Thanks to sites like Dad-O-Matic and loyal readers like you, the blogosphere is emerging as a terrific outlet for Dads to get out front and take a more vocal stance on parenting and fatherhood issues and experiences. Â There are hundreds of caring and sharing “daddy bloggers” spreading their unique perspectives on “the world according to Dad…” Â In addition to Dad oriented blogs, vlogs and podcasts, Dads are being more regularly featured as speakers and on panels at events such as BlogWorld Expo and 140Conf Boston, and even events themselves are forming around Dads and Men such as the upcoming Modern Media Man Summit (M3).
Join The Club
One of the latest groups to reach out and raise up Dads is the Social Media Club, who is about to launch their 2010 Fall Tour with the theme, “Social Media + Family, A Dad’s Perspective.”  Founded by Kristie Wells and Chris Heuer in 2006, Social Media Club is perhaps the premiere global organization promoting and educating in ways to “connect media makers from around the world to advance media literacy, promote industry standards, encourage ethical behaviour and share the lessons they have learned.”  Social Media Club boasts active chapters in major cities throughout the world, and hosts many informative, engaging events, and the “Social Media + Family” tour should be a great way for dads and parents to step up and discuss how Social Media has impacted their family lives.  In addition to the 12 city “Dad’s Perspective” tour, in each event city Chris Heuer will be hosting a “Dads Who Lunch” luncheon for local Dad bloggers.  If you are in one of the cities that the Social Media Club tour will be visiting I would encourage you to try to attend the event and luncheon, as an engaged conversation and meeting great people is a guaranteed result.  The tour commences this Wednesday, September 8th, in Atlanta.  The full schedule is:
- Atlanta -Â Wednesday September 8 (Confirmed)
- Minneapolis -Â Wednesday September 22 (Confirmed)
- St Louis – Thursday September 23 (Confirmed)
- Phoenix -Â Thursday September 30 (Confirmed)
- New York – Monday October 4? (Confirmed)
- Denver – Wednesday October 6 or Thursday October 7
- Seattle – Monday October 11 (Confirmed)
- Detroit – Monday, October 18 (Confirmed)
- Cleveland – Thursday October 21? (Confirmed)
- Washington, DC – Monday October 25 (Confirmed)
- Baltimore – Tuesday October 26Â (Confirmed)
- Boston – Thursday October 28 (Confirmed)
If you are in one of these cities I hope you can make it to the event and support this Dad + Family initiative. Â I am confident you won’t be disappointed.
DISCLOSURE: I am a member of Social Media Club and consider Kristie and Chris friends. I have been to SMC events in NY, Florida and other cities and have always been impressed with the membership, content and professionalism of the group.
Jeff Sass is the proud dad of ZEO (Zach, 22, Ethan, 20 and Olivia, 18).  He is also a seasoned entertainment and technology exec and active social media enthusiast.  You can see more of Jeff’s writing at Sassholes! and Social Networking Rehab and you can listen to Jeff on the Cast of Dads podcast.?
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Thanks so much for the support Jeff. Bummed we aren’t coming to South Florida as part of the tour, but we will be down to Orlando in November and will be seeing you at Blog World I hope too.
It’s really an amazing thing to see Dad’s ascending right now, and taking on blogging and community in their own unique way. Our experience building Social Media Club shows that most people merely need a little inspiration to start building their own communities. We hope that this tour contributes in some small way towards inspiring local dad bloggers to start coming together regularly, to support one another, to learn from each other and to just generally hang out with each other.
Along the way, I am going to be connecting the dads we meet to great dad media like Dad-O-Matic, Cast of Dads, Dads Talking and others. I think that this fall is going to be a great time for dads and I am really looking forward to meeting them as I travel around the country and play some small part in connecting them with each other.
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Bust out a daddy bash in the Bay Area! All kinds off crazy productive, fun-loving’ daddies out here! This is very cool. kudos Chris and Kristie.
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Thanks Chris and Ken! It is great to see the growing interest in dads in the worlds of blogging and social media and the support of readers, organizations and companies. It is a good time for dads and families to share, learn and grow together!