Association Meetings

45 Tools to plan your next .....

OK so this is for wedding planners ... but there are a lot of good suggestions and resources for planning other types of events as well.

I truly appreciate it when others compile lists such as this one ...

Enjoy ...

45+ Tools to Plan your Next Wedding

Headed to Leiden ...

Photo by jkhewett

In the next couple of hours I will be headed to the airport to go to Leiden, in The Netherlands.  Over the next several days I will be attending a meeting; planning a meeting and exhibiting at a meeting!  I promise to take notes and to share as I go along.

One of the main issues that I want to be thinking about and hopefully address:  what are those challenges faced when planning an International meeting?  Especially those challenges we now face due to the current economical status.

What issues do you think international planners face?  I would love to hear your thoughts ...

For now however, I need to get to the airport!

Seth's Blog: Three kinds of meetings

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Meetings vs. Conferences - what is the difference?  Is there a difference?  I have often had this conversation with our various clients and now I have one definition that can be used to show the difference between these different events.

Seth Godin's definition:

A Conference - A conference is a chance for a circle of people to interact.  Whereas a meeting can follow on of three types of formats:

1.  Informational - a place where information is provided.
2.  Discussional - where feedback is involved.
3.  Permission based - This is a meeting where the other side is supposed to say yes but has the power to say no.  

For me, the first two types are very clear and easy to understand.  The third I had to think about for awhile.  Maybe it was the word "permission" that threw me.  My take on Seth's definition; the third is a meeting where you are trying to persuade another to your point of view.  To convince others to join your cause or support your project. 

What are your thoughts on these definitions?

Seth's Blog: Three kinds of meetings

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Silent Auctions ... Tricks & Tips

Recently I've attended several conferences where the meeting organizers conducted a silent auction to raise funds for its organization or foundation.  Many of my clients also use silent auctions to raise monies for scholarships and faculty development projects.  While observing these auctions I came away with a few suggestions:

1) Look closely at your participants.  Are the items you have available of interest?  Having NFL Football memorabilia available when your audience is primarily European, may not go over so well.  If you have a wide range of participants in terms of demographics - have items that match. 

2) Have items available that everyone can support financially.  Look at all budget ranges.  I would have gladly participated in some of the past auctions however, there were no items that I could bid on for less then $500.  Sorry .. funds come directly out of my personal account.

3) The purpose of the auction is to raise money.  If you agree, then establish your auction to do so.  Think carefully about your starting bids.  If the starting bid is viewed as higher than the value of the item, you are not going to get as many bidders.  One auction I observed had starting bids at $1,000 for items that were worth far less.  Yes I realize that this is for charity, but let's be realistic!

4) If the auction is connected to a meeting or event, can you also conduct the auction on your website?  If so, you have just increased the number of potential participants.  Bids can be taken electronically  until the cut-off and updated to those received at the event live.

5) At the recent MeetDifferent Conference in Atlanta I saw a very unique way to post non-tangible items such as memberships or tickets.  Post these items on a wall instead of hiding them on a table. The picture I've included here shows how this can be done.  I believe that this will bring more attention to those types of item.

 

6) Create excitement!  Make sure to announce throughout your meeting that the auction is taking place and how to get involved.  Create an environment where participants feel like they are missing out on something special.  Don't hide your auction or have it as an afterthought.

7) Engage your participants and don't overlook your speakers or exhibitors when asking for item donations.  If your speakers are published authors, why not include an autographed copy of their book in the auction? Do your exhibitors want the added exposure by donating items?  If this auction is for a member association - why not include a year's membership fee? Or conference registration for the next meeting?

8) Make it easy to win!  Offer free shipping on items that cannot be carried home easily.

9) Have LOTS of pens on the auction bid sheets. 

10) Have FUN with it! 

I would love to here your suggestions and tips .....