August 24, 2005
It's been a week....
...since we left Nashville. How are you feeling about your Annual Meeting experience now? Please share your thoughts.
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 11:16 PM | Comments (5)
August 22, 2005
First day back...
For many ASAE & the Center Annual Meeting attendees, today was the first day back in the office following the meeting.
So, how did it go? Were you still humming "Strategic Plan" under your breath? Did you cringe the first time someone used the word "extreme?" Did your association's HQ seem strangely cozy compared to Opryland?
Tell us about your first-day-back experience with us, and let us know how you plan to share what you learned in Nashville with your colleagues.
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 08:30 PM | Comments (3)
August 18, 2005
Was the annual meeting a success?
We're getting great feedback about the meeting on the blog and by many, many e-mails here at the office. It's all nice, and it certainly appears as if we created a worthwhile experience for attendees. However, none of that really matters.
Take a look at our cause as spelled out in the branding initiative:
ASAE & The Center help associations transform society through the power of collaboration.
For those of you who attended the meeting: what will you do differently? Don't let the charge put in your battery get diffused by organizational bureaucracy or stagnation. If you do not act to transform society, then the great experience was only so much window dressing.
For those of you who were unable to attend -- I hope reading this blog will serve as a commercial for ASAE & The Center programs and services and that you will consider adding your voice to the collaboration in the near future -- we will be weaker without it.
Posted by ScottBriscoe at 09:04 PM | Comments (0)
August 16, 2005
Why my job is good and yours isn't quite as good
I shared this thought with a couple folks at the conference. As any association worker knows, putting on a major event is a whole bunch of work -- and more than that. Attendees at all association meetings generally feel a deep appreciation for the staff. What's great about being staff at a meeting like ASAE & The Center is that attendees know exactly what we're going through, and you salute us in a way that your own members are unlikely to fully appreciate. I want all attendees to know that you make the ASAE & The Center staff -- tired and scraggly though we might be by Tuesday night -- feel really, really good. Thank you for your graciousness.
Posted by ScottBriscoe at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)
August 11, 2005
Annual Meeting Preview at Associations Unorthodox
As some of you know, I produce and act as "resident heretic" for the Associations Unorthodox podcast, the world's first podcast for association leaders. I have posted my Annual Meeting preview show to the podcast blog. (The RSS feed is available here.) I hope you'll check it out. If you're not familiar with podcasting or didn't know there is a podcast specifically for you, here's your chance to experience it!
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 04:20 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2005
Go west, young man
As I prepare to head off to Nashville for my second experience at ASAE & the Center's Annual Meeting, I'm eagerly looking forward to these things...
First and foremost, I'm "xtremely" excited about the CAE walk, when I'll walk across the stage with the December 2004 and May 2005 classes of CAEs. The walk is part of the State of the Association Industry in Extreme Focus session. Preparing for and passing the CAE exam pretty much consumed my life for 5 months in 2004 and 2005, so this event will, in some ways, mark the end of that journey. There's also a reception in honor of all the new CAEs following the walk, and you can bet it'll be one heck of a party!
And now that I'm a CAE, I'm curious to check out the education lineup that is exclusively for CAEs and the CAE lounge.
Next, I'm looking forward with great "xpectations" to the informal, unofficial association bloggercon, when we association industry bloggers will discuss the state of the association blog-o-clump. Just as a reminder, non-bloggers and those who are just curious about blogging are welcome at the bloggercon.
Finally, reconnecting with friends and colleagues, as well as making new connections, ranks high on my list of things I'm looking forward to. Introduce me to someone new, and I'll return the favor. Or, meet someone new before you even arrive in Nashville by using the IntroNetworks application.
Posted by Ben Martin at 03:52 PM | Comments (5)
August 06, 2005
Announcing The XtremeASAE Blog iPod Shuffle contest!
OK everybody, it's the news you've all been waiting for. Today, we're happy to announce the XtremeASAE Blog Shuffle Contest! That's right: Simply by commenting on this blog over the next two weeks, you have a chance to win a 1 GB Apple iPod Shuffle, courtesy of Associations Unorthodox, the world's first podcast for association leaders...listen carefully.
We hope you'll agree that we've provided a pretty good incentive for your active participation in commenting on this blog. Whether you're with us in Nashville, on a business trip, or sitting in front of your home or officer computer, we look forward to reading your brilliant insights. And who knows -- maybe we'll be sending you the iPod Shuffle!
The contest rules and requirements can be found by clicking the "Continue reading" link below. Please read them carefully.
+We encourage you to subscribe to The XtremeASAE Blog (either by e-mail or RSS) or visit the site (www.XtremeASAEblog.org) regularly to follow the posts as the association world prepares to descend on Nashville for the ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership Annual Meeting beginning one week from today! (Subscribing to the blog either by e-mail or RSS is not required to win.)
