This is the venue where new research about associations is released. Last year was
The Decision to Join; before that was 7 Measures of Success. This year is no exception, as we are anticipating The Decision to Volunteer. But you don’t have to wait to get your hands on a copy to start absorbing the content! Check out these two reviews of The Decision to Volunteer posted to blogs (full disclosure, the latter is mine) and while in San Diego, be sure to take in these two sessions. Maybe you’re tired of hearing me ramble about social media in associations. If so, here’s a must-attend session at ASAE & The Center’s Annual Meeting: Incorporating New Media into Your Communications Plan. Andy Steggles, and Jason Della Rocca, CEO of the International Game Developers Association will have plenty to tell you about their real-life uses of social media. Of course, if you’d rather not skip the Association BloggerCon to attend this session, you can read about a classic association social media story involving Della Rocca’s online run-in with a video game hater.
There’s a true A-List blogger coming to this year’s annual meeting, and you do not want to miss this true social media mogul IRL (that’s “in real life”). Brian Solis is a co-founder of the Social Media Club and number 32 on the Ad Age Power 150 (index of the top marketing, PR and media blogs). Attend his panel discussion on how to interact with the mainstream media in the Web 2.0 era, or read this post by Solis about the social media playbook if you won’t be at the Annual Meeting. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Last, but not least, how do you prepare for a conference as big as ASAE’s? Lindy Dreyer’s got a few ideas. Here are her 2007 tips, which aren’t totally unlike her 2008 tips. Nothing like experience to change your perspective a little. Elsewhere, readers of ASAE & The Center’s blog, Acronym, are encouraged to talk to strangers. So, if you see me in San Diego, don’t be a stranger!
As always, if you have feedback or a tip, e-mail me: bkmcae at gmail dot com.
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Thanks for the link love, Ben. This is the year for all things social media at the Annual Meeting. It will be very interesting to see how the industry leaders react.
You’re welcome, Lindy. You’re right, this could be the last chance to catch the cluetrain.