CHARLOTTE, NC (June 3, 2011) – TEDxCharlotte is now accepting nominations from the public for speakers for the October 15, 2011 event.

Speakers
Those interested can submit an application and an optional three-minute YouTube video. Ideal candidates will address their idea, what has been done to move it forward and why their idea should be heard. Their concept should also resonate with the TEDxCharlotte 2011 theme of “Risk-takers and Dream-makers”. Further details can be found at http://www.tedxcharlotte.com/speakers. Speaker candidates will be contacted at the end of July if they are being considered.

Winn Maddrey, with the Speaker Committee, says, “For last year’s inaugural event, we had an amazing pool of speakers. However, we want to make the process more open and hear from the citizens of Charlotte. Who are the dream-makers and risk-takers in our region? ”

Attendees
To help defray event costs, TEDxCharlotte will charge confirmed event attendees a fee of $20. This fee will include a continental breakfast, lunch and snacks all day. Attendees will also have the option, when they purchase their ticket, to anonymously sponsor a student or need-based attendee.

The application process is the same as last year’s and follows TED’s guidelines for TEDx events around the world. Interested applicants are invited to apply on the website by submitting answers to four questions. Upon review, the application is stripped of any identifying markers (e.g. applicant’s name, title, organization). Confirmed attendees will be notified by August 20th. Ticketing takes place once your application has been accepted. http://www.tedxcharlotte.com/attend.

TEDxCharlotte’s “Dream-makers & Risk-takers” is confirmed for October 15, 2011 in Dana Auditorium at Queens University of Charlotte, the host partner.

For more information about TEDxCharlotte, please visit http://www.tedxcharlotte.com/, http://www.facebook/TEDxCharlotte and http://www.twitter.com/TEDxCharlotte.

Media Contact for TEDxCharlotte: Sarah Hada, sarah_hada@hotmail.com, @sarahada

Community Contact: Candice Langston, candicelangston@yahoo.com > *If you would like a TEDxCharlotte committee member to address your community group about TEDxCharlotte.

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About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations)

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 26 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. At TED, the world’s leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Benoit Mandelbrot, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Two major TED events are held each year: The TED Conference takes place every spring in Long Beach, California (along with a parallel conference, TEDActive, in Palm Springs), and TEDGlobal is held each summer in Edinburgh, Scotland.

TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily; the new TED Conversations, enabling broad conversations among TED fans; and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide.

TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

For information about TED’s upcoming conferences, visit http://www.ted.com/registration

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED