This week has been pretty calm so far – many poignant remembrances of September 11, 2001. I think lots of people are in a very reflective mood.

When I’m not pondering bigger world issues here are some of the upbeat things I’m thinking about today.

Eat: The Schaaf brothers – Brook and Forrest – of Schaaf Consulting, last week announced Affiliate Dinner. It’s a website designed to facilitate affiliate gatherings and industry networking.

The first event will be held during CJU next week in Santa Barbara. NO RSVPs necessary if you’re attending CJU – just hop on the trolley from the Fess Parker Doubletree hotel where CJU is being held and you’ll be taken the restaurant (Indochine) for a night of networking and schmoozing with other publishers.

Drink: The next Affiliate Dinner will be on the East Coast at New Jersey in September, but the big one will be an event in San Francisco in late October. Revenue is a sponsor and I’m looking forward to some great networking with top affiliate managers from the Bay Area over a few drinks.

Be Merry: It’s always a good time when affiliates gather. Many are making their way to Santa Barbara this weekend for CJU. I’ve got a handful of attendees who have agreed to call or email me with reports on the event since I’m not attending.

I’m particularly interested in who’s been invited to Commission Junction’s new Publisher Advisory Board, which has formed earlier this month. So far, I’ve seen two top CJ publishers – Vinny Lingham of incuBeta and Connie Berg of FlamingoWorld.com – publicly admit to accepting invitations to be part of the board. If you’re on the board, or know of others who are, let me know.

Having advisory boards is nothing new. LinkShare and Performics each have them to help better understand issues that face affiliates and merchants. Stay tuned for more information on advisory boards – I might just have a little something more to say on the subject in the near very future.

Let me know what’s on your mind. lisap@revenuetoday.com.