Keenevention

Keenevention 2015 Day Three Recap
Keenvention 2015 Social Events!
Bitcoin Panel @ Keenevention 2015

Union Leader Covers Keenevention 2015

by Ian | Nov 4, 2015 | Media Coverage

Ladies Panel @ Keenevention 2015

Meghan Pierce, a reporter for Manchester’s Union Leader filed this report on Keenevention 2015, focusing mostly on this year’s Ladies Panel. Thanks for the coverage, Meghan. Here’s the article:

‘Keenevention’ draws libertarian activists
By MEGHAN PIERCE
Union Leader Correspondent

KEENE — Liberty activists flocked to the third annual “Keenevention” over the weekend.

Bringing a female perspective to the event was the Ladies Panel hosted by Renee Kate, host of radio show Seditious Sirens.

Katie McCall of Stone Manor, Ellen Ball of Puke and the Gang podcast and Ann Leverette of Seditious Sirens sat on the panel.

The panelists talked about their experiences moving from other parts of the country to New Hampshire to be part of the Free State Project. (more…)

Keenevention 2015: Day Three Recap

by Ian | Nov 3, 2015 | Blog

Keenevention 2015 Tech Panel

After an amazing HALLOWKEENE costume dance party on Saturday night (look for pics and an article about that soon) that wrapped up at 1:30a, we began Keenevention 2015’s Sunday morning bright and early at 9am with this year’s Technology Panel, hosted for the third year in a row by Sovryn Tech‘s Brian Sovryn. This year’s tech panel was a full 90 minutes compared to only 60 last year. This year the two 60-minute panels from previous years were eliminated, and now all panels are standard Keenevention length of 75 minutes with a 15 minute buffer afterwards, so popular panels can go overtime, and most do.

Keenevention 2015’s Legislative Panel

After the Tech Panel, the first-ever Jury Nullification panel was headed up by NHJury.com board member James Davis. This interesting panel focused on various aspects of the movement for jury nullification from outreach outside the court, to what it was like actually being part of a jury that nullified. We then broke for a leisurely two-hour lunch.

The afternoon included an all A rated (by the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance) panel of state legislators headed up by two-term A+ rated state rep and Free State Project early mover Mike Sylvia. The state reps, which included two freshmen, discussed their various experiences and favorite proposed liberty-oriented bills.

Darryl W. Perry Delivers Keenevention 2015’s Closing Keynote

They expressed frustration with the federal government, police state, drug prohibition, and concealed carry restrictions. It’s refreshing to be in a place where some state representatives actually care about freedom and are actively working towards it, and these are just a few of dozens of liberty-friendly state reps! Darryl Perry was willing to delay his closing keynote to extend the panel’s time for audience questions, to which they enthusiastically responded.

Finally, Libertarian presidential candidate Darryl W. Perry delivered a rousing speech talking about why he cares and is motivated to dedicate basically every waking hour to liberty. Darryl’s a non-stop activist and was a great closing speaker for Keenevention 2015.

Post-Keenevention Social Sunday

Though many had gone home by the time the weekend ended, some stayed on for the post-Keenevention “Social Sunday” at Local Burger on Main Street. Social Sunday may be the longest-running weekly social event in the NH liberty community. We enjoyed a few more moments with some of our Keeneventioneers and some delicious burgers made from locally-sourced beef. If you’re in town on a Sunday at 6pm, come out and join us. Though, check the Keene Liberty Activist Calendar first to make sure the location hasn’t changed.

Keenevention 2015: Day Two Recap

by Ian | Nov 1, 2015 | Blog

Keenevention 2015 Media Panel

After a wonderful bonfire and VIP dinner on Friday night, we started again with the always-informative Media Panel, this year hosted by Shire Dude. The media experts on stage focused on how to monetize your media creations and of course took audience questions. After that, Renee Kate of the Seditious Sirens took the stage to talk with her lady panelists about activism from a female perspective on this year’s Ladies Panel. Afterwards, some of our VIPs headed out to a VIP lunch and others explored Keene’s restaurants on a two-hour lunch break.

When we returned, an interesting contrasting couple of panels were presented. First a panel of newbies hosted by Tarrin Lupo shared their experiences being new movers as part of the Free State Project. Then, a panel of some of the original batch of FSP early movers presented by Denis Goddard discussed their perspective on all the changes we’ve seen in over a decade of people moving here for the FSP. There were great audience questions for both afternoon panels.

Keenevention Old School Panel 2015

For the final act on Keenevention’s Saturday, illegal UBER driver Christopher David held a group brainstorming on the topic of abolishing the state in our lifetime! Chris did not take the stage. He stayed floor-level and brought an easel and huge pad of lined paper on to which ideas thrown out by the audience of Keeneventioneers were placed. There was audience participation aplenty in this creative and usual keynote speech!

Today, we received an awesome compliment! Cameron, a new mover from Michigan, told me that Keenevention is already a better experience for him than the yearly (much bigger) Liberty Forum! That’s not to say the Liberty Forum is a bad event – it’s also great, and you should attend it. He says he prefer Keenevention because it’s more intimate and easier to connect with the attendees and speakers and he’s enjoying getting out of the hotel and exploring the area. Yay!

