Acrimony on Acronym

When I used to watch the TV show, "Happy Days," I had a fixation with the graffiti featuring the phrase, "sit on it" used in the montage either before or after the show. I can't remember when it came on, just that it was always there and with it, my question, "Why was that considered a bad thing to say?" (If you need to see a reference made to this phrase, check out this scene on YouTube for a few laughs.)

Stick and stones and all that jazz.

Yes, words have power. In the association world, those of us working for associations are responsible for representing our members and the industry the best way that we can. This makes sense and seems like a reasonable and easy rule to follow. However, rarely is there anything that is simple in life that we humans cannot find a way to make more complicated.

Acronym Blog is the blog produced by the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE). Last week, a longtime writer for the blog wrote a thought-provoking post with a provocative title, "Why Consultants Suck." "Consultant Wasteland" with the first sentence reading, "Why Consultants Suck."

The content of the post really wasn't about why consultants suck, but rather why it might seem like they aren't as effective as they could be. The author posited that the blame might lie with the association leaders who failed to accept more innovative thinking, but that consultants should challenge their clients to feel more uncomfortable and face changes that need to be made.

The title grabbed my attention, but once I read the post, I thought, "Oh, I see what you were doing there! Okay, okay...you are spurring discussion. This is good."

Then, just as quickly as the post went up, it was taken down.

Facts:

• I'm a longtime member and an active volunteer for ASAE
• I've worked in associations most of my career
• I now work as a consultant serving associations
• I don't think I suck

Other facts:

• There is an unspoken question of what a consultant's role should be in ASAE
• Some consultants feel maligned against by ASAE
• Some association executives DO think consultants suck
• Many association executives depend on and appreciate their consultants 
• (Yes, I knew all these things before deciding to become a consultant)

Some people get touchy when it comes to consultants and ASAE. ASAE is trying to show support for the consultant members, but a blog post headline statement (and Twitter post) like, "Why Consultants Suck" probably ruffled a few feathers and caused the post to be taken down. 

On today's Association Chat (#assnchat, every Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET), the retraction of the post was the chosen topic for conversation and the conversation was lively. 

Consultants didn't think the post warranted being taken down and participants generally felt it was the wrong move for ASAE to handle the situation the way it did. Like me and my failure to understand why, "sit on it" was such a no-no phrase; some chat participants said the headline didn't necessarily cross the line. 

What do you think? 

You can read the transcript of the chat here: http://bit.ly/aG9trm and contact me if you need me to email the original article to you. [Jeff Hurt helped me out with a link to the cached version here.]

Design Thinking for Associations

Have you heard of "design thinking?" Here is Wikipedia's view:

Design thinking is a process for practical, creative resolution of problems or issues that looks for an improved future result. It is the essential ability to combine empathy, creativity and rationality to meet user needs and drive business success. Unlike analytical thinking, design thinking is a creative process based around the "building up" of ideas. There are no judgments early on in design thinking. This eliminates the fear of failure and encourages maximum input and participation in the ideation and prototype phases. Outside the box thinking is encouraged in these earlier processes since this can often lead to creative solutions.

Design thinking. (2010, February 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12:29, March 18, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Design_thinking&oldid=346501047

In the world of associations, there is a need for busting through the "we've always done it that way" mentality and envisioning new possibilities. But we are the only ones who can do it - those of us working in the association industry. Those of us who care about our organizations and the way we spend our days and those of us who are willing to think of new ways, new questions, and new answers.

That's why I am hyper-excited about the upcoming "No More Talk" event Jeff De Cagna (Principled Innovation) and I (DelCor) are facilitating on April 22 in Washington, DC. If you have ever wanted to try something truly different using design thinking to approach association issues, this is your chance! Actually, I am really excited because I've never even heard of anyone doing something like this and it seems full of possibility.

No More Talk is about turning words into action to innovate the association community. You can bring your idea to the table or come up with a good one there and work with a team of similarly passionate association professionals to develop that idea. Winning ideas can potentially receive $1,000 seed grants to make action possible after the event ends. But the point is not about the money - the point is about bringing together a group of people with a pioneering spirit to do something new.

