Get Away Blogging Workshops that Boost your Blog and a Local Economy

Sammy Dunham and Helen Free have created a unique way to support L'Aquila after the 2009 earthquake. They have founded blogAway a non- profit enterprise that will host a conference to draw writers to Abruzzo to become better bloggers, to be charmed by Abruzzo's wine, food, and culture, and to engage in philanthropy for two local causes. End Quote

explore Abruzzo's natural beauty, taste its coveted artisanal products, contemplate its environmental future and marvel at its preservation.

(1888PressRelease) April 18, 2012 - blogAway was founded as a unique, responsible way to learn how to create, optimise and maintain a blog through workshops held in interesting international locations. Conference sites are chosen to aid areas recovering from a natural disaster and the subsequent economic challenges that such disasters bring. All profits after costs from the workshops are donated to two local causes.

blogAway's first 2-day conference titled 'Hands on L'Aquila' welcomes bloggers to the breathtaking Italian region of Abruzzo, Italy to explore its natural beauty, taste its coveted artisanal products, contemplate its environmental future and marvel at its preservation despite the L'Aquila earthquake 2009.

Hands on L'Aquila will convene for 3 days in the old Medici hilltop town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, 1250 masl, described by The NY Times as 'poetically aged' and selected as one of 'I Borghi piu belli d'Italia'. It sits on Campo Imperatore, Italy's 'Little Tibet' which the UK Times included in its Top 10 Adventures of a Lifetime.Just an hour and a half from Rome and one hour from Abruzzo International Airport in Pescara make the conference inviting to Italian, International and European bloggers alike.

blogAway was founded in November of 2011 by Sammy Dunham and Helen Free. Not surprisingly, blogAway was conceived through a blogging connection; both share a personal history in Abruzzo and a strong desire to support the region in its time of renewal. From the start they envisioned blogAway, as a non-profit enterprise.

The workshop sessions are all in the English language with an Italian translation available and cover core subjects such as food & travel writing, photography, search engine optimization, social media and understanding analytics. The workshop is for bloggers of all levels and niches - personal, food, travel, and business.

Our conference speakers include to date: Judith Harris, Italian/ American Digital Project; Domenica Marchetti, cookbook author ; Katie Parla, journalist; Alessandro Di Nisio, founder of the wildly popular photo site "Paesaggi d' Abruzzo" on facebook; Peter Austin, photographer; Sammy Dunham, web marketing and 'SEO' specialist.
The conference begins informally Thursday 27 September with available local tours followed by an evening press reception. The 2-day workshop begins on 28 September and consists of seven 45 minute sessions per day. Tickets are limited to 60 participants. Ticket prices are as follows: Abruzzo residents: E200 + E20 adminfee; Non Abruzzo residents: E250 + E20 admin fee; press reception E30; downloads E25 each. Payment is through paypal.

The monies for the Hands on L'Aquila workshop will be donated to two carefully selected causes. The University of L'Aquila's Computer Science Department, badly damaged in the 2009 earthquake, will receive funds for 5 prize winning PH.D students to create the second phase of the Bus-on-Air app. Funds will also be dispersed to Tracturo Magno a group of devoted scholars and practitioners who work in the recovery of shepherd culture so vital to the regions' identity. Santo Stefano di Sessanio Onlus - Supporting Community & Tourism in S. Stefano di Sessanio will be the recipient of the suggestion bank for improving their website and fundraising capabilities.

Monies raised through ticket sales will be bolstered by both international and local sponsorship. Visit the site to review the many ways your organization or business can support the conference and its beneficiaries.

For more information about blogAway, details on the Hands on L'Aquila Blogger Workshop, accommodation, registration, or sponsorship opportunities visit www.blogaway.org, follow us on twitter by following ( @ ) blogaway2, or join us on facebook dot

To contact the founders and organisers Sammy Dunham or Helen Free please contact: hello ( @ ) blogaway dot org
Press & Bookings - Sammy Dunham, UK & Italy - sam[@]blogaway.org, Skype -sammyrooroo

Sponsorship & General Questions - Helen Free, Washington DC, USA -helen[@]blogaway.org, Skype - helen.free53

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