Top 10 Reasons to Attend the Engaging Associations Summit #engageassn

Thinking about joining us for the Engaging Associations Summit?  Here are the Top 10 reasons why you should participate:

1. Be a Part of Something NEW:  This is a new event, produced by Greenfield Services.  We did not create this on our own; focus groups were conducted, and we joined forces with Smarter Shift, sensov/, Lou Lou Lounge and AV-Canada to get it in production!  Our goal is to facilitate a change in the way associations operate.
2. Conversations:  While we have set sessions, our promise to you is that you will not sit in a meeting room all day listening to the speaker.  Participants will be asked to share, question, and challenge what is being said to ensure that all knowledge and experience is shared throughout the summit.
3. Less Time Away:  Taking place all day July 24th, and just over a half day on the 25th, we are creating an experience that ensures you are taking as little time away from the office as possible; AND that you can get away for a bit of a long weekend at the end!
4. Engagement:  There are always questions that don’t get asked; whether that is a lack of time, or a lack of comfort publically sharing.  That’s OK here – we have extended the breaks and meal times to ensure that you have the time to speak with the facilitators, our partners, and your peers.  As one focus group participant said, “Business is not conducted in the meeting room, it’s done in the hallway, and 15 minutes is simply not enough time”.
5. Location, Location, Location:  With the Summit taking place in Ottawa, ON; it is easy for association executives to get here, and it is central to many of the Canadian-based associations; which means lower costs for participating!
6. Change:  We all want to do things differently.  But how do we get started?  Learn from your peers, and industry experts, like Jeff Hurt, Jeff De Cagna, Meredith Low, and PCMA’s Chief Operating Officer, Sherrif Karamat.  They will all be there to ensure that their expertise is shared.
7. Unique Approach:  We are committed to presenting this in a way you have not experienced before.  We selected the Canadian Museum of Nature of host this event, as it is a creative and historic building.  It changes our expectations; and has allowed us to utilize the expertise of AV-Canada & Lou Lou Lounge to create an environment that is modern, fun, relaxing, and that fosters the conversations we need to have. 
8. Action:  With each session delivered, you will receive key takeaways from the facilitators, and we will be providing a forum to share your “A-ha!” moments; little snippets of information that you would like to use in your daily work life.  We will be reporting back to all participants with session summaries, case studies, etc.
9. Network with Partners who GET IT:  Those who have chosen to partner with us truly understand that change is required to ensure associations thrive in the future.  We will have a select group of partners joining us – our commitment is to present to you quality companies to have conversations with, and not overwhelm you with too many of them.  Businesses who have not officially partnered with us will not be in attendance.
10. Cost:  We have chosen to keep this Summit affordable for all – and at a rate of $329 plus tax, you cannot beat the education that you will receive!

Interested in attending?  Register today!

Marriott International partners with the Engaging Associations Summit

Alexandria, ON, June 6, 2014 – Greenfield Services is pleased to announce its partnership with Marriott International for the first annual Engaging Associations Summit.

The Engaging Associations Summit is an event co-created with association executives, from senior levels to entry-level professionals, aiming to:

• Provide attendees the opportunity to learn and share experiences beyond the typical presentation formats;
• Foster peer-to-peer conversations and the exchange leading to real-life, tested solutions;  
• Create a forum that lives beyond the event itself, where participants will be able to continue sharing ideas and results of their new-found engagement activities.

Taking place in Ottawa on July 24-25, 2014, this event will be just enough time away from the office to exchange top-level ideas, including strategy, marketing & communications, events, engagement, sponsorship and technology.

We are THRILLED that Marriott International believes in the evolution of face-to-face meetings, and have partnered with us for this event!

For more information on the program, the facilitators, and how to register, please click here to access the summit’s website, or contact:

Meagan Rockett
Director, Client Solutions
Greenfield Services Inc.
613-288-4517
meagan@greenfield-services.ca

About Greenfield Services:

Greenfield Services Inc. is a full service marketing firm dedicated to the needs of professional and trade associations.  Areas of expertise include Membership Marketing, Membership Engagement, Sponsorship & Exhibit Sales and Event Marketing.

About Marriott International:

Marriott International, Inc. is a leading hospitality company with more than 3,900 properties, 18 brands, and associates at their headquarters, managed and franchised properties around the world.  For more information on Marriott International, please contact Lorie Blackwell, Director National Accounts and Business Development, Global Sales at 416-569-5372.

Is "Engagement" Just Another Buzzword for Your Association?

Our team has been hard at work organizing The Engaging Association Summit, "consuming" any article or research paper about engagement and how to create it in a business and association setting.

But my heart sank when I saw the latest cover of The Meetings Professional, MPI's monthly magazine.  When I read the headline, "How molecular gastronomy can breed engagement at your events," I feared that engagement is in danger of becoming just another buzzword.

Let's be clear: I love food, and this is a great article about getting people to interact at events. But does getting people talking about food really constitute engagement?

What is engagement anyway?  Google pulls up many definitions of the word including, "a formal agreement to get married" and even "a fight or battle between armed forces".  No wonder there's confusion!

The origin of the word that caught my eye.  Apparently somewhere in the 17th century the French verb engager (which still means "to pledge" today) was adopted into the English language.  The noun engagement began to refer to a "legal or moral obligation." We might be getting closer...

In the workplace engaged employees are thought to be "fully absorbed by and enthusiastic about their work, taking positive action to further the organization's reputation and interests."  There's lots of research linking employee engagement and business performance.

