We have had a busy few weeks with our tradeshow presence, and there is more coming this fall. And, as I mentioned in a previous post, I am so not in love with how "paper oriented" tradeshows still are. Why can't more be done electronically?
Today I come bearing the news that shipping needs to be looked at too. For two of my recent shows I contracted for shipment through the show contractor. Both times the shipping company refused to come to my office to pick up the shipment - they wanted ME to deliver it to them while they just parked out front. WHAT?
I was in disbelief....and believe me the show contractor heard from me and made it right. But seriously people - really?!?!?!
Today was different...
Today will be marked on the books as the day when a shipping company got it right.
Today will be marked as the day when the shipping company called to tell us they were on the way.
Today will be marked as the day when the shipping company showed up in my office, confirmed all my pieces were present and then THANKED ME, yes THANKED ME for using them!
Why oh why, is this the exception and not the rule?
Please share your thoughts on this process...there has to be a better way!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Top 5 Things I Want To Read About...
Unlike a lot of top 5 lists around these days I would like to take a different approach, and thereby taking exception to a lot of the top 5 lists around these days, no offense. :+)
We all use SM for different reasons. I learn so much from my contacts on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter that if I were to give you things I don't want you to tweet about, I might miss something really cool.
So here's my list of what I want to read:
1. New and hot bloggers - please keep telling me who you're reading. I often go visit and have found some extemely interesting business perspectives/tips/tricks. Don't stop touting interesting people (or people to follow/friend/fan).
2. Work projects - if you are working on a project that someone out in the SM world could help you with...don't hold back - collaboration is one of the key things SM give us access to!
3. Great restaurants - while I often get hungry, and therefore sometimes angry, when I am not eating delicious food like you - I still want to hear if you're having a fantastic meal and where. It expands my knowledge base and gives me options of places to try.
4. Photos of your vacation, dog, cat, baby, husband, wife, friends, etc. - while we are connected to each other through SM we don't see each other F2F very often, if ever, so if you stopped posting photos of personal interests that are important to you we might not ever get a chance to learn more about you, find more commonalities between us, and therefore build a stronger relationship with you.
5. Interesting news - even if it's not industry related, you never know where you will get the inspiration for your next big idea. Post it especially if it's industry related...we all want/need to know - don't hold back.
For me SM gives me an opportunity to meet and connect with interesting people - if you stop doing the above because someone created a list that said you should stop doing these things, most likely I would stop following you because I wouldn't believe there was a person behind the name...
Agree?
We all use SM for different reasons. I learn so much from my contacts on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter that if I were to give you things I don't want you to tweet about, I might miss something really cool.
So here's my list of what I want to read:
1. New and hot bloggers - please keep telling me who you're reading. I often go visit and have found some extemely interesting business perspectives/tips/tricks. Don't stop touting interesting people (or people to follow/friend/fan).
2. Work projects - if you are working on a project that someone out in the SM world could help you with...don't hold back - collaboration is one of the key things SM give us access to!
3. Great restaurants - while I often get hungry, and therefore sometimes angry, when I am not eating delicious food like you - I still want to hear if you're having a fantastic meal and where. It expands my knowledge base and gives me options of places to try.
4. Photos of your vacation, dog, cat, baby, husband, wife, friends, etc. - while we are connected to each other through SM we don't see each other F2F very often, if ever, so if you stopped posting photos of personal interests that are important to you we might not ever get a chance to learn more about you, find more commonalities between us, and therefore build a stronger relationship with you.
5. Interesting news - even if it's not industry related, you never know where you will get the inspiration for your next big idea. Post it especially if it's industry related...we all want/need to know - don't hold back.
For me SM gives me an opportunity to meet and connect with interesting people - if you stop doing the above because someone created a list that said you should stop doing these things, most likely I would stop following you because I wouldn't believe there was a person behind the name...
Agree?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Volunteers That Are Rockin My World - Go Membership Committee!
Hands down my Membership Committee is rockin my world these days.
I am so lucky to have an awesome membership committee that will tackle anything I put in front of them - always completing committee assignments on time and with a smile. In addition, they are so supportive of my goals for the year - I truly feel like I have an extension of my team with these dedicated volunteers.
