I sent out a message in YAP last week, asking people who had NOT attended ASAE09 if they would be willing to let me know the reasons, and also whether they had participated virtually through Twitter or any other way.  I got a ton of good responses, and thought I’d share a few here.  Maybe there are some nuggets ASAE could use for next time.

I did not attend the annual meeting this year and I did follow you as well as a few of my colleague’s that did attend via twitter. I’m actually listening to the Clay Shirky YouTube video on your site as I type – Takeaways from ASAE09.

Thanks for reaching out. I would have LOVED to go, but it would have cost too much out of pocket for travel and lodging. Also, in looking at the program, I didn’t see a lot of sessions about Membership. Hopefully, I’ll get to go the one in LA in 2010.

My one specific point of disappointment is the fact that ASAE doesn’t step-up for members who are volunteering on councils, etc. I’d love to see a discounted registration rate for volunteers simply because it’s the right thing to do…plus they would get the investment back and then some in time that we all give.  On the media front, I’d have loved to have seen the keynotes streamed live over the web and much more crowdsourced content online. I think really encouraging people to contribute and providing some low barrier to entry ways to do so – beyond the obvious (Twitter) would have been great. They should have given out flips for each session and had people recording pieces that could have then been uploaded to the hub. I’m sure I have more thoughts but this gives you a good idea of what I am thinking.

A virtual opportunity to connect would have been great.  In fact with all the tweets going on between you, AAMSE, Sheri Jacobs, Cynthia D’Amour (who I know from my days on the ASAE Comp Relations Council), Kiki, and Ben I know have an even greater appreciation for what was going on at the meeting and also gained some new people I am following.

I’m responding to your request about not being able to go to the annual meeting.  Even as Circle Club members, we only sent two people (both on committees).  The main reason is we have no travel budget for professional development.  I did follow along through twitter, but it is not the same experience.  Video would be helpful or possibly a twebinar or remote session that streams live at the conference.

I did not go to the ASAE conference. It is not in my travel budget, due to its perceived low direct value to my core duties. In these challenging financial times, all non-vital expenditures have been limited.

I tried to follow on Twitter, but there was so much “noise” that it was of very little value–I’d have to sift through a day’s worth of tweets to get one potentially useful ‘nugget’. BTW, loved your tweet about “innovation”. [This one? LMAO]

I went to Toronto, but I know a bunch of people and CAE mates who couldn’t go because of the cost and the fact that their employers wouldn’t pay.  Next year, my employer probably will not pay, but they did this year because I got my CAE.  If I have to pay out of pocket, I probably won’t go next year.

Unfortunately, I had to hold down the fort while my ED was out of the country and thus missed Annual. However, I did catch part of Jeff De Cagna’s session via UStream, which was great.  I wish more of the break-out sessions had been available via UStream.  I also followed the ASAE hub and #ASAE09 tweets. Personally, I found the tweets  a challenge to follow because so much information was pouring out at once.

Couldn’t go. Canada seemed too much like a boondoggle. [ROTFL! This is my favorite!]

I made a decision to divert the funds for ASAE’s annual meeting to our ballot support budget. My board did not expect or ask me to do it. And it drove me nuts to not be there. I will definitely be in LA, Stl, and Big D. I did follow on the web, through twitter, blogs and websites, which may have made it worse. Those tidbits just teased me. I can get the education else where, with webinars, books, journals ect. I can not get the social stimulation with my peers anywhere else.

I didn’t go to annual b/c of budget cuts for prof dev here, and I did participate virtually via Twitter and reading a ton of blog posts.  Of course come to find out that 6 people from here went despite supposed moratorium on prof dev/travel!.but I digress

It was indeed travel restrictions that kept me from ASAE this year.  Needed to go for my CAE, but will attend TSAE in San Antonio instead.  I did follow the Acronym bloggers that were on site, and I would have likely participated in virtual opportunites if they had been available (like webcasting, etc.).

I was not able to attend due to budget cuts. I didn’t follow along on Twitter or any other means. I know I missed out.

I wasn’t able to attend ASAE09, because I didn’t make the cut.  6 co-workers attended and really loved it.  Hopefully I’ll make the cut next year.  I followed #ASAE09 and found it really valuable.  I picked up tidbits and continually regretted not being able to attend.

