Who's linked?

Any young journalist understands (or needs to understand) the strong need to network.
But, it always bugs me how some young journalists network. They'll swarm through the crowds at SPJ conventions with only the goal in mind of meeting some big, important journalist and getting his or her business card.
Networking is much more than this.
Really, we should all network even if we are happy with our jobs. Who knows, maybe we'll get laid off or move to a different state. In those cases, neworking helps to plug you in to others in the same profession.
The main reason I network is so that I can stay inspired by journalists from all over the country. Plus, it's great to go to the annual SPJ convention and meet up with all your journalism buddies. I always come back to work after conventions feeling refreshed and inspired.
So how should you network? Well, a new way a buddy of mine showed me is on linkedin.com . The site is specifically for networking and building an online resume. I highly reccomend you all check it out!
Another great way of networking you already know about....SPJ. The Society makes you feel connected to other journalists around the country who are as committed to improving and protecting journalism as you are.
Now that I've spilled my networking tips.....what do you do to network? How has it helped you?