Illegal UBER Driver Christopher David’s Keynote Speech

All the panels and speakers will be released on youtube over the weeks following Keenevention, so stay tuned to the Keenevention blog for more announcements (you can sign up for emails when the blog has new posts using the signup box in the right column). You can also follow the new Keenevention Twitter, Keenevention’s facebook page and join the official facebook event here.

Keenevention Day One Social Events: Bonfire & VIP Dinner

by Ian | Oct 31, 2015 | Blog

Friday VIP Dinner

Not all of Keenevention is spent cooped up in a hotel ballroom – there are lots of fun social events, too, thanks to our awesome community of activists. Last night, our VIPs enjoyed a special meal cooked by Keene Cop Block‘s Jessica Phillips and dozens of people attended the bonfire thrown by Black Sheep Rising‘s Conan Salada until the early morning hours. Today, the VIP meals continue at lunch and dinner and tonight will bring the second-annual HALLOWKEENE costume dance party! It’s definitely not too late to come out and join us!

HALLOWKEENE entry is included in your ticket price to Keenevention, which for the day pass is only $30. If you just want to attend HALLOWKEENE, it’s $10 at the door if you are costumed, $20 if no. For a map to the location, stop into Keenevention today.

Keenevention 2015 Bonfire

Keenevention 2015: Day One Recap

by Ian | Oct 31, 2015 | Blog

Keene’s Fall Colors, as of Friday!

Dozens of liberty-loving people came together for the first day of New Hampshire’s only Fall freedom convention: Keenevention! The weather is sunny and beautiful and many trees still have colorful fall leaves on them, despite it being relatively late in the “leaf-peeping” season.

The first day of this third-annual event kicked off with the first-ever Political Action Panel where panel host Darryl W. Perry and his guests discussed working for political change outside of the two major parties. After that, Cop Blockers from Manchester and Keene took the stage in an informative panel hosted by Keene Cop Block‘s JP Freeman. We broke at noon for lunch, which this year is expanded from 90 minutes to a two-hour block, giving Keeneventioneers more time to explore Keene’s dining experiences and get back to the hotel with time to spare.

The 2015 Bitcoin Panel

Following lunch, this year’s Bitcoin Panel began, hosted by Neocash Radio‘s Darren Tapp featured multiple bitcoin experts including head bitcoin programmer Gavin Andresen. The panel attracted many questions from the engaged audience. Following that, Darryl W. Perry took the stage for the first-ever Keenevention live auction benefiting the Ross Ulbricht legal defense fund, which totaled $436! Up next was the Secession Panel, hosted again this year by Rob Mathias of the Foundation for NH Independence. The independence advocates discussed how to move closer to secession becoming a reality in New Hampshire.

Finally, oathkeeper and Alstead town selectman Chris Rietmann took the stage to deliver the Friday night keynote address, covering his news-making open carry activism, his pro-liberty actions as a selectman, and support of activism of all stripes.

Chris Rietmann Delivers the Friday Keynote

Friday’s attendance was up from last year and included visitors from San Francisco, Missouri, Indianapolis, Wisconsin, and New York. One guy just made the move from Michigan as part of the Free State Project! He packed up his life into his car and made Keenevention his destination and first stop in New Hampshire. We’re here at the Best Western in Keene all weekend – come on our and join us. The daily admission is only $30 and includes admission to tomorrow night’s HALLOWKEENE Costume Dance Party!

Remember, if you can’t make it in reality – all the panels and speakers will be released on video over the weeks following Keenevention, so stay tuned to the Keenevention blog for more announcements (you can sign up for emails when the blog has new posts using the signup box in the right column). You can also follow the new Keenevention Twitter, Keenevention’s facebook page and join the official facebook event here.

Bitcoin.com to Match Up to $1000 in Live Auction Benefiting Ross Ulbricht

by Ian | Oct 29, 2015 | Announcements

Live auction to benefit Ross Ulbricht

Wow – the first-ever Keenevention live auction just got even bigger! We’ve got a dozen pieces of the new “Spider Silver“, donated by Roberts & Roberts Brokerage for the live auction on Friday benefiting Ross Ulbricht.

Now, thanks to Bitcoin.com – the top bids in the auction will be matched up to a $1,000 total! The live auction kicks off Friday after the Bitcoin Panel. Don’t miss it!

VIP Meal Menu Announced!

by Ian | Oct 29, 2015 | Activities, Announcements

VIP Dinner (2013)

VIP ticket holders (including our speakers) will be treated to a meal at the brand new 101 Peace Liberty Center on Rt. 101, and chef Jessica Phillips has announced her menu:

Baked ham, herb roasted potatoes, pumpkin cheddar macaroni and cheese, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, corn muffins with honey butter, freshly made applesauce with local apples and pumpkin chiffon pie.

If you have a VIP ticket, you can pick the mealtime of your choice when you check in at Keenevention. If you don’t yet have a VIP ticket, they are available at the door for $120 or BTC. Doors open tomorrow at 8:30am! See you then!