As much push-back as Jeff and I get when we suggest strategic planning doesn’t work, I sometimes forget that there are many in the mainstream business press who say similar things. Donald Sull has an article in MIT’s Sloan Management…
Tomorrow at midnight the much anticipated release of Halo 3 happens … and like Halo 2 release I’ll be outside a game store with my 15 year old son for hours so he can get it, on a school night at midnight. Estimates over a million copies pre-sold (we’re in that count) and 2.5 million copies may be sold first day. Many electronics stores have “Halo 3 Countdown” widget (pic) on web sites.
With those staggering numbers, association executives shouldn’t ignore the volume who game, and potential impact as they’re current/future employees, CEOs and members. “Halo effect” often refers to having a positive impression of someone or something based on a first attribute (such as being beautiful) or past experience (such as Apple products) — where one or few positives leads to belief there are many more positive attributes.
Random observations of how Halo 3 can have a “Halo effect” ….
1. Gamers in Halo have to be collaborative to be successful. My son routinely shows others in his “clan” (gaming group) how to improve, so he can win. Also have to be good at multi-tasking and problem-solving.
2. Possible there’s more “leadership development” in years of gaming than a day-long leadership seminar or retreat with instructors. Ask a gamer about leadership.
3. Failure is part of gaming experience - leads to future success. Are we willing to take chances, and “fail our way to success”?
4. Do we create a buzz for product or program releases? Where’s the countdown widget on our association sites?
5. Gamers already oriented to world without geographic barriers - bring that to workforce. Online gaming is with kid next door, cousin across country, friends from class, others throughout world. Not loner experience as often perceived - broader and more interactive than most who don’t game.
6. Endorsement potential for best gamers higher than many professional sports athletes. Considered cyber-sport by this generation, even if parents don’t think so. If targeting demographics, have you thought about gamers?
7. Builds technical skills. Reports that surgeons who game better at technical part of certain procedures than non-gamers.
8. What will gamers think when have on-line or other experience with our associations — for education, research and collaboration. Do we seek them out to help improve our development?
9. Gamers don’t see down side to honesty, even if negative comments. Leads to improvement.
I’m entirely impressed with association executive Jason Della Rocca from International Game Developers Association (IGDA). His membership largely under 30 and industry that embraces best of gaming qualities, because it has to. Very creative association, site, approach, individual. Jason guest-blogged at ASAE2007 and posted negative (and positive) comments about programs. My guess is comments will be considered by future planning group, and reflect opinion of others who worry about “being negative” and don’t post. And to give ASAE credit, they encouraged post and then made him regular guest blogger. What approach do associations often take with encouraging honesty and insight about their programs?
If many members (and employees) are likely among the huge demographic that game, do we provide a collaborative environment where they want to participate? Where’s our Halo effect?
For those of you who’ve enjoyed the Powerpoint discussions recently, read this - an oldy by goody tongue in cheek advice article on how to write good powepoint.
I need some help at VAR. Specifically I need a marketing manager. I want to hire for this position by word of mouth. Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested.
The Virginia Association of REALTORS (VAR), a 39,000-member association headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, seeks a talented and ambitious marketing manager:
The Marketing Manager coordinates the production details and flow of marketing projects, including proactively communicating across all staff departments to keep marketing production calendars up to date, gathering cost estimates as directed, informing staff and vendors of deadlines, and monitoring compliance to assure timely delivery of marketing projects. Manages day-to-day functions of marketing division, including but not limited to member recognition, graphics library, clipping services, and member response/fulfillment.
Responsibilities:
Maintain and administer communications calendar to ensure timely production and release of marketing materials/projects, including developing and implementing project specific production schedules and deadlines.
Manage production process for all print and electronic communication including maintaining deadlines, list acquisition, postage, and follow-through with graphic designers and printers to ensure timely delivery of materials.
Generate specifications and cost estimates for marketing projects.
Administer targeted member outreach systems to identified member constituencies, under direction of Director of Communications & New Media.
Collaborate with Information Manager and provide input on e-newsletters and magazine and preparing event scripts.
