Most conferences kickoff with an opening general session. Why? What's the point? What's the purpose of a general session? Back To Presentation Basics What' the purpose of a speaker for any presentation? Nancy Duarte, author of Resonate says it best, Presentations are most commonly delivered to persuade an audience to change their minds or behavior. At its basic level, presentations are to persuade. Some may say that presentations are to inform. I typically respond with, "Inform for … [Read more...]
Social Isolation In The Midst Of A Crowded General Session
Rows and rows of chairs in straight lines face the stage. Aisles separate sections of chairs so people can navigate the room. The large ballroom easily seats 5,000 people theater style. The air is cold and stale. The lights dim. A dancing image appears on the front screens and the delay screens hanging from the ceiling. Why this setup? Why this method? What's the goal of this ballroom-style general session? Efficiency Not Effectiveness As some iconic image from Apple's 1984 Mac commercial, … [Read more...]
From The Mixed-Up Files Of Association Conference Misguided Behavior
It was an opening general session with a marquee headliner. I was anxious to hear him. The session started to great fanfare and hoopla. The Minute By Minute Replay Fifteen minutes later, I felt like I was watching those hideous commercials that theaters play before the movie trailers start. I was Waiting For Godot. The parade of association information, self-promotional, in-your-face "Hey member, look how great we are!" hype just kept coming. (If this association had only invested in providing … [Read more...]
The Three Rs Of ASAE 2010
In the spirit of ASAE 2010 Annual Meeting marketing campaign, "Re-tain, Re-Connect, Re-Convene, etc." here are my three Rs, of this year's conference. Three Things So Re-warding 1. Re-lationships The people, the people, the people! Ultimately, this conference is all about those that attend, participate and get involved. I don't know of another national or international conference where such high quality, likeminded association individuals gather to share successes, commiserate, ponder the … [Read more...]
