In my perusing of industry-related blogs this morning, I came across a post on Kare Anderson's Say It Better blog about how online social networks could actually take away from association memberships/participation. When you can network and communicate with your peers and colleagues online, from your desk at work or home, for free, maybe the lure isn't so great to attend a monthly association meeting? I think this is a very interesting point, and I agree that the face-to-face interaction that's encouraged at and fueled by monthly meetings and/or annual conferences is very important, no matter what business you're in.
What do you think? Are meeting planners and hospitality professionals "into" blogging, podcasts, YouTube, etc.? Or, will we remain the highly social industry that we are already and continue to meet for years to come?
Hat tip to Hello, My Name is... for alerting me to Say It Better.
--Amanda Fretheim Gates
Associate Editor
Meetings: Minnesota's Hospitality Journal
Actually, done right, I think social media (online social network, blogs, Forums et.)could enrich and strengthen year-long relationships in an association so that the annual and other in-person meetings are more meaningful and memorable.
Combine the high tech of social media with the high-touch of face-to-face gatherings.
Some people are more verbally adept and outgoing. Others prefer to express their views and provide their contributions in writing and/or with photos.
After a decade of speaking at conferences I continue to see hidden treasures of people resources who are not fully "used" or honored, missed opportunities for people to make connections that could help their work and their life, meeting designs and topics that are not a complete match with members' and exhibitors' strongest interests.
And this is an industry of smart, caring people. I think that the right mix of user-friendly online community building can strengthen an association and retain members.
Use of social media can start more conversations, foster relationships, make more opportunities visible to more participants.
Aftr all, different generations of members have different ways to network, collaborate, stay in contact, socialize.
The danger for associations?
What if someone outside the association started a well-designed social network to serve those members, included contests with prizes for best contributions and hired a contract meeting planning/managemebnt firm for annual and other meetings?
As well, more meeting planners could make more moments memorable by storyboarding their meeting, with help from the hotel/conference facility managers.
See http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Agenda.aspx?e=95a75f68-8045-41f9-98bf-7c632953e142
BTW, I am so happy that some colleagues directed me to your idea-packed site.
Posted by: Kare Anderson | October 26, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Some of your members may want to come to a seminar that the IABC MN chapter is hosting where I will speak. From their international asn., this chapter won the opportunity to have this event:
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/info/summary.aspx?e=94fd8587-1708-4f46-9f8b-a8a0113ca6e0
Posted by: Kare Anderson | August 08, 2008 at 10:39 AM