So, as a group, they are my selection for most awesome volunteers this week!
Here's the list - give them some props next time you see or talk to them:
Robert Donahue, Disneyland Resort - Chair
Tom Casadamont - I&MI Media
Mike Dickinson - Travel Planners
David Fine - Broadmoor Hotel
Sherry Franklin - Renaissance Nashville Hotel
Adriana Molina - Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Armando Lazarte - Holiday Inn Express Springfield
Angela Musial
Greg Newton - Ottawa Convention Centre
Chris Nord - Hershey Resorts
Melissa Riley - Destinatio DC
Michele Sawka - Minerals, Metals and Materials Society
Belinda Waldo - Associated Luxury Hotels
Judy Wander - International Council of Shopping Centers
David Peckinpaugh - HelmsBriscoe, Board Liaison
Thank you thank you thank you for all you do for me and PCMA!
-Christine
Death by forms!
As I prepare for five tradeshows in the next 60 days - I have to tell you I'm going a little bonkers making sure all the paperwork is filled out correctly and completely.
Thing that amazes me are all the paper forms still - why can't I do more online? I am filling out at least five forms per show for a 10 x 10 booth.
I think there is a real opportunity here.
I work in the event/tradeshow/association business - so I get it. There are many many players to make a tradeshow successful - I know that. So I'm not so much complaining, well...I guess I am complaining...but I'm pushing us to come up with some better best practices here.
The opportunities are endless - one form with all the stuff, electronic forms, one payment form.
What I would love is an electronic checklist that helps walk me through the event start to finish to make sure I get all the right forms filled out and that I opt out of services I don't need.
Someone out there has to be doing some innovative work with this - please let me know what it is and I will promise to help spread the word!
Thing that amazes me are all the paper forms still - why can't I do more online? I am filling out at least five forms per show for a 10 x 10 booth.
I think there is a real opportunity here.
I work in the event/tradeshow/association business - so I get it. There are many many players to make a tradeshow successful - I know that. So I'm not so much complaining, well...I guess I am complaining...but I'm pushing us to come up with some better best practices here.
The opportunities are endless - one form with all the stuff, electronic forms, one payment form.
What I would love is an electronic checklist that helps walk me through the event start to finish to make sure I get all the right forms filled out and that I opt out of services I don't need.
Someone out there has to be doing some innovative work with this - please let me know what it is and I will promise to help spread the word!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Volunteer Recognition - Traveling Super Stars!
I had the honor of traveling throughout Mexico in May with some spectacular PCMA members to talk about PCMA membership and trends in the meetings industry.
For this incredible dedication to PCMA and the industry I recognize:
Johnnie White, Cardiovascular Research Foundation
Leigh Wintz, Soroptomists International of the Americas
Dean Martin, Microsoft
David Peckinpaugh, HelmsBriscoe
Gary Schirmacher, Experient
We didn't just hit one city - we traipsed the entire country. Starting in Cancun, traveling to Mexico City and finally in Cabo San Lucas...all over a four day period.
Many thanks to Jesus Aparicio, Eventia for his personal attention to making sure these events were all a resounding success.
I'll write more about the sessions that were presented - as that is worthy of its own blog...so stay tuned!
Travel Safely!
I travel a lot for my job. Not as much as some, but more than others...roughly 8-10 trips per year.
Many times I'm traveling by myself and for my entire career I have not had any concerns of "traveling alone."
A couple years ago one of my teenage nieces asked me if I didn't get scared being in a hotel by myself. She asked, "Aren't you afraid to stay in a hotel by yourself? Aren't you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?"
Seriously, I had never even thought about it like that...EVER!
BUT, it did make me pause and ask myself if I was being as safe as I could be. Was I doing everything I could to keep myself safe on the road. And so, like all travelers out there I was more vigilant about bolting the hotel door, using the in-room safe, etc.
This post is for all experienced travelers and those not so experienced - to give you the confidence to travel alone!
