Good morning, Netizens...

The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!

I've held off making this important announcement for the last few days, cautiously thinking just how I would make this announcement without incurring various people's wrath because they weren't invited. Later this afternoon, a group of Russian journalists are arriving in Spokane for a tour of our area's news media, including (among a few) The Spokesman-Review, KREM, KXLY, Spokane Public Radio, KSPS, Clear Radio and KHQ.

Among the stops, which are many, Monday evening there will be an invitation only barbeque at which point everyone will meet and greet one another. At 10:30 on Friday morning, there will be an invitation-only get-together with the Russian Journalists at Franky Doodles for coffee and conversation. During the latter, according to the agenda published by Mary Carr, Dean of Instructional Services at Spokane Community College, who is the host for this entire affair, we will discuss Blogging and journalism (among other things).

I have thought about this a great deal and spoken with Mary Carr over the last few days. Given the number of people who will be in attendance, especially from the local news media, I have deemed it prudent to stick as closely to the agenda as possible. I am especially honored that Jeanie and I were invited to this affair, as it gives us opportunities to meet many of the people from our local news media, most of whom we have only met sporadically in the past, as well as meeting journalists and bloggers from Russia.

Those from Russia in attendance will be:

Yekaterina Viktorovna Karaseva (Facilitator)

Yelena Alekseyevna Berezhkova

Dmitriy Viktorovich Bykov

Milana Lvovna Dzhiganshina

Anna Vladimirovna Klyuyeva

Vladimir Vladimirovich Kravtsov

Larissa Vasilyevna Kulinich (Interpreter)

These people will be here, arriving later today, and leaving Spokane on the 13^th.

I cannot stress how honored we are to have been included in this event.

Dave

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