The Association Innovation Blog by Jeff De Cagna

Principled Innovation Blog coming soon!

Dear TAIB Readers:

As most of you know, I have not posted to this blog for many months and I have decided not to post to it again after this evening.  Instead, I am launching the Principled Innovation Blog, which is integrated with my company's new website that will launch in the next ten days.

When the new blog is live, you will be able to reach it at http://www.principledinnovationblog.com.  As of this evening, this URL will take you to a Go Daddy parked domain page. 

I've really enjoyed writing this blog and I want to thank you for reading it.  The Principled Innovation Blog will be a little bit different from this one.  On the new blog, I'll talk more about my company and my work, along with my continued focus on innovation and associations.  In addition, I'll be posting more of my more random thoughts about life, with an eye toward provoking discussion in a more humorous fashion.

At this point, I plan to keep this blog up and available as an archive site, rather than making its posts part of the new blog.  For me, the Principled Innovation Blog is a clean slate, a chance to try out a new voice and new ideas.  I may reference something from this blog from time to time. of course, but mostly I'll be starting fresh.  I'm looking forward to the challenge and I hope you'll enjoy the experience right along with me!

Jeff

Visit The Daily Innovator!

I'm pleased to announce that I've launched another blog called The Daily Innovator.  It is not an association specific blog, but a resource for anyone working in any type of organization who is looking for advice, ideas and inspiration on how to make innovation a priority everyday.  My hope is that you will come to view it as an invaluable resource.

The blog is live now and I hope you will visit regularly.  In fact, please consider subscribing either by e-mail or using the RSS feed.  If you'd like to submit a comment, you can do so here.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts! 

Association Forum launches podcast

I'm pleased to say that Association Forum of Chicagoland has joined me and is now producing a podcast for the association community.  The podcast, hosted by Forum CEO Gary LaBranche, will be weekly and is part of a project that has three goals:

1. Demonstrate podcasting as an association product or service;
2. Share lessons learned and knowledge gained on podcasting with the association community;
3. Provide greater access to association management knowledge and information.

I urge you to listen to Gary's first effort and to support the podcast in the weeks and months ahead.  Podcasting is a powerful tool for associations, and I'm pleased to see that it is beginning to enter into our community's awareness.

By the way, the article from the July 2005 FORUM that Gary mentions was authored by yours truly and it can be found here. 

One final BlogJam post

I made my final post to the FC NOW BlogJam just a few minutes ago.  In it, I reiterate my hope that FC will launch a podcast, which I have suggested they call FC NEXT.  Whether they call it that or not, I just hope they'll run with the idea.  If you agree, please go to my post, and share your thoughts of support!

FC NOW Blogjam Posts #3 and #4

Here are my two posts from today.  I think I may have one more before the BlogJam is over!  You should check it out...

Inclusive innovation

Global competitiveness vs. Summer vacation

My For Immediate Release Interview

On Friday, I was interviewed by Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson of the For Immediate Release podcast.  The interview is now available for download, and I hope you'll take some time to check it out.  (It is 55 minutes in length.)

For those of you who listen to my podcast, Associations Unorthodox, you know that I met Shel at the International Association of Business Communicators conference in DC in late June.  Shel introduced himself as "a big fan" of my podcast, which was a truly thrilling thing to hear, because until that point I wasn't sure whether anyone other than my friends were listening.  It was a very exciting moment for me, and I was even more excited by Shel's interview invitation.  I hope I didn't disappoint him and I hope you'll enjoy the conversation!  I look forward to your feedback and pushback...

FC NOW BlogJam 2005 Post #1

I've made my first post to the FC NOW BlogJam 2005, which began this morning.  I actually put it up a few minutes before midnight (because I'm a geek and I wanted to be the first one to post), and I thought I had blown it because my attempt to change the date and time initially failed, but I went back and corrected it and all is well.  Phew!  ;>) 

In this first post, I made a small proposal:  that Fast Company launch a podcast called FC NEXT.  Now that FC's ownership situation is more settled, I think this would be a great step for the publication to take.  (In addition, I think they should bring back their RealTime conferences, but that is a story for another day.)  I would love an FC podcast, and I am confident that I would not be alone.  The readership of this magazine is deeply devoted to it, so the podcast would have an interested audience from day one.  At any rate, we'll see what kind of reaction I get to the idea.

BTW, association executive and fellow blogger Shawn Lea of The Big Picture is also participating in the BlogJam and will be posting for the next two days.  I look forward to sharing in her brilliance and that of all BlogJam participants.  I suggest you join us! 

Now this is a great idea...

Today, I received an e-mail from ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership that allowed me to proof my name badge for the upcoming Annual Meeting in Nashville.  Here is an image of what I received:

This is a terribly exciting development, not only for ASAE & The Center and for meetings in general, but for me personally.  I have struggled my whole life with the challenge of getting others to spell my last name correctly.  I cannot tell you how many hundreds of times over the decades other people have substituted their judgment for mine when spelling my last name.  People have actually argued with me about it, suggesting that the space in my name is not necessary or not a mistake.  The joke I make is that if I could get back all of the time I've spent correcting error-filled spellings my last name over the last 37 years, I'd still be 18 years old!

To me, this very simple e-mail is more than just excellent customer service.  For me, it is a sign of respect, a recognition of my individuality and a very simple step that allows me to regain control over how I present myself to others.  Oh sure, an incorrect name badge could be corrected at the meeting.  But now I'm know that ASAE & The Center cares about me as a person, not just as a meeting attendee, and that's a wonderful feeling.  Bravo!

UPDATE:  Rich over at the Trade Show Marketing Report pokes fun at my enthusiasm about the badge proofing option.   But Rich doesn't get my mail...today's extraordinary new spelling of my last name:  DeAcagna.  Now that's one I haven't seen before...full marks for originality.

The XtremeASAE Blog fun has begun...

It is with great pleasure that I announce the XtremeASAE Blog is now live and ready for you to visit!  This blog will be a resource for both Annual Meeting attendees and for members of the association community who are unable to join us in Nashville.  My advice to you:  subscribe today!  You can do that by visiting the site and entering your e-mail address in the Subscribe box on the right side of the blog.  When you subscribe, you will receive ONE E-MAIL per day with all of the updates to the blog for the previous day, so you won't have a bunch of new messages cluttering up your inbox!

I'm personally excited about this new blog, because we have such a great group of bloggers and we are actively seeking your participation in this blogging experience.  If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please email us at xtremeasaeblog@gmail.com.  We look forward to engaging you!

ASAE Annual Meeting blog launches Monday!

Great news!  ASAE & The Center are moving forward with a blog for the Annual Meeting in Nashville!  The blog will launch on Monday and I'm pleased to say that a group of association bloggers will be managing it, with the advice, guidance and support of the ASAE & The Center staff. It is an honor to be a part of that group, and I know that you're going to be pleased with what we're doing.

We're writing this blog for everyone who is attending the meeting, of course, but we're also doing it for the overwhelming majority of association professionals who won't be able to join us at Opryland.  We want the blog to be a useful resource for everyone, something you'll check daily over the next month and even after the meeting.  We will also make it a little bit provocative--dare I say "xtreme"--to capture your attention and spark your imagination!  And we very much want to get you involved!  More on that to come...

So get ready...and check out the various association community blogs over the next few days for updates.  It's very exciting!