12 ideas for IABC Scandinavia, in 12 weeks

Recently I poked fun at the idea of an IABC Scandinavia chapter. It was just a poke:  While I still think it a poor idea, it's a done deal, and the only thing is to try to make it work.  In the best case, it could maybe work; in the worst case, it could prompt a couple of cohesive chapters.

Poking, though, rubbed a lot of folks the wrong way. One IABC Scandinavia officer sent me a mash note indicating that being an American was in bad taste, and that being a blogger was in bad taste, and being both was in exceedingly bad taste.

More recently, I tweaked my chapter president and regional director about providing more information about IABC's Annual General Meeting & the issues to be discussed there.  By the time they got around to replying to me -- I'll get back to you in "due time" was one response -- my patience had run out, so I approached Chairman Bickford and Vice-Chairwoman Holmes. Both responded in hours, and now you can all see the IABC Annual General Meeting agenda here if you are a member.

But here's the rub.

Both my chapter president and regional director implied my criticism of IABC Scandinavia is insufficiently constructive.  Now, I know many of you are thinking, "What? Not a chance!" But let us accept for the moment that Allan Jenkins may not have been sufficiently constructive enough. What then?

Well, once a week, for 12 weeks, starting tomorrow, I will offer a suggestion to IABC Europe and IABC Scandinavia leadership  about how they can better engage, communicate with, and attract members like me.

I invite my readers to sail in on these suggestions -- praise, roasts, and helpful modifications are all welcomed. You don't need to be an IABC member.  You don't need to be Scandinavian.

At the end of 12 weeks, IABC Scandinavia will have 12 heavily edited suggestions for building membership and a bunch of us will have thought a lot about non-profit communication.

This is, of course, not about IABC Scandinavia... they are just a catalyst. We all have organizations, associations, Little League clubs -- you name it -- that need to think through how to attract, seduce, keep and serve members.

Will you join me?

Posted by Allan Jenkins on May 3, 2006 at 11:24 PM in IABC, IABC Scandinavia | Permalink

Comments

Absolutely, old fruit! Looking forward to it! :-)

Posted by: Lee | May 4, 2006 3:08:22 PM

Allan,

I'll be reading with great interest, and referring others to the discussion.

I've recently been blogging about my thoughts on my professional organisation's (the Public Relations Institute of Australia) online efforts.

There is a lot of improvement out there, and it's better to make some constructive comments than simply throw stones.

Posted by: Paull Young | May 5, 2006 1:44:51 AM

Allan,

I do think this is a more constructive approach. However, I'd like to take issue with the "By the time they got around to replying to me" remark. You sent us an exasperated note 28 hours after the first query, which went out at 5 pm on a bank holiday in my country and required my getting info from people in a time zone nine hours behind mine. Your Desirable Roasted Coffee might keep you up all night, but most other people sleep!

Posted by: Kristen Sukalac | May 5, 2006 8:55:31 PM

Thank you, Kristen, but people read Desirable Roasted Coffee at all hours. So the coffee and the appple fritters are always fresh here.

Posted by: Allan Jenkins | May 6, 2006 2:58:25 AM

Allan,
I am still curious to learn the rest of your ideas about IABC Scandinavia. Currently I see only 2 of the 12 ones promised.

Best regards,
Velin Velkov

Posted by: Velin Velkov | Jul 17, 2007 5:15:36 PM

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