social media”– is one full of emerging opportunities. But it is also a world rife with plagiarism and abuse. Many of us, sadly, are seeing various companies (and even certain ahem newspaper people) use a writer’s words and energies to their advantage.

If the writer is being credited, linked to, or reimbursed for his or her time/talent there are rarely problems. But as social media grows, so does the number of opportunists willing to exploit said bloggers. NOT Cool.

Bloggers need to organize. Bloggers also need a place where they can go for guidance on tech issues, legal issues, blogging ethics and information on community outreach events. And that’s why the St. Louis Bloggers Guild was born.

The program is still in its infancy. We’ve got VERY BIG ideas and we’re adapting as we grow. Right now, we’re trying to get the word out to the rest of the bloggers in St. Louis, St. Charles County, and the metro east. So if you’re a blogger in the St. Louis area, visit the St. Louis Bloggers Guild for more information.

 I know! Two whole posts in a row NOT related to suburban homelife. Crazy!

P.S. There’s a post at Midwestern Mommy Reviews on the “L” word. (Not “love,” not “lesbians” not “lasagna” but “lice”. Parents of school-aged kids? You might want to read this review written on behalf of Mom Central.)

T’was 11 nights before Christmas and all through “The ‘lou”

Certain bloggers were driving to get together for brew.

They met at Llewellyn’s to talk and to laugh.

They discussed lots of things, like their beloved craft.

People reconnected with blog friends of yore

And met new friends and gabbed even more.

Um… Yeah. That’s all I got. Sorry. Kinda short on completion time. But as you can glean from the first few lines, a bunch of us St. Louis bloggers got together to hoist pints and talk of all things bloggable and at times, unbloggable. T’was fun. Very, very fun.

A few yards from the Webster Groves bar, A bun’s life, Kristie and I met up with Raquita and her hubby Jerry.  As the five of us walked in, we soon found many familiar faces (Farrell, Jaelithe and  Rebecca were already there). 

 I finally got to meet a blogger I’ve been reading a while now. I also got to meet a blogger I’ve been reading since Octoberish. (These are the two hot chicks that organized the shin-dig. They did a FABULOUS job by the way. And let me tell you, they are both sweet, very pretty, and great fun to chat with.)

Oh and Dana and her hubby (who was dubbed “The Sexy”) were there too.

And you know what else was really cool? Talking with Kurt Greenbaum who works at the Post-Dispatch and does social media over there.

I didn’t get to meet any other bloggers. Course that was mainly because I ducked out after about 90 minutes. But it would have been super awesome to meet this man and this chick  and this chick  as I’ve heard many great things about these peeps. There is also a woman I wanted to talk with but I don’t know her name – I think she might be with the Post as well? (Long brown hair, glasses.) The hubby, boy, and I had another social appointment lined up afterwards. So we set out on our way.

Hopefully (Hint, hint!) this will be the first of many (hint, hint!) get togethers St. Louis blogger style!

P.S. Speaking of blogging get-togethers and booze…. Is it true that San Fancisco will host BlogHer in 2008?

This past week was an emotionally draining one. On Monday, my son began kindergarten. Later that evening, I wrote a dying friend a “farewell” note. She died on Wednesday. And on Friday evening, I was attending her wake.

Later Friday night, I met up with some supa cool bloggin’ babes. The banter! The camaraderie! The martini! T’was was just what my heavy heart needed.

Farrell joined us for the first time. And us straight-haired girls gathered around to covet her hair. And it was awesome to see blogging “slacker” Jaelithe come out. (If you ever want to guilt her into responding put a message on Raquita’s blog asking for her. heehee.) And speaking of Raquita? She’s very ready to give birth. We figured if she gave birth at the restaurant, it would be no big deal. She’s surrounded by moms. Plus? Rebecca used to be a doula. And Kristie is a nurse (who’s gone through labor four times herself). So between the bunch of us, we had it covered. 

We caught up on each other’s lives. And mostly, talked of things deemed ”unblogable” while savoring some yummy sushi from St. Louis Fish Market. (Great choice Dana!) The sushi was so fine I almost proposed marriage to the chef when he came over to talk to us. (And by “us” I mean Dana.)

T’was fun. And more plans to get together are in the works. So we hope to see those of you who couldn’t make it (and you know who you are) next time!

P.S. I did have photos but my camera battery was low and my pics turned out wonky. Bummer.

P.S.S. Oh and Kristie recently said “farewell” to her beloved Sonny. Stop by her place and show her your love.

P.S.S.S. If you’ve got some wiggly kiddos who hate to sit still when it comes to applying sunscreen click here. I’ve got a new review on Midwestern Mommy Reviews about KINeSYS from The Parent Bloggers Network.  Good stuff!

Next Friday evening (Aug. 17.)

Downtown.

Sushi.

Slackermommy, Prologos, Mamalogues and I plan to be there. And we hope you’ll be there too! (The more, the merrier. So if you aren’t from the St. Louis area but will be in town, let us know!)

Visit one of these ladies (or me) to express your interest and get the details.