+The contest starts this coming Monday, August 8 at 12:01 am EDT. Every eligible person who posts a comment on or after this date and time will be entered in a random drawing to win the iPod Shuffle. Each comment is an entry and increases your chances of winning, so please comment often.
+So who is eligible? Well, pretty much anybody in the association community has a chance to win, even if you won't be present in Nashville. (We will verify that the winner is connected in some manner to the association community before awarding the prize.) The ASAE & The Center staff, the XtremeASAE Bloggers, and their families are not eligible.
+When posting a comment to The XtremeASAE Blog, you are already required to provide your name and e-mail address. For your comment to be included as an iPodShuffle drawing entry, please provide your actual name or nickname (rather than an alias), e-mail address, AND the Web site URL for your organization. Of course, not all of your comments need to follow these requirements; only those that you want us to count as entries to the drawing MUST HAVE all of this information. Only comments posted directly to the blog will be included in the drawing; neither e-mail nor audio comments are eligible. In addition, ASAE & The Center reserves the right to determine which comments are properly formatted and thus eligible for inclusion in the drawing.
+We also ask that you use your comments to contribute to the conversation taking place on the blog, rather than simply as metaphorical business cards dropped into a virtual drawing box. We leave up to you, however, to exercise your best judgment in deciding how to comment on a given post.
+The contest ends on Monday, August 22 at 11:59 pm EDT. The blog will remain live after that date and time but only properly formatted comments posted to the blog on or before the ending date above will be included in the drawing, which will take place later that week. The selected recipient will be contacted and his or her information will be verified before the prize is officially awarded.
+If you have any questions about the contest, please send an e-mail using this link.
We hope you have fun with this contest. We're really looking forward to reading your comments!
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 03:12 PM | Comments (9)
Annual Meeting meeting
Most associations have some rendition of the ritual: the meetings and education staffs call a meeting for those attending the annual meeting. Sounds routine, except the meetings and education staffs have been hopped up on Red Bull for several months and the annual meeting meeting has a tendency to turn out a bit strange. I suppose we have ourselves to blame -- after all, we're the ones that missed their deadlines by two hours. Then changed our specs two days later. Then changed them back two weeks after that.
At ASAE & The Center, it's no different. They quizzed us about Nashville, giving away prizes for right answers; there were no less than three skits; they clapped, they sang, and in the most bizarre moment, they led us in a country line dance -- which gave rise to many of the, er, interesting photos in the collage below.
Oh yes, and there was some interesting information relayed to us as well, such as the fact that there will be 45 operating bars at the opening reception Friday evening, which is sponsored by Gaylord. Perhaps that will improve the line dancing.
Posted by ScottBriscoe at 01:14 AM | Comments (1)
August 02, 2005
Xtreme Online Silent Auction officially open!
Get a head start bidding on great packages and items for the 2005 Annual Meeting & Exposition Silent Auction. Even if you're not going to Nashville, make a bid anyway and you could still win.
Whether you're looking to purchase a surprise anniversary gift, a romantic honeymoon, or a much-needed vacation getaway the Silent Auction has it!
To start bidding, visit www.2005annualmeeting.cmarket.com. For additional information, call 202-326-9519 or e-mail lthomas@centeronline.org.
Please take a minute to send the link to your colleagues, friends, and family. Thanks for spreading the word!
Posted by Shawn Lea at 06:24 PM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2005
Blog in the news
Many thanks to Blair St. Amand and Association Trends for writing a great article about the blog in the July 22 issue of the publication. Since Trends is a subscription publication, I've cut and pasted the article into the blog. You can read it by clicking on the link below.
Assn hopes to take blogging to the 'Xtreme'
Annual meeting participants can help contribute to blog
Assn professionals attending the American Society of Assn Executives and the Center for Assn Leadership Annual Meeting, Aug. 13-16 in Nashville TN, are being encouraged to contribute to the new XtremeASAE Blog.
Based on the annual meeting theme, "Assn Performance to the Xtreme," bloggers hope to make the resource "Xtreme" by "engaging its readers in new and different ways, and through a provocative yet playful tone," said Principled Innovation chief strategist Jeff De Cagna, who is also one of the main contributors to the blog.
Other primary contributors are Scott Briscoe, editor in chief of ASAE & the Center's new flagship magazine; David Gammel, CAE, High Context Consulting LLC; Kevin Holland, communication and membership VP, Air Conditioning Contractors of America; Shawn Lea, communications director, Mississippi Hospital Assn; Benjamin Martin, member relations team leader, Virginia Society of CPAs; and Jamie Notter, president, Notter Consulting.