But it's often "easier said than done."  A few years ago we had a problem with employee engagement in our company.  People were at work, but they seemed "checked out" in many ways.  I knew there was a problem but things didn't get better until I, as the owner of the company, became more engaged with our employees.  I soon realized then that engagement is not something you "fix" and then move onto the next thing. It's something you have to practice every day and that's not easy.

So we're back to engagement as a pledge, a commitment, or a practice.  What does this mean in the context of associations? As association leaders, how do we engage staff?  What can staff do when their own boards aren't engaged?  And how can associations foster engagement with their members, sponsors and exhibitors?

These are some of the issues I hope we can explore together on July 24-25, and through ongoing posts in this blog.  Look for the tag "What is engagement?"

P.S.  We can't promise you molecular gastronomy, but I promise we'll make sure you get food you can talk and rave about!

Travel Alberta shows Thought-Leadership with the Engaging #Association Summit

On July 24-25, 2014, Greenfield Services will have its first major event for association executives.  The Engaging Association Summit will take place at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, ON, and will provide the opportunity for a true exchange of ideas for a new generation of association to succeed, grow and prosper.

Joining us as a founding sponsor and thought-leader is Travel Alberta, the province's tourism marketing organization, joined by some of its partners, Edmonton Tourism, Meetings and Conventions Calgary, and Hotels Red Deer.

As a thought-leader sponsor, Travel Alberta will be the leading partner for our Young Professionals Scholarship Program.  This program was designed with the emerging professional in mind, understanding their need and willingness to learn, but that their work schedule, and organizational budgets may not be able to accommodate every educational opportunity.

“Our goals to increase education, networking opportunities, and connecting the leaders of today with the leaders of tomorrow was the perfect fit with the Summit”, says Jennifer Holly, Travel Alberta’s Business Development Director for Canada. “The Engaging Association Summit is perfectly aligned with Travel Alberta's commitment to associations and their business event needs, and we are thrilled to provide young professionals with the opportunity to join us!”

“When we approached Jennifer with the idea of the Summit, we were delighted to hear her enthusiasm in our efforts to create change.  Travel Alberta’s Thought-Leader Sponsorship will allow five Young Professionals  the opportunity to further their knowledge and understanding of key areas driving associations today,” says Meagan Rockett, Greenfield’s Director of Client Solutions.

About The Young Professionals Scholarship Program:

If you are 30 or younger, and are currently working at an association, you can apply by submitting a short video (up to two minutes) telling us WHY you are in the non-profit/association sector, what makes you tick about the work you’re doing now or hope to do in the future, and what you are passionate about.  When submitting the video, please include your professional contact information in the body of the email message. Entries will be shared online through Greenfield Services, and the Scholarship Sponsor, Travel Alberta.

Once we close the call for entries, videos will be reviewed and five entries will be selected to attend.  You will receive a complimentary Engaging Association Summit registration as a guest of Travel Alberta.  Travel to and from the summit is at the discretion of the participant.

The deadline is May 30th for entry submissions – winners will be announced Friday, June 13th.  Don’t wait – Apply today!

For more information about the Scholarship Program, or the Summit, please contact:

Meagan Rockett
Director, Client Solutions
Greenfield Services Inc.
613-288-4517
meagan@greenfield-services.ca

The Engaging #Association Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Engaging Association Summit

Alexandria, ON, February 26, 2014 – On July 24-25, 2014 Greenfield Services will have its first major event for association executives.  The Engaging Association Summit will take place in Ottawa, ON, and will provide the opportunity for a true exchange of ideas for a new generation of association to succeed, grow and prosper.

Your Engaging Association Summit hosts;
Doreen Ashton Wagner & Meagan Rockett

“The team at Greenfield Services has attended several industry events since the company’s start in 1998.  In the last few years, we’ve noticed a disconnect between the learning opportunities available to association executives and what these executives are looking for in professional development”, says Doreen Ashton Wagner, Greenfield’s Chief Strategist.

“We want to move away from conferences attracting delegates with big-name speakers, session titles and standard networking opportunities.  The inspiration of the event came from wanting to provide a forum to exchange top-level ideas and practical advice; content that association professionals can take back to their organizations and put into action once the summit is over,” added Meagan Rockett; Director, Client Solutions.

The Engaging Association Summit is an event co-created with association executives, from senior levels to entry-level young professional.  So far we have heard that:

• The Summit should provide attendees with the opportunity to learn and share experiences beyond heard from consultants and suppliers.  Peer-driven content, with support from industry experts is expected.
• The Summit should be appropriate in length, should not take too much time away from the office.
• The Summit should allow for fresh, alternative formats that enhance the learning experience.
• Association Executives are the main drivers of this summit, and therefore, a limited number of salespeople or industry supplier will be admitted.

We are committed to providing the industry with just that, and look forward to being part of the change!

For more information please contact:
Meagan Rockett
Director, Client Solutions
Greenfield Services Inc.
613-288-4517
meagan@greenfield-services.ca 

Greenfield Services Inc. is a full service marketing firm dedicated to the needs of professional and trade associations.  We produce the Pulse Report, an annual contribution to research on Membership Marketing & Engagement practices in Canada.  Areas of expertise include Membership Marketing, Membership Engagement, Sponsorship & Exhibit Sales and Event Marketing.  To learn more about the summit, or to sign up for updates, please click here.