ASAE11 was a great experience on many levels.  But it also prompts me to ask a question. My top five reasons for giving ASAE staff, volunteers and attendees an A+:

1. Lots of variety. We had a stand-bys (general sessions, learning labs, socials, engagement lounge and exhibits). We had some new concepts including the unsession learning tours, innovation forums and the  deep dive, game changer, and flash sessions. They even had what looked like a great first-timers program – check it out. By the way, ASAE already has a slideshow to show you what you missed J.
2. Accessibility. From the meeting location to the availability of wi-fi to the vibrant social media to on-site communications, it was easy to connect. Check out the Hub for a peak.
3. People. It always comes down to having the right people in the room.  I enjoyed the mix of the association professionals (and in that phrase I include vendors, consultants and all those who don’t sport the “regular” badge).
4. Ideas & more ideas. I returned home with lots of resources, tips and ideas. Two of my favorite takeaways are from two sessions I almost didn’t attend.  From the Collective Intelligence session I learned a simple process to jumpstart innovation and from the session on gaming the idea to build a game that can help members prepare for certification.
5. Involvement of attendees. I signed up to be a guest blogger for Acronym along with a crew of members (check out the feed) like Jeffrey Cufaude, Brandon Robinson, Maggie McGary, Lowell Aplebaum, Frank Fortin, CAE, Shelly Alcorn, CAE, and Scott D. Oser. And that’s just one of more than a dozen ways ASAE tapped members/attendees to be active participants. This gave my participation an added focus that helped me dig deeper into the experience. I was a “reporter” so my eyes and ears were perhaps more open.  BTW, my contributions included:

• Getting My I On
• It’s not just the topic that counts. It’s the community.
• 3 lessons from day 1

And now the question. As association executives who offer learning events for its members and decry members who don’t take part, how come so many of us don’t take part in our association – ASAE’s – events? How come we don’t invest in our professional development as we ask our members to?

One college professor finds a way to combat the dreaded “classes cancelled due to inclement weather” scenario. After her experience with the Snowmageddon of Winter 2010 when the university shut down for a week, R.S. Zaharna, associate professor of communication American University, decided to find a way to make the current technology work for her and her students. She got the chance this past week when classes were cancelled.

ASAE10, ASAE's annual conference in Los Angeles this past month, was notable for a number of reasons and one of them is a learning experience in and of itself. This year’s meeting really highlighted the new conference attendee. Who is the new conference attendee? One who embraces new learning concepts, one who embraces technology, one who creates their own learning opportunities, one who votes on a session with their feet, one who creates an experience with the formal meeting at the backdrop.

Home again. Works awaits, but my mind is full of ideas, resources, tips and new friends’ names and faces. #ASAE10 hits a homerun.

Here are just five voices among the many from #ASAE10 ...

In just a few short days, Buzz2010 launches with the frist of three breakfast meetings on hot, hot social media issues. Buzz2010 is both a great learning/networking opportunity and a great model to watch (and experience) unfold.

Well it’s the biggest thing since sliced bread (okay that’s maybe just a pithy quote that needs to be retired – love the ones Jamie Notter noted but that’s another topic)!

Buzz2009 is a full-day conference on Thursday, July 9 in Washington DC for associations who think incorporating social media and word of mouth tactics into their overall strategy in the way to go.

We ended another annual meeting of ASAE & The Center members with a bang! The outdoor block party gave San Diego a chance to shine. But the first "shine" was exiting the final general session to a greeting party of ASAE staff clapping and thanking us all. Wow! I was stuck by how they all seemed to be having a great time celebrating the members (yes, it could have been a huge sigh of relief as well). When is the last time I've taken the time to celebrate my members? Hmmm.