Basic tips for travel safety:
1. Secure your personal belongings at the airport
2. Lock and bolt your hotel room door
3. Take transportation from authorized areas only
4. Don't wear flashy jewlery or clothing - i.e. don't stand out in the crowd
5. Don't talk to strangers...no seriously...I know you are not in grade school, but sometimes in our quest for being friendly we talk...just be cautious
6. While seeming paranoid (okay I might be!) - make sure your luggage gets in the cab at the airport
7. Use the in-room safe - it's easy to use and there for reason
8. Don't open the door for just anyone
9. Check fire exits and escape routes
10. Walk with confidence
- Christine
Many times I'm traveling by myself and for my entire career I have not had any concerns of "traveling alone."
A couple years ago one of my teenage nieces asked me if I didn't get scared being in a hotel by myself. She asked, "Aren't you afraid to stay in a hotel by yourself? Aren't you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?"
Seriously, I had never even thought about it like that...EVER!
BUT, it did make me pause and ask myself if I was being as safe as I could be. Was I doing everything I could to keep myself safe on the road. And so, like all travelers out there I was more vigilant about bolting the hotel door, using the in-room safe, etc.
This post is for all experienced travelers and those not so experienced - to give you the confidence to travel alone!
Basic tips for travel safety:
1. Secure your personal belongings at the airport
2. Lock and bolt your hotel room door
3. Take transportation from authorized areas only
4. Don't wear flashy jewlery or clothing - i.e. don't stand out in the crowd
5. Don't talk to strangers...no seriously...I know you are not in grade school, but sometimes in our quest for being friendly we talk...just be cautious
6. While seeming paranoid (okay I might be!) - make sure your luggage gets in the cab at the airport
7. Use the in-room safe - it's easy to use and there for reason
8. Don't open the door for just anyone
9. Check fire exits and escape routes
10. Walk with confidence
Here are a few sites that also offer valuable tips:
- http:travel.state.gov
- usa.gov
- corporatetravelsafety.com
I know we must all travel for business/pleasure - let's just be careful out there!
Did I miss some of yours? Please share your own safety tips with me.- Christine
Thursday, May 6, 2010
There haven't been a lot of times when something really struck me as spot on thinking, the below excerpt from Geoff Livingstons blog (http://geofflivingston.com/) is one of those times.
His thoughts on the personal, one-on-one relationships that are built through social media really resonates deeply with me. It's not so much the ding on corporate communication, because I think he believes (and so do I) that mass communication is important, it's the addition of the new communication, through social media, that holds NEW power.
******************************************************************************
I believe that the need to connect is such an amazing thing - and I wonder how my professional life and network would be different today if social media had been around when I first started out.
I encourage the young and the old to get into the game now - there is so much to gain and if done right, with heart and sincerity, there is little to lose.
P.S. - Thanks Barbara for connecting me to this!
His thoughts on the personal, one-on-one relationships that are built through social media really resonates deeply with me. It's not so much the ding on corporate communication, because I think he believes (and so do I) that mass communication is important, it's the addition of the new communication, through social media, that holds NEW power.
******************************************************************************
“So what’s an organization to do? Stop content publishing, stop pushing your spiel. Start talking, practice the law of natural attraction, bring your network to you by becoming part of the larger ecosystem. It’s what Dell and LiveStrong and so many other successes have done.
When you let go of the postured brand control methods of mass media communications, and become a contributing part of ecosystems, things start to happen. You see organizations entrenched within larger conversations. People start paying attention, and a community starts to take hold.
When nonprofits and companies get over themselves and all of their contrived communications — like an awkward young adult finding themselves — they are able to focus on the big picture, and participate online in meaningful ways. They can add social to their larger communications mix as a real means to begin conversations with stakeholders. Whether that’s for fundraising/sales, community relations/customer service or volunteers/community loyalty, it really can happen on the social web.”
******************************************************************************I believe that the need to connect is such an amazing thing - and I wonder how my professional life and network would be different today if social media had been around when I first started out.
I encourage the young and the old to get into the game now - there is so much to gain and if done right, with heart and sincerity, there is little to lose.
P.S. - Thanks Barbara for connecting me to this!
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