This week’s tweets. If you would like to receive them as they come, just follow me on Twitter. As you can see, I try not to overwhelm, tend not to tweet about “my cat just sneezed” type topics (as it was put in a session where I spoke this week), and try to provide links […]
Elizabeth Weaver Engel pointed to a fascinating article about the inadequacies of performance reviews.
Recent discussions have focused on problems with strategic planning, telecommuting, dress codes, and a number of work-related issues. But little, if any comment, has come from CEOs.
CEOs have the power to change everything. What do they have to say about all of this?
This is totally off-topic, but I’m pretty proud of my pirate pumpkin (say that 10 times fast!) this year:
Happy Halloween, and a good Samhain to those who celebrate this holiday as about something other than candy and costumes.
My Top 5 Favorite Hallowe’en Costumes EVER
(Pumpkins from the 1st annual Beaconfire Carve-off.)
Remember when Second Life was going to change the world? Nah, me neither.
Tags: Asides
I just tweeted about the Halloween mini-site at History.com, but then I decided maybe a bit more than 140 characters is in order. Why? Because it seems to me that holidays often are great occasions for learning. Elementary school teachers discovered this ages ago (construction paper turkeys, anyone?), but I suspect most adults don’t stop […]
Raindrop here.
It’s Halloween so it’s time for my annual gig as BatGirl.
Between us, I feel dumb with fake wings tied around my tummy.
But, there are perks to looking silly.
Mom and Dad get really happy.
And I get to go trick or treating twice in one day.
I’m used to doing tricks for treats - but as […]
Here’s a teaser for you. I’ve been conducting some interviews for case studies of associations using social media, which will appear as part of the Association Social Technologies Survey, which is coming out very soon.
One of my case studies is the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, and I recently got a heads up from Dean Comber, Director of Operations at IPRA, with a press release on their new online community which they launched at the end of September.
“ILLINOIS PARK AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS: The Illinois Park and Recreation Association, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, with over 2800 members, on Monday, September 22, 2008 will launch its new website IPRAONLINE.COM. The new site will replace IPRA’s current site, ILipra.org, and will provide members with an “online community” to enhance value to membership in the association.
IPRAONLINE.COM is a brand new web site that addresses the challenges of creating a community of park and recreation professionals. IPRAONLINE is the new community home for IPRA members and those interested in parks and recreation.
The new site boasts a fresh new look; combined with easier navigation and useful and relevant tools for the professional. The site has been developed with the mindset of being able to create communities for the members.
Three major advancements have been made to the site. Community Groups members can join; an enhanced resource library that allows members to upload and share documents, and the ability to build a professional profile and network by searching individual members and organizations.
The new site automatically places the member into an online social network on their chosen special interest section. The Member-Only home, known as I-Link, puts the member in control of the member experience. When logging into I-Link the member is connected to every other special interest member that shares similar interests, job responsibilities and committees. A membership can ask questions, share ideas and communicate create ideas and solutions too many other members questions.
The control of content is in the member’s hands 24/7/365. Following the concept of Facebook and Linkedin, members have the ability to search and connect with members “real-time” right from their computer.”
Dean added this information:
“As an FYI, our site directly connects to Avectra netForum (via XML) and we incorporated the usage of community groups and the ability to add members to an individual’s network. We did not use a vendor for this initiative…we did it all in house. I know we’re not the first association to connect their website to an AMS and I doubt we’re the first to implement social networking (groups, etc.); however, based on our size we feel it’s a pretty big accomplishment. We figured if we got one member who wasn’t involved to get more involved, one younger member to network with a more seasoned member (and vice-versa), and one member to find the site to be useful in their career, we’ve done our job. In less than a month, we can say “yes” to all those questions.
In less than a month, we’ve had “checkbook” members (about 40% of our membership base) become involved in the association, update their profile, and request to volunteer for association-related events. Each time I login to the site, 15 new people are using it.
I know we’re a small 501c3, but we’re pretty proud of this accomplishment…something that I dreamed about doing 4 years ago and now is a reality. As an FYI, we spent under 10k (intangible costs, no tangible costs) to make this happen.”
This is totally rockin’ awesome. Whether you do it in-house, with a technology vendor or using free social sites, diving into the social media space can and does add real value. Particularly in these tough economic times, where membership in an association might be something that gets crossed off the list of essential expenses, don’t underestimate the “power of social”.
I have a lot more good stuff from IPRA and several other associations in my case study interviews - so keep an eye out for the full study. You can pre-order a copy here.
Want to blog like the association pros? Join Lindy and Maddie for a HIGHLY INTERACTIVE workshop (better bring your laptop) in NW DC in just over a month and learn how to get your blog on.
More info - including how to register - at School of Social Fish.
Just got this note today from Bruce MacMillan, President & CEO of Meeting Professionals International, in which he refreshingly defends meetings in the wake of the AIG incentive that caused such a ruckus. From MacMillan:
Dear Editor,
I’ve followed with interest the coverage of executive excess at AIG and comments by Attorney General Cuomo that led to […]
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