Discussion about the 2009 Annual Meeting in Toronto continues, both on association blogs and elsewhere. Here’s what I’ve come across in the past week–thanks to all of you who took the time to write up your feedback and comments! And……

I completely agree with you and Lindy. That brunch (formerly a breakfast at like 8 am..talk about painful!) is hard to sit through. I don’t like the never-ending reports or the talking head structure of it. I also don’t like how in many ways the Councils have been allowed to state how great they are during their reports. I understand the idea of friendly competition but aren’t we all there to hear what other councils are doing so we can think of better ways to collaborate? Maybe instead of having it be a Leadership Brunch it could be a “Collaboration Brunch.”

I have been on the Marketing Section Council for 3 years now and despite lots and lots of discussion about working with other councils we have not really figured out how to actually do it. The Membership and Marketing Conference is the big thing we do work on with another Council but even that is more of a do your work in your own corners and then come back together to create as cohesive an event as possible type process. I do not know the answer to getting more collaboration and cooperation between Councils but I am sure that with all the dedication and brain power in that room we could figure it out.

If anyone has ideas on how to make that happen let’s get them on “paper” and send to our staff liaisons and get it implemented from the bottom up.

P.S. I disagree with Lindy when she says the food was good. It was pretty awful. I was hungry the entire rest of the day since I left brunch hungry and there were no healthy snacks at Council meetings, only dessert.