This past weekend, The New Organizing Institute (NOI) put on their event, RootsCampDC, at the National Education Association building in downtown Washington, DC. Hundreds of seasoned and upcoming progressive organizers gathered to network, collaborate and to share with one another about their work in online political organizing and activism. As the planners put, it is an opportunity to “learn, act, and reflect.”

The New Organizing Institute runs the only progressive advocacy and campaign training program with a focus on cutting-edge online organizing techniques, political technology, and the intersection of field and new media organizing. It was founded after the 2004 election season by 17 senior-level campaign staffers.

The RootsCampDC conference, or “unconference” as NOI has deemed it, doesn’t follow the typical format you would expect for a gathering like this. For instance, there is no preset agenda and there are no planned speakers. Rather, the event is entirely participant driven – upon arriving, attendees come together to plan and lead sessions for the other RootsCampers. While unconventional, the result was a diverse series of fast-paced and productive sessions with organizers sharing what has worked, what hasn’t, and how best to move forward. The sessions included panels on the basics of field organizing, successful political text-message campaigns, emerging campaign tools in new media, and how to maximize the effectiveness of a get-out-the-vote operation, among many, many others.

On Sunday afternoon, RootsCampDC held a career fair as an opportunity for various non-profit groups and companies to attract and hire the best talent from within the movement, and for RootsCampers to land positions on upcoming campaigns. Strategic communication firms, internet strategy and technology companies, and various advocacy groups were all represented at the fair.

RootsCampDC winded down late Sunday afternoon with the announcement of the winners of the Most Valuable Organizer prize. Prizes were awarded in three different categories: People, tools, and campaigns. The winners in the first category went to Stephanie Taylor and Adam Green, from the Progressive Campaign Change Committee. The most valuable tool, as voted on by attendees, went to ActBlue, a political action committee that serves as an online platform to raise money for candidates. And finally, Presente.org was the winner of the campaign category, with their “Basta Dobbs” campaign.

The New Organizing Institute is planning another gathering for after the 2010 midterm elections.