I had a general session speaker back out for a conference later this year, and have spent the last few weeks trying to figure out how I am going to fill it. Inspired by the Technology Conference, I'm considering having the attendees create the session themselves.
I am thinking about starting a wiki that would ask members and attendees to contribute their best ideas on the conference topic. Visitors to the site would rate them, and those that are rated highest would be asked to present during this general session.
The risks in doing this are: a) no one will participate in the wiki; b) no one will vote on the ideas; c) attendees won't know which ideas are going to get presented at the session, and won't stick around for it; d) there is no precedent for this in our association and it will take a lot of time to get this off the ground - more than I have; e) this will be wildly successful and we won't have created the proper infrastructure to support it.
Fortunately, of all of our conferences, I think this one has the audience that would most likely participate in this exercise. And, I have more flexibility in designing this conference than other programs. I just have to figure out how to make this work, and how to sell the idea.
2.07.2008
2.06.2008
if you're not energized, you might be living under a rock
Whatever your persuasion, if you aren't energized by the engagement of the American public in the political process this year, you might want to check your pulse. Some stats I've heard in the media today:
More than three times as many Americans under age 30 in Georgia voted yesterday than did in 2004.
Five times as many New Yorkers under 30 voted yesterday.
More people voted yesterday than on Super Tuesday 1968 - the last time that we saw these historic levels of voter turnout.
Imagine what we could accomplish if only we had this kind of engagement more than once every 40 years.
More than three times as many Americans under age 30 in Georgia voted yesterday than did in 2004.
Five times as many New Yorkers under 30 voted yesterday.
More people voted yesterday than on Super Tuesday 1968 - the last time that we saw these historic levels of voter turnout.
Imagine what we could accomplish if only we had this kind of engagement more than once every 40 years.
best quote heard in my house in a while
Dad says to our daughter this morning...
"Nooooo.... don't eat THAT cheerio. We don't know if came out of your diaper!"
"Nooooo.... don't eat THAT cheerio. We don't know if came out of your diaper!"
2.01.2008
live posting/commenting
Maddie's questions make me think of those scrolling message displays sometimes seen at concerts... (yeah, as a new mom, I haven't been to one in ages, but I do occasionally live vicariously through concert goers on TV).
What if the conference had a scrolling chat display at the sessions (ALL the sessions) that allowed participants to comment on the presentation as it happens?
Putting my conference planner hat on for a moment...
I'd test run that in a session or two first... but it could be fun.
What if the conference had a scrolling chat display at the sessions (ALL the sessions) that allowed participants to comment on the presentation as it happens?
Putting my conference planner hat on for a moment...
I'd test run that in a session or two first... but it could be fun.
are you ready for web 2.0?
I just listened in on a session about this topic, where the presenter accurately noted that it's not about the technology you use, it's about the value it brings to the members. Not surprisingly, the question came up, "What if someone says something bad about you on your own association's blog?"
I didn't get a chance to answer that question, and quite frankly, I didn't feel like yelling from the back of the room, so here is my response:
1. I'd rather have someone criticize me on my blog, than to start a blog elsewhere and criticize me. At least I'd know right away, and I'd be positioned to do something about it.
2. No one, trust me, no one wants to read a glossy, glowing, triple-proofed blog about how great your association is. Controversy and intellectual discussion will drive people to your site. Dissent is useful! And it raises the bar...
3. Your members and your readers will have much more respect for your association if you allow - dare I say - encourage, diverse points of view on your site.
4. Encouraging diverse perspectives on your blog may actually help you do something about the lack of your diversity in your association (an issue that many, many associations face, but don't know how to address).
I think ASAE's Acronym blog is an excellent example of how this works. And works well.
I didn't get a chance to answer that question, and quite frankly, I didn't feel like yelling from the back of the room, so here is my response:
1. I'd rather have someone criticize me on my blog, than to start a blog elsewhere and criticize me. At least I'd know right away, and I'd be positioned to do something about it.
2. No one, trust me, no one wants to read a glossy, glowing, triple-proofed blog about how great your association is. Controversy and intellectual discussion will drive people to your site. Dissent is useful! And it raises the bar...
3. Your members and your readers will have much more respect for your association if you allow - dare I say - encourage, diverse points of view on your site.
4. Encouraging diverse perspectives on your blog may actually help you do something about the lack of your diversity in your association (an issue that many, many associations face, but don't know how to address).
I think ASAE's Acronym blog is an excellent example of how this works. And works well.
can you see me now?
I became a Mac convert just this past year and have since discovered Skype. It's been wonderful for communicating with family members who live in the U.K., thanks to the Mac's built-in webcam. It's the first time I've made routine use of a webcam. And it's been a blessing to have this with a young daughter who rarely gets to see her extended family, and vice-versa.
So, in a conversation at lunch about virtual offices, it occurred to me that much of the objection to telecommuting seems to exist because managers can't see that you are working if you are working from home. Never mind that they can't see that if you are in your office with the door closed. But what if virtual workers all had webcams installed? Not only would that help telecommuters with the internal relationship building, but it would also provide the capacity to conduct visual conversations with members. You could even put something like this to work for you.
So, in a conversation at lunch about virtual offices, it occurred to me that much of the objection to telecommuting seems to exist because managers can't see that you are working if you are working from home. Never mind that they can't see that if you are in your office with the door closed. But what if virtual workers all had webcams installed? Not only would that help telecommuters with the internal relationship building, but it would also provide the capacity to conduct visual conversations with members. You could even put something like this to work for you.
how productive could you be?
Being a mom, I have a whole new understanding of productivity. And a new method of prioritizing my schedule. I'm always looking for tools that allow me to accomplish more in less time.
I was intrigued to listen to a presentation by Erica Driver of Forrester Research this morning. She discussed the seven tenets of the information workplace. One of the statistics she presented was that approximately 40% of organizations are considering evaluating the roles of information workers to determine how their needs differ based on those roles.
I was a little surprised and disappointed by that statistic. With the rapid changes in technology that are changing how we work, it seems like this should be a higher priority for most organizations. The fact is, the integration of productivity enhancers in the work environment can accomplish multiple goals. More work gets done, in less time, expanding the opportunity for innovation. Communication between workers is accelerated, and can happen from just about anywhere - which has its own implications for reducing overhead through telecommuting, making (some) employees happier, reducing the environmental impact of commuting employees. And frankly, if I have the information I need to do my job, or at least what exists, it makes me a happy employee. And I wonder, if we were doing a better job of this, would we be better positioned to maximize our staff's talents?
I was intrigued to listen to a presentation by Erica Driver of Forrester Research this morning. She discussed the seven tenets of the information workplace. One of the statistics she presented was that approximately 40% of organizations are considering evaluating the roles of information workers to determine how their needs differ based on those roles.
I was a little surprised and disappointed by that statistic. With the rapid changes in technology that are changing how we work, it seems like this should be a higher priority for most organizations. The fact is, the integration of productivity enhancers in the work environment can accomplish multiple goals. More work gets done, in less time, expanding the opportunity for innovation. Communication between workers is accelerated, and can happen from just about anywhere - which has its own implications for reducing overhead through telecommuting, making (some) employees happier, reducing the environmental impact of commuting employees. And frankly, if I have the information I need to do my job, or at least what exists, it makes me a happy employee. And I wonder, if we were doing a better job of this, would we be better positioned to maximize our staff's talents?
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