Bl!nk: The Rx for your Association

Let’s face it. Many Associations are struggling:

• Membership declining
• Lagging conference attendance
• Disengaged or disenfranchised membership

How can Bl!nk help?

Created by Judy Kucharuk, Green Meeting Specialist & Sustainability Consultant with Footprint Management Systems Inc. and Elizabeth Henderson, Sustainability Strategist with Meeting Change, Bl!nk™ was developed as a way to engage Association membership in an exciting new way.

What is Bl!nk?

An individual Bl!nk™ Presentation lasts for a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes. These are rapid-fire presentations are meant to keep the audience engaged. High energy and fast moving! There are few rules…..the presentation needs to reflect the individuality of the person(s) presenting. It comes with no string attached: No auto-advancing slides every 15 or 20 seconds, no specialized format. Quite simply, Bl!nk is an “opportunity” – an opportunity to be heard, be noticed. Designed for the new member or the member who wants to engage, but doesn’t have enough material for a half hour presentation or the skill set the beat the clock Pecha Kucha or Ignite style.

It is for the presentation that doesn’t quite fit in the conventional “box”.

The Bl!nk™ Presentations were “introduced so that we can get to know one another in different, meaningful ways and as a result, find connections that we didn’t know existed. These presentations are about what we miss, about discovering the magic among us” and were specifically designed for a conference or congress.

Blink – To close and open one or both
of the eyes rapidly.

A blink of an eye takes approximately 300-400 milliseconds...or about 1/3 of a second. Think about it....33 percent of that second is given over to complete blindness.

We...as humans, blink an average of 15,000 times per day, which means that we have our eyes closed for approximately 5,250,000 milliseconds per day (seriously? Wow!)....which calculates to 5,250 seconds per day.

Based on my mathematical calculations using an extremely sharp pencil and Google, this means that.....on average, we (humans) spend over an hour each day blinking.

So……my question to each and every one of you is…

 “Do you ever wonder what you miss?”

“Through the passage of time, Associations may become predictable with their conference content and the membership can disengage”. 

Bl!nk™ was developed to:

·   Engage new members

·   Curate content

·   Discover connections

Engage New Members: Bl!nk™ provides an opportunity for new members to introduce themselves in a unique manner which may assist them with building relationships within the Association or Organization.

Curate Content: A Bl!nk™ presentation can become a way to curate new content for future conferences and education. Through the introduction of Bl!nk™ presentations, conference organizers can see which content creates the most buzz, the most conversation, the most “retweets”, providing valuable data when moving forward with future conferences or planning educational opportunities.

Discover Connections: A famous saying is, “we don’t know, what we don’t know” and Bl!nk™ presentations can assist with discovering connections that we didn’t know were there. There is magic among us!

Is Bl!nk new?

Bl!nk was first introduced in 2012 at the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference in Montreal and was also included in the 2013 GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference in Chicago. Poetry, music, comedy, traditional powerpoint….each presentation was a little different, very personalized and the participants enjoyed a freedom of expression unlike any opportunity provided before.

Are you interested in learning more about Bl!nk or bringing the presentation style to your next Association event? Feel free to contact me:

Judy Kucharuk

(250) 784-4237

@judylaine

judykucharuk@gmail.com

Are you Fired Up?

The 2013 GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference is literally right around the corner and I have to tell you......I am fired up!

I have said it before and I will say it again, the annual GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference is where I look to to receive my shot of Vitamin Green and this year is no different.

The lineup of speakers is is basically a "who's who" in the sustainable event industry. They even included lil ol' me on that list and for that, I am truly humbled.

Excited much? Yup....you could say that. How many opportunities do we have to spend time with some of the Sustainable Meeting and Event Industry most knowledgeable and connected individuals. Folks like Jaime Nack and Tahira Endean - event professionals who come with a boatload of experience.

I hear we are also going to "Wake the Tiger" with Joe Oliver which isn't as scary as it sounds unless of course...someone brings a real tiger #notlikely

This is big!

This is massive!

