Association Meetings

HOW TO: Live Inside Twitter and Still Stay Productive

WOW ... I had no clue that Twitter could do all of the neat things listed in the article below!  For all of my new Twitter friends from MeetDifferent '09, there are some real treasures in this list that will help you use this new and sometimes overwhelming technology effectively!

HOW TO: Live Inside Twitter and Still Stay Productive

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MeetDifferent '09 - Pictures from Day 2

If you take pictures and like to share them, you should look into Flickr.com!  It's a tremendous resource for storage, sharing and learning about photography.

Here are some the pictures I took on Day 2 of the MPI MeetDifferent '09 Conference.

http://flickr.com/photos/julnet/sets/72157613567453895/

Enjoy!

MeetDifferent '09 - Things I Learned Day 3

What a day!  There was so much great content at MPI's MeetDifferent '09 my brain is on overload!  Fortunately many of the sessions will be available by podcast later so that I can re-listen.

 The things I learned from Day 3:

1) Forth Worth Texas is the 17th largest city in the US and the 9th safest.

2) There are approximately 10,000 active CMP's (Certified Meeting Professionals) worldwide and 550 CMM's (Certified Meeting Managers)

3)  POD (as in iPOD) means Portable on Demand

4) A great resource for creating Podcasts is Audacity

5)  45% of the Workforce in the US is women; holding 49.1% of the jobs

6) Using TweetChat.com, you can actually participate in multiple sessions at a meeting at the same time!

7) In Marketing, "Features" go to the mind as "Benefits" reach the heart.

8)  There are now 5 Generations in the workplace (and on Facebook)

9)  The Omni Hotel in New Orleans has the only roof top garden / pool in the French Quarter

10)  Meeting Planners not only know how to plan a party ... they know HOW to Party! (glad I didn't have a 7:30 breakfast today).

One more day to go ....

MeetDifferent '09 - Plans for Day 3

Today at MeetDifferent '09 the day is packed full of Knowledge Sessions on a wide variety of topics.  The sessions have been broken down into a number of "tracks" such as:  Future Trends, Technology,Generational and Cultural Differences, Meeting Design and more!  This wide variety is one of the reasons why I believe this to be one of the best meetings for those in the industry as it has something for everyone!

MeetDifferent '09 - 10 Things I Learned Today: Day 2

So today was the kick off day for MeetDifferent '09.  If you would like to re-watch the opening general session, checkout the video rebroadcast. I would have to say that this was probably one of the best opening session's I've seen at an MPI event.  The message was exactly that which need to be heard!

 So what were the 10 Things I learned today?

1.  In the United States, there are more people employed in the hospitality, event, and meeting planning industry then the auto industry. 

2.  During the great Depression it took the Government 3 years to respond; whereas today the Government acted within 2 weeks after the banking crisis hit.  These actions probably avoided our economy falling into a second great depression.  

3.  Personal branding is what sets you apart from others.

4.  Personal branding is NOT Me .. Me ... Me!  It is about how you produce value as you help others to achieve their goals.

5.  While meeting attendance is expected to drop here in the United States, it is actually thought to increase in Europe and Canada in 2009.

6.  12Second.tv is a neat tool to send out a quick video to your attendees; although at a 56K connection the recording in not very good.

7.  Two really fun places to hold social events in New Orleans are better then ever.  Yes Kyle, we can go to Michaul's for dinner.  

8. Expo lunches can be really good.

9. I know NOTHING about Facebook - I've had a page for about 2 years and even now find myself very overwhelmed.  Fortunately I have a new resource to help - http://www.allfacebook.com

10.  I can follow my stocks on Twitter using StockTwits.com

I do wonder what tomorrow will bring?

MeetDifferent '09 - Expo!

Given the quantity of items I brought back to my hotel tonight I would say that the Expo today at MeetDifferent '09 was a huge success.

For me I was looking to connect with potential destinations for future conference sites for my association clients.  I was also looking for great venues for special events.  I was successful on both accounts. 

It was also nice to connect to some of the folks that I have been emailing over the past weeks as I am working to schedule events in Boston and New Orleans.  The Expo portion of the meeting allows us to touch base in a very non competitive open format.  Plus it's a lot of fun.

Oh and the food was unbelievable!

MeetDifferent '09 - Take Home Message - Opening Session:

While I plan to sit and think about the many things I heard this morning at the opening session for MeetDifferent '09 - I do want to post what I believe to be the take home message.

While we are facing times where our 401K is more like a 201K and the general news of the GLOBAL economy is bleak, we need to understand that this is a GLOBAL problem that will require a GLOBAL solution.

As Meeting Planners it is our responsibility to stop apologizing the for desire to meet!  Now more than ever it is important for people to come together to find solutions, be creative and learn.  The BEST way for this to happen is face to face. 

Let's learn to "bring order to chaos"

More later ... for now I am hungry and it's almost lunch time!

MeetDifferent '09 - Plans for Day 2

Today is actually the first day of the MeetDifferent '09 Conference with the Opening Session presenting several very well-known and respected speakers.  If you are unable to attend live, watch the video simulcast from the MPI website

Lots of great sessions in store for me today ... still not 100% sure which ones I will attend. 

MeetDifferent '09 - Opening Reception

The social events at MPI conferences are always memorable.  This year at MeetDifferent 09 in Atlanta the occasion was no different.  The location, the Georgia Aquarium - the largest in the world, featuring whale sharks, beluga whales and thousands of other inhabitants. 

I am the one who always has a camera in hand and taking pictures.  My personal favorite application for storage and sharing is Flickr.com.  It's a great application that allows you to store and organize your photos online plus share with family and friends.

So that is what I am doing now ... here are my photos from tonight's event:

http://flickr.com/photos/julnet/sets/72157613489022468/

 

MeetDifferent '09 - 10 Things I Learned Today ...

So I am back in my hotel room after at very busy first day at the MPI MeetDifferent '09 Conference.  Taking a few minutes to get caught up on email, Twitter, etc. before heading over to the Opening Reception at the Georgia Aquarium.

Before I do, and before I forget ... here are the 10 Things I learned today!

1) I discovered a new and unique way to conduct a Silent Auction.  This is something my non-profit clients have played with over the years and I have some fresh ideas on how to make it better.

2) The Georgia Aquarium is the largest in the world.

3) I really need to get iTunes.  I don't have an iPod and did not see the need; until today.  PODCASTS! Mr. Excel here I come.

4) Concatenate means to join and you can use this function in Excel.

5) F11 in Excel creates one click graphs.

6) I was given a great tip on how to get around firewall issues when emailing .exe, .zip files.

7) Self registration is wonderful.

8) Having an individual ask if your member profile had been updated recently, is a great way to make sure it happens.  I am thinking how easy it would be to have a computer station and individual encouraging members to update their information online at my next member association meeting. 

9) My bus Line is GREEN not BLUE

10)  MeetDifferent 2010 is in Cancun Mexico!

Thanks especially to Jim Spellos from Meeting-u.com for the great Excel Workshop!

Now to find my camera and head off to the Opening recption ...