Why don't you just start your own IRC channel? It's really easy! Just connect to a network (we use irc.freenode.net) and then join the channel of your choosing. This can be anything (for example #macteens) and f there's no one else in it (and it hasn't been registered previously) then the first person to join will be given operator privileges and can do what they want after that.

All that being said, I'm sure no-one will mind a few new faces in #68kmla and there's a fair chance people will be discussing the keynote anyway... so you're more than welcome to join us [)] ]'>