Delicious Networking
One of the most valuable aspects of attending a conference is networking. It’s good to connect with a smörgåsbord of communicators from around the world and toss around professional topics. There’s a collected brain power here, and you can see the neurons firing as ideas and exchanges occur.
After many years on the IABC scene, I had the opportunity to escort a first time conference goer around the opening general reception. It was intriguing to see an IABC newcomer meet like-minded professionals, talk shop, and make new connections. He was excited; the IABC family is both welcoming and hospitable.
We met another first time attendee from South Africa. As the two talked about Internet issues, and what they’re working on, you could see a connection forming. Jiyan is a specialist at monitoring and mapping the Internet, to help companies identify what it being said about them online by activists, customers, disgruntled employees and others. A light bulb went off for the lady, who said that South African companies need to start doing that - now that more of the population is commenting about everything and anything in online spaces.
As the two exchanged business cards, I couldn’t help but think… “aha, IABC is a meeting place where ideas and information flows.”
We moved about, and he met more new people, exchanged business cards, and even met a trade publisher who asked to talk with him further for some possible future exposure.
Careers are enhanced here. Whenever people tell me they don’t derive any value from the association, I always question how actively they partake of the myriad opportunities offered by IABC. Sitting in your office doesn’t cut it.
On a side note, the food at the reception was pretty darn good and plentiful. Kudos to the team for offering Peking Duck. At a reception! Very imaginative. Platters of shrimp! Lots of different styles of food - something for everyone - yet no Gumbo, a specialty from my neck of the woods 
That’s cool. Instead, I indulged on fat Middle Eastern kabobs and trays of hummus.
Later, we tagged along with a Canadian to a gathering of communicators from that country. More warmth from bright people. More power talk about what’s gong on in the industry.
Face to face, remember that? What a rich opportunity. Seeing it through new eyes re-invigorated me too.
- Charles Pizzo
[Technorati tag: iabc international conference 2005 ]
June 27th, 2005 at 5:14 am
FYI - when I clicked to this article through the story heading menu at the top (previous artice/next article), the info about who is posting the item didn’t show up in the subsequent article. Clicking on IABC Cafe at the top brought me to the home page, where I could see the author info again, but it was a bit confusing to read the article not knowing which of the posse was the author. I assume this is a glitch that can be fixed.
For the time being, posse members should be aware people might be reading their postings without knowing which one is doing the writing, unless they include that in the post somewhere.
June 27th, 2005 at 5:29 am
Good catch, Eric! It shows up on our screens. But when I logged out, and moved between posts without going back the the main IABC Café page, I experienced exactly what you said. No author info.
It shows up in certain views, but not when one moves between “next or previous” entries. Going back the main page and scrolling resolves that, though it’s an unlikely step for Web surfers.
Chris Hall of IABC, if you read this, HELP!
In the meantime, Coffee Press Corps should considering manually adding bylines to the end of their posts.
June 27th, 2005 at 7:14 am
This is default Wordpress behavior, so I will need to modify source. I have had problems getting our VPN to work from the hotel, but if I can get to the Cafe box and tweak it I will. In the meantime feel free to manually insert bylines.
Side note to Neville, Shel, et al: Technorati tags have worked from the get-go, are you sure you are using the right ones? It is “iabc international conference 2005″, without the dashes.
Cheers.