This event was inspired by the active online conversation surrounding Acronym Blog's month-long focus on "big ideas" at the end of 2009. You can read some of those posts here, here, and here for more background. I guess I figured that if I was willing to voice my opinion about big ideas as a blogger, I owed the community (and myself) to follow it up with action.

Who's invited? Advocacy professionals, association folks, consultants... anyone working in the non-profit realm who want to challenge themselves to breaking new ground. This is our think tank - this is our playground - this is our chance to be unpredictable by nature.

Don't be scared. Be excited and join us for this special event! Registration is open now and limited to the first 50 people. The cost is $30 (for meals) and we can't wait to see you there!

View the commercial here: http://delcor.typepad.com/delcor-blog/2010/02/animotocom.html

Association Chat (#assnchat) Highlights: March 16, 2010 Edition

Topic: Social Media Overload

Moderator: KiKi L’Italien

(Q1) Is it the social networks, blogs, amount of information, or the choices of all that overwhelms you?

unhatched:	(Q1) I think it's poor management of all of the above #assnchat
camelendes:	@kikilitalien i end up printing a lot of blogs out and then feel guilty looking at the stack. my intentions are to read at night...#assnchat
DanScheeler:	@kikilitalien I have three Twitter clients, Facebook, & LinkedIn open on two screens - does that count as overload?#assnchat
BillWalker7:	For me it is information overload - making choices to filter what I REALLY want/need to know #assnchat
amgmtgroup:	@kikilitalien all of above. That & the inherent amount of narcissism that, by necessity comes with being a voluminous SM'er. #assnchat
camelendes:	@kikilitalien day to day i feel i can keep up with twitter, fb and LI, but if i miss a day, i feel like i miss a lot #assnchat
DanScheeler:	@kikilitalien Q1 - All of above - so much comes from so many sources. #assnchat
ElizabethB:	Agree w/@unhatched -it is hard to read all those blog posts! Unless I'm not already following or see it posted on Twitter,I miss! #assnchat
BillWalker7:	Many of us have innate fear we might be missing out on something #assnchat
BillWalker7:	Or think that we need something that is only peripherally important #assnchat
deirdrereid:	I miss a lot but figure that my network will RT or refer to anything really "unmissable." #assnchat
ltwhite:	@ElizabethB Thanks for reminding me - talk about overwhelmong & overload #assnchat
unhatched:	Are you overloaded by what you take in or what you want to put out? #assnchat
kelly_flowers:	Hi everyone! I can't figure out how to keep up with all of the socmed..just using twitter can suck up my whole day! #assnchat
DanScheeler:	Sometimes I feel like a prospector - I wade into the SocMed stream with my sieve, hoping to find something of value #assnchat

 

(Q2) Have you found ways to manage the madness? If so, please share!

deirdrereid:	I schedule time (& set timer) for SM, I have priority columns in Tweetdeck, I shut down apps when not using. #assnchat
toniraebrotons:	(Q2) You have to let go of the idea that you have to be on top of social media every minute of the day. It's not going away! #assnchat
deirdrereid:	I try to schedule time for my RSS feeds and keep a "tweet later" list of anything I want to share. #assnchat
DarthGarry:	@kikilitalien I use an old fashioned daytimer, and spend a few minutes each morning reconciling it with my email. #Assnchat
unhatched:	@kikilitalien I can funnel just about everything of value through my Google Reader and I have a ton of filters in Tweetdeck #assnchat
BillWalker7:	@deirdrereid hootsuite really helps me with tweeting later. love the scheduling function. #assnchat
yourmembership:	I use hootsuite because it let's me manage multiple accounts (Twitter, FB, etc.) and use the scheduler for tweets/status as well. #assnchat
ElizabethB:	I try to schedule time for my RSS feeds and keep a "tweet later" list of anything I want to share. #assnchat (via @deirdrereid) - Good idea!
BillWalker7:	@unhatched Do you think there's a learning curve for filtering - just like there is for googling/searching the net? #assnchat
dhelwig:	I think the issue is being frustrated by potential - I see how much more I *could* do if there was more of me to do it! #assnchat
camelendes:	i think i have lower expectations for output (1 to 2 blogs a week) compared to the mountain of tweets, etc #assnchat
LisaSullivan:	GR8 Advice! RT @deirdrereid I sched time (& set timer) 4 SM, I have priority cols in Tweetdeck, I shut down apps when not using. #assnchat
BillWalker7:	I am super resourceful when it comes to search. Not so much when managing/filtering my SM intake. #assnchat
deirdrereid:	@BillWalker7 I've heard that. I don't care so much abt scheduling. I want to be here in real life when I tweet. #assnchat
toniraebrotons:	@yourmembership: LOVE hootsuite! #assnchat
unhatched:	@BillWalker7 absolutely - it took me a long time to get my feed adjusted to where I want #assnchat

