I'm going to the ASAE Annual Meeting in Chicago. It's my first time to the annual meeting. I am active in ASAE and have made some wonderful connections through the organization, and the staff I've worked with are great. I like to keep the tone positive here at my pad but here are some issues I'm having with the materials I've seen:
1. The online process is pretty hard to follow. Then, ASAE asks you all kinds of questions that come off as prying. I mean, I know they're trying to make their exhibitors happy, but you know, making the experience easy for members might be an okay idea. For example, they ask how much money you make, and get this--the starting level is 40K a year. Are you kidding me? Most mid-sized associations are so tight they squeak. Anyone who hasn't hopped jobs would take a decade to get to 40K. So clearly that question is going to make all your Gen Y feel like complete poo. Either that or entry level folks aren't worthy of ASAE's attention.
Also--all the questions about meetings which I of course had to ignore. Come on, we can't all authorize contracts with large properties in Montreal and Grand Rapids. Isn't there a way to not bother us non-meeting-planner types with this tedium? And, I don't have several hours to pore over the long email that my automated sign-up generated. Can't we keep things simpler?
2. HATE, HATE the idea of CEO-only sessions. How exclusive and dumb. Then we complain about generational issues. Who knows? I may well be a CEO one day and I'll probably not go to these sessions then because I'll assume it's a bunch of stuffed shirts who want to be free from the marketplace of ideas, whether that's a true assessment or not.
3. Also, hate the term "thought leader." I am not a mental sheep whose thoughts are in need of herding. Input from smart people is always nice, but don't expect me to turn off the ol' thinker and drink someone's kool-aid.
4. Finally, this "business casual dress is encouraged for all events" business. I continue to quote: "For men, slacks and a polo-style shirt or button down are appropriate." I work for an association and when I staff a conference I have to dress to the nines--complete with awesome shoes that give me blisters. That's fine, it's my job which my employer pays me for. But I do object to my professional association attempting to dictate to me what my attire should be based on some standard of APPROPRIATENESS.I'm sorry, but if I want to put on Levi's and Skechers, you're going to have to deal with that. I paid for the privilege. The ASAE conference is not a club in the Hamptons.
Like I said, I hope this post doesn't come off as too negative. I generally try to only spread niceness and wisdom. But this stuff comes off as control freaky, which I really can't abide.
OMG, Nick. You've hit on some really huge issues. I'll rant a little more on my blog, too.
Nick, you're right about the ASAE registration process. Not very buyer-friendly. I'll have more to say on my blog in the coming days.
As for your other comments, I agree with one, disagree with two. There's nothing wrong with CEO-only sessions. We have clubs (and associations) for everyone and every thing. And with good reason; we're more comfortable, as humans, among "our own." In this case, it's CEOs. In other cases it's CPAs, or CIOs, or EIEIOs. Of course, as you point out, you're welcome to not attend when you become a CEO.
I've always thought "thought leader" was a stupid moniker, too. I think maybe you're reading too much into it, though. I'm not sure anyone is suggesting you have to follow any leader, thought or otherwise, blindly. That would be a cult.
You're upset because ASAE is providing guidance on dress? If you've been around association meetings management long enough, you know the most common question asked is "what's the dress code?" I think ASAE is simply trying to anticipate questions and answer them. Again, you're welcome to wear what you like, methinks. I don't think ASAE is saying it's required.
Great post.
See you at the meeting. I'll be the guy in the "Shut Up and Fish" tshirt, cargo shorts, and flip flops.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone. I appreciate your comments! Let me add a couple more points of clarification:
1. The CEO-only sessions AND the offering 40K as a starting salary for an association staffer. I think this is more than just an in-group/out-group thing. To me it represents a disconnect between ASAE's actual value proposition and what it thinks its value proposition is. ASAE is really very, very good at training folks who are new to the association world--because there aren't any university programs to do it. In contrast, they are less good at offering meaningful content to experienced folks, yet they fall all over themselves to suck up to this demographic. Why not embrace the strength here?
2. When someone tells you something is appropriate (and I'm talking about the dress code here) they are calling you trashy if you don't comply. How about this for a dress code? "You should wear what makes you feel comfortable to the meeting. Most people will be wearing x, y and z."
Nick, you wrote: "When someone tells you something is appropriate (and I'm talking about the dress code here) they are calling you trashy if you don't comply."
ASAE says "For men, slacks and a polo-style shirt or button down are appropriate."
If I wear a tuxedo, I may be "inappropriate" but I'm hardly being trashy. You're taking it from the perspective that ASAE is saying "Be sure you dress UP" when in fact, I think they're saying "You don't have to be THAT dressed up." Glass half-full, and all.
Far be it from me to defend ASAE, but I think you're reading too much into this.
@Fred: Heh. I'll be the guy in the "You Down With CAE? Yeah, You Know Me!" T-shirt.
@Wes: Is that really you? I haven't seen this pro-ASAE side in quite awhile.
@Nick: Your disconnect comment... What's the basis of your conclusion? Your own experience? Talking with others? A little of both?
@Ben: You know me: Just trying to be fair and balanced! ;-)
Hey Nick -
Delurking to second your comment about the jillion meeting planner questions - I 100% respect what ASAE needs to do with their sponsors/exhibit hall etc but I wish wish wish there was a way I could check a "I'm not a meeting planner" box which would opt me out of all of the mailings/phone calls etc I get throughout the year. Way to hit a couple of nails on the head with this post! But I do have to agree with the other commenters about the dress code thing...I prefer to be told what the expectation is and then make my own decision about what to wear. But that's just me... :-)
--Becky
Oh and btw, ASAE, I submit with love that you can stop sending me emails asking me to register since I registered months ago. Anyone else still getting those emails?? I even called and told them and I am STILL getting the messages.
--Becky
As an experiment, I wore jeans to the Forum's annual meeting. I had a nice button down shirt, but I was definitely one of maybe three people in jeans. Anyway, the first person to say something about me "not dressing up"... Jeff De Cagna.
Thanks again for stopping by everyone, great convo. I have to tell you that Ann (from ASAE meetings) got in touch with me and addressed all my concerns which was very classy of her, and of the organization. Like I said, I usually have great experiences with the staff. Anyhoo, she said the dress code is not mandatory but it's the #1 question they get but that they might use my language next time. The salary range she said was an oversight and that they had changed it. So, all's well that ends well.
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