Acronym

The positions each took were fairly broad generalities, but necessary in a polemical sort of way in that they were each trying to take on each other's best arguments. Now, supposedly the whole debate is going to appear soon on omnipress so you the option of ignoring the rest of this post and drawing your own conclusions from the video. On the other hand, you can read this synopsis:

Jeff argues that their is some qualitative change going on that for the first time will allow (depending on the actual membership) what he call's a more distributively organized association, i.e., one that is broadly participatory and less centralized, rigid and impenetrable. For lack of a better term, "social networking" represents a more accessible, less-moderated form of interaction that engages members. Things are evolving this direction, whether anyone likes it or not. Associations must be prepared for large changes in relationships and value proposition with members, especially as gen X becomes the majority in the associations.

Terrance is skeptical. Strongly skeptical. He sees Jeff as advocating less governance and being overly optimistic about association self-organization. Formal by-laws, etc. will still be important and long term change is more incremental than qualitative. Social networking (at least as currently conceptualized) may be short lived.

Jeff acknowledges that specific apps may be short lived but the trend is long term. Formal by-laws and governance documents are becoming less important than organic structures and informal agreements. Even if they eventually are superceded by other apps and formats, association professionals need to be familiar, at least, with how current community and social net apps operate, and be listening for spontaneous community developments within our associations.

I brief show of hands at the end indicated that the majority of the audience sided with Terrance, but I, for one, found Jeff's overall arguments more compelling.

No doubt, the debate will continue for the next two days.