 

(Q3) What is one social media "bother" that you wish would go away?

swanwick:	Q3: want to be able to take my social network with me and be able to select what sub-portion to use on each site. #assnchat
deirdrereid:	We all need time to slow down and to read and reflect, important to build that into our day, or at least our week. #assnchat
kikilitalien:	@CharmsS You know, they say the quickest way to go wrong on social media is never leaving it...or is it just that I say that? LOL #assnchat
unhatched:	@kikilitalien I'll take the obvious and go with SPAM #assnchat
tommorrison:	RT @tommorrison #beyondrelevance #assnchat flexibilty expands the opportunities for creativity and innovation. Empowers people w PURPOSE!
CharmsS:	@kikilitalien I didn't leave to the extent that I wasn't utilizing SM tools for my assn, just had to focus energies differently. #assnchat
LeeAnne_Orange:	@kikilitalien - some days seems like I can't get enough and other days I can't seem to be inspired enough to contribute. #assnchat
spkrinteractive:	@ltwhite Think of it as roaring stream. Even if you dip your cup ALL the time, still only a cup. Fine to walk away whenever #assnchat

 

(Q4) What would make your life easier when dealing with social media (to avoid overload)? A better filter? A better platform?

camelendes:	@LeeAnne_Orange i keep it open all day, but i really focus right in the morning, then around lunch and then again around 4:30. #assnchat
spkrinteractive:	@LeeAnne_Orange I walk to work and also walk my dog. That is the zone out time. #assnchat
kikilitalien:	The irony is that I also want to pursue meditation while at the same time using every spare moment to fill up w/more activity... #assnchat
maggielmcg:	@LeeAnne_Orange I try to stay offline (and off iphone) for most of weekend. Notice I said "try" #assnchat
unhatched:	@kikilitalien @susancato nomee is a great multiplatform dashboard - highly recommend #assnchat
dhelwig:	@LeeAnne_Orange I generally cut out in the middle of the day to focus on non-SM work, check AM and PM. #assnchat
maggielmcg:	I have to run--my finger is bleeding all over keyboard from hangnail--tty all next week. #assnchat
spkrinteractive:	By "zone out" I mean let my mind wander a bit. The rest of the day is focused on particular items. #assnchat
kikilitalien:	@maggielmcg Ouch! Good luck! :) #assnchat
LeeAnne_Orange:	@maggielmcg - yeah me too! doesn't always work. :) #assnchat
spkrinteractive:	@kikilitalien Doesn't meditation count as an activity. Doesn't it have long-term and short-term value? #assnchat
stevecbriggs:	@kikilitalien can't explain, but it seems when I do take time to meditate I have more time - I'm billing more anyway! #assnchat
unhatched:	@kikilitalien A girl tweeted during yoga last week & had her phone taken up - reminded me of being caught passing notes in class #assnchat
kikilitalien:	RT @stevecbriggs: @kikilitalien can't explain, but it seems when I do take time to meditate I have more time - I'm billing more anyway! #assnchat
kikilitalien:	@stevecbriggs Great example of exactly WHY I should meditate! Social networking w/ my chi. #assnchat
kikilitalien:	@unhatched A girl tweeted during yoga? That's crazy - even for me! #assnchat
DenaBotbyl:	LOVE IT! RT @unhatched girl twted during yoga last week & had her phone taken - reminded me of being caught passing notes in class #assnchat
unhatched:	@kikilitalien what i can't figure out is how she missed the 9238472 'no phone' signs on her way in #assnchat
stevecbriggs:	@kikilitalien exactly - turning off the stream and zoning out definitely helps focus when you come back to it #assnchat

 

 

Posted via web from kikilitalien's posterous

Using Social Media to Promote Chapter Meetings (March 24, 2010)

Next Wednesday (March 24) from 12-1 pm EDT, you will want to be part “Using Social Media to Promote Chapter Meetings,” a free virtual lunch organized by ASAE & The Center’s Component Relation Section Council!

