NewCommForum 2007: "Let's Take 'The Conversation' Offline, Too"

 

Jen McClure has pulled off another great event, and as with past NCF events, my favorite conversations were in in the "hallway."  Among the many people I connected and reconnected with this year are Joe Thornley, John Cass, David Parmet,Tom Foremski, Chris Heuer, Howard Greenstein, Brian Solis, Chip Griffin, Laura Sturaitis, George Vasquez, Brian Oberkirch, Tony Obregon (my friend and former partner in crime), Adam Zand, JD Lasica, Tom Abate, Phil Gomes  (who is looking more and more like Lenin -- that's a compliment, Phil), Dan Forbush, Andy Abramson, Jennifer Jones, John Hallett, Debbie Weil, the "Shels" (sounds like a dreamgirl band, but I am of course talking about Shel Israel and Shel Holtz)  And there were many other people that I met this year -- many do not yet blog -- from many different types of organizations that are delving deep into social media.

The great thing about NewCommForum is the context that Jen has provided for meeting people -- people you read and hear about all year round, but rarely have the opportunity to meet face-to-face.  As I have often said, the socialization of the Web has greatly improved the way we communicate online. Still, there's a lot of room for innovation in the offline world.  I like what Jen has done to help close the gap between the early adopters and the rest of the business world.  I also like what Chris Heuer and Howard Greenstein are doing at Social Media Club, which has been organizing numerous social-media events throughout the U.S.  They are moving surprisingly fast.  But what really impresses me is the format that they are experimenting with -- "the world cafe," an easy-to-follow process for running highly interactive, socially gratifying meetings and "unconferences" (cf. barcamps).  It's the offline equivalent of social media, and I expect we're going to see many more business events organized this way.

Comments

[shel israel]

Good piece, Giovanni. We Shels refer to ourselves as the Original Shel (me) and the other Shel (Holtz) these adjectives refer onloy to age. BTW, I thought you delivered the best single line of the conference and as the youngest so of a Jewish immigrant family I appreciate your having said it.

[John Cass]

Shel, What was the line?

Giovanni, Great to see you again. Do you think we should have the event in LV next year?

[Giovanni Rodriguez]

Hi John,

Can't say I hate Las Vegas -- I am back, for community2.0 -- but I think it would be great to do it next year at a more international venue. My nomination: London, or New York. :)

[Adam Zand]

What happens in Vegas stays in Woburn.

As mentioned on recap blog posts from Kami Watson Huyse and Chip Griffin from CustomScoop (who I immediately thanked for his previous ice cream scoop promo mailing), my favorite part was meeting folks who have educated me in this space. I should probably take it to our blog (interview podcasts from the hallways in production, I swear), but I include you and the other corporate blogging panel folks - John Cass, Shel I. and Debbie Weil (although her book promo was very weird).

I love the London (suburb?) idea - especially if costs could be the same or even cheaper than this event. I just have a sense that great communities are developing and innovations (especially mobile tech) hatching outside of our borders.

Gio, it was great seeing you in "Venice" let's catch up in "Boston, you're my home" for SNCR's December event and sooner on the blogs.

Cheers, Adam
azand at topazpartners dot com
Bubba Scaggs in Second Life; BubbaScaggsJr in There.com.

[John Cass]

Giovanni, London would be interesting, or New York. With the election coming up next year, how about Washington D.C. and we have a track on social media for politics? Might provide some good resources for the battle in 2008.