Thank you & what's next

Friends,

Thank you all so much for a fantastic BIL:PIL 2009. We came together and brought a new event to the world. We stretched minds and inspired new collaborations. We introduced many people to a type of event that they had never seen before. More broadly, we laid the groundwork for a fuller and more inclusive conversation in and collaboration across the spectrum of healthcare innovation. I could not be prouder.

Whether you volunteered, delivered a talk, led a group conversation, sponsored, participated live, watched on the web, or some combination of the above… I personally thank you for giving yourself to something bigger than any one of us could have achieved alone. I never forget that the greatest thing that I can ask of you is your time, and no matter your role, you gave the gift of your time to BIL:PIL willingly, and I am grateful to each of you for your choice. It is my sincere hope that, in looking back, you feel that you gained from the exchange.

Even as the dust settles on the inaugural BIL:PIL, it is hard not to be already excited about the future of this event as well as the community that was born this weekend. It is our goal to nurture both.

While your memories of BIL:PIL 2009 are still fresh, please share your suggestions via the feedback form linked in the previous blog post. What did we get right? What ought we pay more attention to next year? We’ll sit down and go over your fresh ideas so that next year can be even better. Your feedback is key to the evolution of this event. Please also subscribe to bilpil.com — we will keep you posted on the shape of BIL:PIL 2010 as it continues to develop. The RSS feed is at http://bilpil.com/index.php/feed/

You may have also heard that we’re looking quite seriously at extending the reach of BIL:PIL to the East Coast in 2010, specifically to Boston. To accomplish that, we’re also going to think carefully about the organizational design of the core BIL:PIL team (principal volunteers) and the extended BIL:PIL team (+ friends & sponsors) so as to support the tasks required of a two-day national discussion on healthcare innovation. We want to get the right people into the right seats in order to get our little bus to the next destination. You’ll hear more about that on this blog over the next couple of months.

Regarding the nascent BIL:PIL community, we’ll be starting a mailing list of those who attended in person, and will also attempt to include those who enjoyed the event remotely. We want to stay in touch with you, but more importantly, we want you to be able to stay in touch with each other. As you reflect on your goals for your involvement in the BIL:PIL community, please use the feedback form to share your thoughts with us and help us think through how to best facilitate such an incredible group of people.

The future for BIL:PIL is extraordinarily bright, and we are glad you’re going to be a part of it. So even as I thank you for joining BIL:PIL in its humble infancy, I also say: welcome home.

Love,
Jonathan Sheffi (@sheffi)

P.S. As you know, BIL:PIL relies on the sweat of volunteers and the generosity of sponsors and donors. To the extent that you are able, please donate towards BIL:PIL 2010. Whether it is $5, $50, or $500, your contribution goes a long way toward making this event possible. All donations are tax-deductible. Click here to donate: http://bilpil2009.eventbrite.com/