During your lunch hour on the call, you will be talking with some of the association world’s most inspiring minds, people with integrated marketing insight operating with organizations like yours.

Yes, it is another topic on social media, but I can tell you that each one of these panelists has a distinctive personality with a compendium of tools and tricks for using social media to its fullest potential.

Don’t believe me? Register for the next Wednesday’s call and see for yourself.

Register here: http://bit.ly/cJ07Me

Using Social Media to Promote Chapter Meetings will feature panelists:

·         Peggy Hoffman, Mariner Management and Marketing LLC

·         Kimberly Mosley, American College of Healthcare

·         Shannon Otto, MemberClicks 

·         Andy Steggles, Higher Logic LLC

Follow Twitter hashtag #CRPLunch for more information!

Posted via web from Component Relations Virtual Lunch

(Got an Hour Next Week?) Using Social Media to Promote Chapter Meetings

Next Wednesday (March 24) from 12-1 pm EDT, you will want to be part “Using Social Media to Promote Chapter Meetings,” a free virtual lunch organized by ASAE & The Center’s Component Relation Section Council!

During your lunch hour on the call, you will be talking with some of the association world’s most inspiring minds, people with integrated marketing insight operating with organizations like yours.

Yes, it is another topic on social media, but I can tell you that each one of these panelists has a distinctive personality with a compendium of tools and tricks for using social media to its fullest potential.

Don’t believe me? Register for the next Wednesday’s call and see for yourself! (Register here: http://bit.ly/cJ07Me)

Using Social Media to Promote Chapter Meetings will feature panelists:

Peggy Hoffman, Mariner Management and Marketing LLC - Peggy Hoffman, CAE, co-owns Mariner Management, an association management company that is currently home to 5 component organizations. She actively uses social media within these groups to promote meetings and community. She also works with national associations who are looking to improve their components. Peggy blogs about chapters and components at the Idea Center and you can follow her on Twitter @peggyhoffman.

Kimberly Mosley, American College of Healthcare - Kimberly Mosley, CAE is currently the Vice President of Management Information Systems and CIO at the American College of Healthcare Executives. She joined ACHE as a systems analyst in 1996. She serves on the Advisory Board for Prairie State Junior College in their technology department and serves as a professional advisor at DePaul University. She is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and is currently serving on the CAE Commission. In 2002, she was awarded the Diversity Executive Leadership Scholarship and in 2003, she earned distinction as a Certified Association Executive. She has lectured and written articles on technology and association management and you can follow her on Twitter @kmosley0701 (kmosley-zero-seven-zero-one).

Shannon Otto, MemberClicks - Shannon Otto is the marketing specialist and blogger for MemberClicks, an association management software company dedicated to providing refreshing technology for small-staff associations. A forward-thinking communicator, Shannon is passionate about providing resources to association professionals to help them refresh their membership experience. Prior to joining MemberClicks, Shannon worked in newspapers and television, and brings a unique perspective and voice to the association community. You can follow her on Twitter @MemberClicks.

Andy Steggles, Higher Logic LLC - Andy Steggles is the Chief Operating Officer & Social Strategist for Higher Logic, a white label social media software company which specializes in associations. Mr. Steggles is the author of “Social Networking for Non-Profits” which is due to be published by ASAE in April. Before he started at Higher Logic, Mr. Steggles was the Chief Information Officer of the Risk & Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS) where he headed their social strategy initiatives. Mr. Steggles was also the founder of the Social Networking and Media Association, a non-profit dedicated to the advancing the social web. You can follow Andy on Twitter @asteggles.

Follow Twitter hashtag #CRPLunch for more information!

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