Multi-generational World Café Gathering – Alameda, CA

Sunday, January 20th from 1-5 PM for a special Multi-generational World Café Gathering – Alameda, CA

Our goal is to create an opportunity for people from many decades of life — teens to eighties — to experience conversation and deepening of relationships across seeming boundaries of age differences. We will discover new ways to learn from one another and find out what will emerge from our cafe conversations.

Technology & Young Professionals

An observation from Nora Johnson, YP IAEE (Secretary):

Just this morning, I was reading a recap of perspectives and
discussion topics brought up at Expo! Expo! Two documents were sent
my way, including a recap from this year and the recap from last
year. In both, there is a glaring similarity where the younger
generations were discussed: the inevitable connection of younger
generations and newer technologies.

Granted, younger generations are using newer technology, and they are
doing so more easily and efficiently than others. However, this has
always been and will always be the case, from the time that fire and
steam engines became the way of the day to the first transition from
typewriters to computers.

One of the challenges we will face as a committee is to get people to
see beyond the technology. Why are younger professionals using
technology? How, when and where are they using it? Technology is a
tool. What the younger generations consider “valuable” extends beyond
the tools.

Example. As a committee, we’ve already touched on this by looking at
the need to change the “speaking-head” format of session programming.
Some may be quick to say that we need blogs and live polling – via
technology offerings or text messages. We need to get people past
that. We need to have people look at what is no longer favorable
about the past structure and what can be changed based on those
findings. It may be seating arrangements, the length of the sessions,
the depth (not breadth) of information covered, etc.

If we only stop at technology, our industry will miss the boat. This
is more an opinionated-musing/blog/post. Please let me know if this
is what we are okay with as a committee, or if we’re looking to keep
this forum business-task oriented around our meetings. Either way
works for me.

Thank you,
Nora

The Generation Gap – PCMA Article

There has been a lot of great groundwork laid by various Industry Associations and I am happy to be a part of the launching of the new IAEE Young Professionals Committee. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to collaborate with other Association leaders such as PCMA and MPI who have been working on this generational question for years. Jeanavive Marie Janssen – YP IAEE Chair

Check out this PCMA article from 2001 -

The Generation Gap - Nancy Mann Jackson
Convene Magazine PCMA December 2001 Read the Full Article, lots of great info.

(Jackson) ” Optimum learning occurs when generational differences are understood, appreciated, honored, and shared.”

(Jackson) “One of the trademarks of Xers, Wyess noted, is their willingness to speak up against the status quo. Now that younger attendees are willing to voice their displeasure about instruction that doesn’t meet their needs, other groups are also reaping the advantages.

What is most remarkable about training Generation Xers is that the training approaches that work well with them make sense for almost everyone, regardless of age, Shari Caudron wrote in Training and Development. Some of the Xer preferences she suggested that seem to work for every age group include focusing on end results, placing learners in control, providing flexibility and a choice of ways to learn, and emphasizing eye-catching visuals.”

(Janssen) I think that this is an excellent point, that enhanced programs developed for Young Professionals will not exclude other generations but will make programs attractive to multi-generations – this is a win-win for everyone involved.

From 2001 to the Present:

PCMA Students Speak: The Future Is In Their Hands

Heidi Genoist — Tradeshow Week, 1/14/2008

“With an aging population at the helm, all the convention and exhibition industry’s trade associations – not just the Professional Convention Management Assn. – are working to cultivate a pool of viable future leaders.”

Meet Nancy Johnson, new sub-committee Chair

Meet, Nancy Johnson (Gen X) sub-committee head for “developing and attracting new talent” to the industry.

“I would love to work more with high schools and even college departments to get information on our industry out there. I had such a hard time when I went back to school for my certificate. They only taught meeting planning and special events classes. I knew I wanted to do trade show mgmt right off the bat, but I was discouraged from pursuing that avenue. I’m very glad that I kept at it because I’m now doing what I love to do. My motto is “I don’t care about the size of the muffin”, which is why I’d never want to be a meeting planner.”

Read Nancy’s Letter to her Mentors and Teachers:

Goals & 2008 Proposed Programs

Based on our first meeting these were the Young Professional Committee, 4 Key Goals:

1. Develop Mentor Programs
2. Create better events and educational programs
3. Recognize people as they come into the industry
4. Develop and attract new talent to the industry

2008 Proposed Programs

- The Young Professional Review: a program where our YP members
review conferences in their area for ‘attractiveness’. Also, to
review new Technologies/Programming being used in Conferences.

- Inside Young Professionals: an opportunity for YP to share their
case studies & Career experience featured on our Blog & IAEE News.

- Young Professionals Linkedin Group – Launched Jan 2008.

- Lunch Time YP Program -

- IAEE Conference Areas/Lounges at Conferences for YP – “a place to be
you”, lounges and activities developed and set aside specifically for
YP’s at IAEE events.

- Mentor Program for High School students, bringing in the YP’s to
High Schools perhaps teaming up with the unions or other companies who
want to attract young talent.

- Mentor Program for the YP – Identify ‘movers and shakers’ in the
industry who would allow YP’s behind the scenes & offer Mentorship.

Shift Happens – Did you Know?

As an industry are we prepared to make the shift?