I was not able to attend last year because of a schedule conflict and this year because of budgetary reasons.  After managing our expenses closely for the last year, we actually had the budget to attend but chose not to because of the negative perception that would have resulted by me traveling to “Toronto†for a meeting.

I attended Great Ideas vs. the Annual Conference. Each year we can travel to attend one conference outside of Chicago. We were launching a new site with all the social networking tools so Great Ideas made the most sense. Two of my colleagues went to Toronto. Hope this helps.

I totally wanted to go but my AMC only had a couple of slots (I didn’t make the cut). I was contemplating going anyway, but we just lost our Executive Director so there’s been a lot of extra work… Which is cool, but no ASAE unfortunately. I did check in via Twitter periodically on Monday and Tuesday. I was pleasantly surprised by how much was out there for virtual attendees.

I was not able to go to ASAE 09 due to travel budget!I’m just thankful I am able to keep my ASAE membership.  I might have tried to participate virtually but not on Twitter.

Didn’t attend ASAE in Toronto because of very tight budgets. Would have loved to have been there. I didn’t follow via Twitter, because I just didn’t think about doing it—I should have, though!

Out of the 35 responses I received, only three people had reasons OTHER than budget cuts for not attending.  I’m sure it’s no surprise that almost everyone quoted here mentions financial hurdles.  But there were a few things that caught my eye separately from that.

1) “[ASAE09's] perceived low direct value to my core duties.”

Now obviously ASAE can’t be everything to everyone, however I think most people would agree that there’s a TON of value to be had regardless of what someone’s core duties might be, assuming of course that they are association exceutives or in association management.  So maybe there’s an issue about how potential attendees could communicate clearly that value to the powers that be.  I believe ASAE had something somewhere about “how to convince your boss to let you come” – am I dreaming?  Was it a direct mail piece? Couldn’t find anything on the website.  Anyway, something to think about.

2) “Next year, my employer probably will not pay, but they did this year because I got my CAE.”

Whoa.  So clearly the importance of achieving the CAE can be a factor in getting the permission to attend the meeting – so let’s promote the CAE even more!

3) “I’d love to see a discounted registration rate for volunteers simply because it’s the right thing to do…plus they would get the investment back and then some in time that we all give.”

Discounts are a no-brainer.  Really.  This meeting is hella expensive and I know you could make the numbers work in your favor by getting more registrations.

4) “In looking at the program, I didn’t see a lot of sessions about Membership.”

This is just one comment from one person, but I thought it was interesting because membership is at the heart of what we do.  At the core of everything.  And while those of us who were at the meeting know that discussions about membership were part of many sessions, maybe there’s an opportunity to really get back  to what we’re about – specifically in terms of the language in the information about the meeting.  Clarity over control.

5) “Much more crowdsourced content online. I think really encouraging people to contribute and providing some low barrier to entry ways to do so.”

I agree!  Would love to hear any further ideas on how this might work specifically.

6) “Video would be helpful or possibly a twebinar or remote session that streams live at the conference.”

LOTS of people mentioned this – that they would have participated virtually if there were ways to do that additionally to Twitter.  Twitter has incredible sharing value but it’s a streaming converrsation that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.  I think webcasting the keynotes and some of the sessions would have been appreciated by a lot of people, especially because you can usually save those videos to watch later, you’re not necessarily limited to the specific date and time of the session.  I know there was a fair amount of video content (see ASAE’s Youtube channel) but I’m hearing, “More please!!”

Best of Annual?

Finally, Mike Skiados of ASAE told me: “the Northern California Network has run a program called “The Best Of Annual†which has people report back on what they learned during different sessions!  Fairly simple, lots of speakers with little formal programming, just an exchange of ideas and aha moments.  Just a thought for you to add to the mix.”

How cool would it be if there was some kind of condensed online “Best of Annual” site available for everyone to add their “ideas and aha moments”.  I know ASAE makes available all their photos, videos, slides, etc etc, but it’s hard to sift through all that stuff, especially for people who weren’t there.  What a cool thing this would be to enable the long tail of Annual Meeting content well into next year.

Thoughts?

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