Acronym

The July issue of Associations Now had a mini-article with networking tips for those attending conferences. All seemingly obvious stuff that we so readily forget (eg, break the ice, have a smile, stop txting, etc). Among other great resources, Work the Pond!: Use the Power of Positive Networking to Leap Forward in Work and Life is a great book that covers the ins/outs of effective networking.

I often do a pre-event mindset shift on how much I plan to network vs stick to classes/formal sessions. This is a completely unscientific, and often subconscious, calculation based on who I expect the attendees to be, if I know many acquaintances will be there, the quality/relevance of the sessions, etc. Of course, things often change once I actually get to the show, but the mindset does somewhat determine how "aggressively" I approach things.

Admittedly, my focus for the ASEA Annual Meeting will be on the more formal learning elements. As someone who does not identify as an association professional (despite doing this for nearly seven years), I rarely seek out networking opportunities with other association professionals. Yes, I know that's pretty shallow and naive of me, but hey, I'm just being honest. (So, for example, most evenings during the Annual Meeting, I'm planning to bail and hook up with local game developers and IGDA chapter volunteers.)

All that said, I do plan to attend the Bloggercon gathering organized by Ben Martin. Oddly enough, I readily identify myself as a blogger!