2009-11-25T06:33:00.001-08:00

The work week before a holiday is usually productive, but at a slower pace for most. My team was very creative today and held a pot luck in the boardroom with a jeopardy game of grammar. The wall was covered with sheets of paper with questions on the back and marked with 100,200,300 etc. point values, on the front. It was Part 3 of this interactive, fun and educational series. Although we are busy serving our clients, there is always time for good food, great conversation and a little insanity.

I am joining in with the team after a trip to West Palm Beach, FL. I attended the Meeting Masters golf tournament and rendezvoused with a number of clients and friends. The program began on Wednesday evening with a reception and right off the bat I was able to register, pick up my name badge, and meet some new people. With insightful conversation and scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, the view of the three PGA golf courses seemed endless. The PGA National Resort and Spa was host to this event and sports 54 holes of challenging golf. I was eager to play even thought the foursomes were blind, and I had no idea who I would be meeting in the morning.

Our name badges were presented with a lanyard ... for the record I don't like them because people are always looking at my belly to catch my name! When playing golf, is it or is it not appropriate to wear your name badge? It certainly wasn't comfortable while golfing so, off it came and I safely tucked it in my golf bag. On my flight back to Phoenix, I was reading a note from a dear friend, and ironically it was about name badges, so I thought I would share and excerpt of his information. We all struggle with which side to pin or clip our name badge and I found his information interesting enough to share with you.

He said you could also read about this in the December issue of PCMA Magazine as he was a guest author.

...On which side should your attendees wear their name tags? If you say right, you’re wrong…except if you’re in London. Here’s why. Some years ago, a so-called “expert” started the myth that attendees should wear their name tag on their right instead of their left side. I’ve done some research, but I can’t trace the source. Apparently, the rationale that caused millions to switch their badges to their right side was that when you shook hands with someone, it was easier for someone to read your badge because their line of sight was focused on your right side.

Well, not really. Since when do you look to the right when you shake hands with a person? When I shake hands, I usually face them squarely and look them in the eye. Sadly, this “wear-it-on-the-right" myth has been perpetuated by trade-show and convention veterans, who have bought into it. As someone who has been to hundreds of meetings and conventions in my many years, I have never found the right-side rule valid.

What makes more sense is to wear your badge on the traditional left. Why? In the United States and most parts of the world, we walk down sidewalks, aisles, hallways, and staircases on the right. People walking toward us are on our left. As you approach, their left side is closer to you. Doesn’t it make sense that it’s easier for them to read oncoming people’s badges if they are wearing them on their left? Now, if you are in London, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, or anywhere else where people are driving or walking on the left, wearing your badge on your right might make more sense.

Here is another reason to wear a badge on the left, at least for men. Our shirts and suit jackets traditionally have pockets on the left side. The pockets are the most logical place for badges, especially those that clip on. So, if your meeting draws a lot of men, you already have a large group for whom common sense dictates that they put their badge on the left.

Hopefully, I have convinced you of left over right; however, But if we continue to disagree about right versus left, there is a friendly solution. Choose adjustable lanyards for your attendees, so they wear them in the center and at the correct height. It will be right, but not on the right. You know what I mean...
Well my friend, Nick Topitzes, CMP should know, he is in the name tag business and is President of pc/nametag. If you need name tags or meeting related product,check them out at http://www.pcnametag.com/. Not only are they reliable, reasonable and rational, his company,in on your side, they want the best for you and your programs.

So while on the course, or at a meeting or even at your own staff function, just have a good time, enjoy the company and find a few times to laugh out loud each day. As for the name tag ... place it right or left, but wear it, so I'll be sure to meet you at the next event!

Welcome - IMEX America 2011

2009-11-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the KCA blog. This is a new endeavor for me and my creative team. I will post as I am out and about or back at the office so you can walk with me through my association adventures. I promise never to be boring and always to bring you interesting news about something, someone or somewhere. So, let’s get started!

I belong to several associations, am on several boards of directors, participate in various capacities with others and am just an interested member in yet others. Time drives our lives so intensely these days that I understand you have to pick and choose your involvement. As an association management company, we also have to value our precious association member volunteers.

I just returned from an annual association meeting in Aruba of all places, it is great when really exciting destinations are selected as it most certainly gets the members motors running and seeking approvals to attend early on. It did for me, it was my first time in Aruba and the education and networking were terrific and so was exploring the local culture. I had a half day on the front and back end of the trips due to the airline schedule so I took advantage and enjoyed two dives, one of a German ship (nearly 60 feet) and another of more coral and gorgeous tropical fish (about 45 feet). On the last morning of the trip, I donned my swimsuit again and tried my feet, balance and strength at windsurfing. I won’t go into that story as it wasn’t pretty.

While there at the Society of Incentive Travel Executives annual meeting, I had lunch with Ray Bloom, CEO of IMEX Group based in London. I have known Ray for years and he had some exciting news that I read about a few days previous. Here is goes.

I had read last week, end of October about IMEX America. Many of you may now about IMEX and what an incredible International exhibition they put on in Frankfurt, Germany each May. Well, they have announced plans to host IMEX America. The new show will take place in Las Vegas from 11-13 October and will continue the IMEX commitment to delivering business opportunities, international hosted buyer programs and industry-wide collaboration. Just think, we will have an incredible influx of international buyers and what a great place to host such and event. If that wasn't enough, the way that Ray Bloom and his group have orchestrated this is absolutely strategic and brilliant.

The new show will take place at the Sands Expo Convention Center at the Venetian/Palazzo from 11 – 13 October 2011. This is the way to bring people within the industry together, just look at this impressive list of the industry's biggest and most powerful associations: SITE (the leading association worldwide for incentive travel and motivational events and the meeting I was at in Aruba) will hold their 2011 Annual Conference immediately following the first show from 13 – 15 October, while ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association), DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International), AIPC (International Association of Congress Centers) and ECM (European Cities Marketing) will all add their support through a number of marketing and educational initiatives. In addition, ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) will organize dedicated association-led education on the day before the show. This it the best part...you association execs and planners out there listen here ....IMEX America will deliver the largest-scale hosted buyer program in North America, where top meetings and incentive buyers from across the US and the world will travel and stay free as IMEX America's guests. For the inaugural show in 2011, we are forecasting 1,500 hosted buyers, of whom 80% will originate from within North America - the balance arriving from across the world. So plan ahead if your budgets don’t allow travel.

I have participated as a hosted buyer in the past and there is a commitment you must meet as far as making a certain number of appointments with the exhibitors, but heck, you get much more accomplished at a show like this that you do in two dozen site visits and the time is much more agreeable with the busy schedules of planners today. Wait and watch the industry trade publications for more information and sign up early for a hosted buyer slot. You will meet with people from all over the world; this is a show not to be missed. I hope to see you there - mark your calendars 11-13 November 2011! For more information see: www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexamerica.html

KCA Association Management

Welcome - IMEX America 2011