Write and edit copy for marketing materials.
Produce annual print and web-based VAR Leadership Directory.
Assist VP/Communications in administration and promotion of member recognition/awards programs. Maintain records of award recipients. Distribute forms to local associations and ensure placement on website.
Manage member response, fulfillment (member services, member inquires, etc.) as requested.
Design and implement communications and marketing plans for real estate specialties groups and RPAC.
Maintain news clip and photo archives.
Perform other such duties as assigned by the CEO, VP/Communications, and Director of Communications & New Media.
Desired traits and competencies:
Salary in the $30K’s, commensurate with qualifications and experience. To be considered for this position, send a cover letter, writing sample, and resume to Ben at VArealtor dot com by October 5, 2007. No phone calls, please (our convention is next week)!
Tagged: Association Management; Associations; CAE; Certified Association Executive
In honor of the anniversary of the emoticon, and of my exactly one month old blog, I have added a wink to my blog title; just in case anyone was wondering if I was still “reluctant”…!
For you, here’s some:
<)<)<) (pizza)
and some
(_)3 (_)3 (_)3 (beers)
Here’s me in my party hat:
~/:-)
Here’s me dancing a happy dance:
(o_o<) (>o_o)> ^(o_o^) (^o_o)^ (^o_o)> <(o_o^) (>^_^(>O_o)>
….Ok. Enough…! Have a good weekend all. ; )
Got email response to recent article, with more tips for wireless and electrical access when traveling. From Jerry Matthews who relays, “As you know I travel extensively as a consultant, and have [many] Internet complaints.” Mac user too.
His suggestions [verbatim]:
1. Travel with ethernet cable. Pays for itself first time.
2. Travel with Apple Airport Express (pic). Smaller than your hand wireless router that you plug in hotel ethernet connection and gives your computer wireless access thus freedom in the room. Works with Mac and PC. (Also works with USB devices like printers making them wireless.)
3. Get an iPhone which has unlimited Internet access with real web pages and unlimited e-mail… or other cell phone with access as backup.
4. When you enter your hotel room check out wireless access before you unpack. There are “dead zones” (or other excuses) and if your room is in one you can move immediately.
5. Join Wyndham ByRequest, a free membership that automatically gives free Internet access and free long distance. (And a welcome batch of munchies). No minimum stays required. Not that many Wyndhams but my choice every time.
6. Travel with an outlet splitter. Allows two plugs for one outlet. Good for hotel rooms but also for airports when another traveller beats you to the only outlet.
7. Delta has small desks/counters and plenty of outlets in a “Changing Center” in their gate areas.
8. If not familiar with hotel do not believe their Internet site call them directly - not national reservations center - and ask for a manager to get the truth (hopefully).
Wore my old POW Bracelet today (pic) in honor of Lt Col. William Potter - because local newspaper had full-page ad reminding it’s POW/MIA Remembrance Day. Got bracelet in the seventh grade. Until Google, only knew what bracelet inscribed - name, rank, date MIA. Would not have known his remains identified in 1995. Web also includes … how returning POWs might receive a hundred bracelets in the mail sent by those who wore name on bracelet, pictures/stories of those missing or killed - and remembered on “virtual walls“, and history of bracelet itself.
Many Associations have buildings, libraries, rooms, scholarship funds, awards, and more named in honor of someone. But do later generations of members and scholarship or award recipients get those stories? Do we provide remembrance? Maybe we should each set aside time each year to get the stories of those who earned their name in our association histories and share them - and/or set up a “virtual wall” on our sites so legacy can be found.
They aren’t just names. We can provide remembrance.
A client of mine asked her vendor to make a fix to their database. After making the fix, the vendor sent an email with the following:
"This has been corrected BUT this could have changed some other already established rules (that I don't remember) so please check this carefully."
Hold on a second. If the vendor makes […]
There has been a positively raging firestorm of personal attacks in the association blogoclump on the idea of marketing. OK, more like spirited debate of the ideas while maintaining respect for each other individually but that didn’t sound as exciting.
Here is Kevin Holland’s post that sums it up nicely and gives his take.
In […]
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