I may have to add a new category to my blog called "Why-didn't-I-think-of-that?"  

This site for a public media conference was pointed out in Nonprofit Online News by Michael Gilbert recently.  Michael was promoting the topic, but I was impressed when I realized that planners used the blog format to build a learning community around a conference.  At the same time it does everything else conference planners might want do on a traditional website (like manage registration and provide logistics).  Nifty way to get the conversation going before the conference...and to have it continue afterwards, if they choose to keep the blog going.