Kim and I drive two blocks from our house and park in front of a Swiss chalet-looking building. It houses a hair salon, a Mexican ice-cream store, Tienda Chori’s and empty storefronts that signal a neighborhood in transition. Community Culture And Diversity Tienda Chori’s, a Mexican grocery, taqueria, botantica and craft store is new. Inside … [Read more…]
Image By mallix. We’re taking part in the virtual book tour Maddie Grant and Lindy Dreyer are doing to explore concepts from Open Community: a little book of big ideas for associations navigating the social web. In this post, Maddie and Lindy answer a few questions for anyone interested in conferences and learning. Why did … [Read more…]
Nothing is the way it used to be. Little is the same. Not much is a sure thing. The convergence of the economy, society and technology has turned the old ways of doing things upside down. The old rules for success have changed. Your ability to learn new things and adapt mean the difference between … [Read more…]
Dear Conference Organizers: This relationship isn’t working out. You know, the one between us, the attendees, and you the conference organizers. It’s time for us to explore other educational, community-building and networking opportunities. We’ve tried to make it work. But it’s not us — it’s you (really). We thought we would do things together. We … [Read more…]
The National Adult Survival Association (NASA) has decided to send the next generation of land rovers to your annual meeting. These rovers have more robust and hyper-sensitive life detecting systems than the traditional conference evaluation smile sheets. NASA is looking for signs of life…at your conference. NASA’s researchers have documented that your conference had life … [Read more…]
When was the last time you visited a museum? Nina Simon‘s Complicity, Intimacy, Community post about fostering personal relationships with visitors in small and large spaces brought back a flood of memories of some of my museum experiences. You should read it and then come back here. Go ahead, I’ll be here when you finish. … [Read more…]
Who is planning, facilitating and managing the attendee’s experience at your conference and events? Is it the job of the meeting professional? The education or marketing departments? The conference organizers? The attendee? Often no one person or group that is involved in organizing the meeting is actually taking a holistic approach to facilitating the attendee’s … [Read more…]
Connections. As important as the plug is to the outlet so the electricity can flow. As important as the computer programming is to the wireless cell tower so our cell phones work. As important as the water faucet is to the plumbing so we can have fresh water. As important as the heart pumping blood … [Read more…]
This post is my contribution to the free eBook, Social Media For Events 2010: 7 Event Experts Weigh In On The Year Ahead compiled and created by Lara McCullouch-Carter. The Four Cs Of Conferences And Social Media Many novices and skeptics find social media confusing, much less trying to integrate social media with their events. Why … [Read more…]
