Well, it’s crept up on me, but Shine 2009 is suddenly here. It’s ridiculously early and I will need a gallon of coffee before I’m capable of speaking to anyone…but what an exciting line-up / participant list we have for today. Check the schedule / details out at www.shineunconference.com

We’ll be reporting all day here on http://socialreporter.com/category/shine and I will be accompanied by a ragbag assortment of people with much more expertise and knowledge than me (which is always helpful: first tip of the day: surround yourself with excellent people). Including David Wilcox (of this parish, social reporter.com), Steve Bridger (who I’m yet to meet in person) and other Shine 08 veterans (!) such as Dave Dawes of Entreprenurses, Ben Matthews of Bright One and the irrepressible Darragh Doyle over from Ireland.

There will, I hope, be blog posts to read, video to watch (both Qik and Flip for those of you for whom that means something), photos to admire, and tweets aplenty. The tag for the event is #shine09 so feel free to get involved if you’re coming today or tomorrow, or follow us virtually.

Feel free to come and say hello (SSE will be doing some evaluation 1:1s this afternoon, and acting as unconsultants throughout the day), or say hello in the comments below.

Now, off to find Kings Place, 300+ social entrepreneurs, and that coffee….