"We're delighted that these enthusiastic assn community volunteers are leading the contribution of contest to the blog," ASAE & the Center publications VP and editorial director Keith Skillman, CAE said. De Cagna said the authors would post new comments at least several times per week leading up the meeting, and each day during the meeting.
In addition to the main bloggers, ASAE & the Center are looking for other contributors to report on sessions and events at the meeting. Those interested in helping out can contact xtremeasaeblog@gmail.com. Users are also able to post replies to topics raised by the primary authors.
Skillman said the blog had been set up around the annual meeting, but would continue to be updated for as long as the conversation lasted after the meeting was finished.
Posts have already been made on general session speaker Philip Kotler, tips for first-time attenders, and requests for reader questions.
Other features of the blog this year include onsite polls, ability to add user photos, and a Del.icio.us page where users can add Web-based resources.
"The goal of the XtremeASAE Blog is to create a valuable resource for both annual meeting attenders and members of the assn community who are not able to make it to Nashville," De Cagna said.
This is the second year (the first was last year) a blog has been developed around the annual meeting.
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 06:12 PM | Comments (0)
XtremeASAE Blog in ASAE Weekly Bulletin
In case you have seen it yet, the XtremeASAE Blog is mentioned in the most recent ASAE Weekly Bulletin. This is excellent exposure for the blog, so be sure to mention it to your office colleagues and encourage them to join you as XtremeASAE Blog subscribers and participants. This blog is for the whole association community as we prepare to gather in Nashville next month. Thanks for being a part of it.
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)
July 13, 2005
Let the audioblogging begin!
We know that many of you out there may prefer text blog postings, but audio really rocks! So this year, the XtremeASAE Blog will have an audioblogging feature, in part so that we can speak with you about the meeting but also because we want to receive your comments through our audio comment line at 206-222-1606. You can also comment using the blog's email address, which is xtremeasaeblog@gmail.com. We hope you'll share your views on the blog and the meeting in the weeks ahead, and we really look forward to what you have to say!
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2005
Let the Xtreme fun begin!
With only a few weeks to go before the 2005 ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership Annual Meeting in Nashville, we are simply delighted to have the XtremeASAE Blog online and ready to go for everyone in our association community. This year, the blog is being stewarded by a small volunteer group of association bloggers with the support and guidance of the fantastic ASAE & The Center staff. Here's the roster of our primary authors so far:
▪Scott Briscoe of ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership
▪Jeff De Cagna of the Association Innovation and Association Renewal blogs, as well as the Associations Unorthodox podcast.
▪David Gammel of the High Context Weblog
▪Kevin Holland of The Association Blog
▪Shawn Lea of The Big Picture blog
▪Benjamin Martin of the Certified Association Executive blog
▪Jamie Notter of the Get Me Jamie Notter and Association Renewal blogs.
If you think you might want to be a contributor to this blog either before or during the Annual Meeting, please send us an e-mail.
I am very proud to be collaborating with Scott and my colleagues from around The Blogoclump. We hope that you will find this year's blog to be an "xtremely" useful resource whether you'll be joining us at Opryland next month or simply following along from your office or home computer. In the weeks ahead, we'll be posting a combination of news, commentary, perspectives and other tidbits to help you get ready and energized for Nashville. Join us for what promises to be an exciting ride!
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 07:19 PM | Comments (0)
Let the Xtreme fun begin!
With only a few weeks to go before the 2005 ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership Annual Meeting in Nashville, we are simply delighted to have the XtremeASAE Blog online and ready to go for everyone in our association community. This year, the blog is being stewarded by a small volunteer group of association bloggers with the support and guidance of the fantastic ASAE & The Center staff. Here's the roster of our primary authors so far:
▪Scott Briscoe of ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership
▪Jeff De Cagna of the Association Innovation and Association Renewal blogs, as well as the Associations Unorthodox podcast.
▪David Gammel of the High Context Weblog
▪Kevin Holland of The Association Blog
▪Shawn Lea of The Big Picture blog
▪Benjamin Martin of the Certified Association Executive blog
▪Jamie Notter of the Get Me Jamie Notter and Association Renewal blogs.
If you think you might want to be a contributor to this blog either before or during the Annual Meeting, please send us an e-mail.
I am very proud to be collaborating with Scott and my colleagues from around The Blogoclump. We hope that you will find this year's blog to be an "xtremely" useful resource whether you'll be joining us at Opryland next month or simply following along from your office or home computer. In the weeks ahead, we'll be posting a combination of news, commentary, perspectives and other tidbits to help you get ready and energized for Nashville. Join us for what promises to be an exciting ride!
Posted by Jeff De Cagna at 07:19 PM | Comments (0)