Maybe I should sit down before I hurt myself.

My point is (when I am really excited, it takes me awhile to make it) I sense great things are going to happen at the 2013 GMIC Sustainable Meeting Conference - Look out Chicago! We are going to Create Sparks!

Judy

It's baaaaack! Bl!nk is Back!

Last year at the 2012 GMIC Conference in Montreal, we introduced a brand, spankin' new presentation method called Bl!nk. 

For those of you who don't know what Bl!nk is or what occurred in Montreal, you can get caught up here and here and perhaps here.

We are soooooo excited to tell everyone that Bl!nk is back for the 2013 GMIC Conference in Chicago and we are looking for submissions from registered delegates.

Don't have time to put something together? Remember.....Bl!nk presentations are between 2 and 5 minutes in length and you can choose to use music, video, or powerpoint or just simply talk! Last year, Elizabeth Henderson, Chief Sustainability Strategist from Meeting Change (and co-developer of Bl!nk) wrote a poem! It was excellent and you can read it here.

This is an opportunity to share something about yourself, what you are passionate about. This is an opportunity for us to get to know you better.

This is your opportunity to stand out from the crowd! 

The Bl!nk presentations will be held on April 9th (Tuesday) between 1:30 and 2:15

 There are limited Bl!nk opportunities available this year!

Submission information can be found on the GMIC Conference Website - just scroll down to the Bl!nk logo on the agenda and click!

Got questions? You can email me at judy@managefootprint.com, tweet me @judylaine or simply comment on this post with your question.

Judy

There is magic among us......we just need to find it!

Have you ever wondered what you miss when you blink? On average, human beings blink approximately 15,000 times per day. Each blink lasts between 300 and 400 milliseconds (1000 milliseconds equals 1 second). I believe that in those mere milliseconds, those moments when our eyes are closed, we may miss out on magic!

During the 2012 GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference, attendees were given the opportunity to participate in a new and innovative presentation format called Bl!nk™

What is 

Bl!nk™?

 An individual Bl!nk™ Presentation lasts for a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes. These are rapid-fire presentations meant to keep the audience engaged. High energy and fast moving!

The Bl!nk™ Presentations were “introduced so that we can get to know one another in different, meaningful ways and as a result, find connections that we didn’t know existed. These presentations are about what we miss, about discovering the magic among us”.

Created by Judy Kucharuk, Green Meeting Specialist & Sustainability Consultant with Footprint Management Systems Inc. and Elizabeth Henderson, Chief Sustainability Strategist with Meeting Change, Bl!nk™ was developed as a way to engage Association membership in an exciting new way.

Kucharuk believes that, “through the passage of time, Associations may become predictable with their conference content and the membership can disengage”. Bl!nk™ was developed to:

·   Engage new members

·   Curate content

·   Discover connections

Engage New Members: Bl!nk™ provides an opportunity for new members to introduce themselves in a unique manner which may assist them with building relationships within the Association or Organization.

Curate Content: A Bl!nk™ presentation can become a way to curate new content for future conferences and education. Through the introduction of Bl!nk™ presentations, conference organizers can see which content creates the most buzz, the most conversation, the most “retweets”, providing valuable data when moving forward with future conferences or planning educational opportunities.

Discover Connections: A famous saying is, “we don’t know, what we don’t know” and Bl!nk™ presentations can assist with discovering connections that we didn’t know were there. There is magic among us!

At the 2012 GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference, the Bl!nk™ presentation format was introduced to the membership.

I would like to thank the following individuals who came forward with funny, engaging, inspirational and informative Bl!nk™ presentations. My deepest gratitude.

• Danielle Adams @DNACSR: “Sustainable You”
• Adrian Segar @ASegar: “Torn About Tech”
• Mariela McIlwraith @meetingchange: “Germaphobe”
• Greg Ruby @gregruby: “Things that make me go hmmmmm”
• Julie Baylor @JulieBaylor: “Sustainability comes in all shapes & sizes”
• Wendy Scott: “The Dirty Laundry of Sustainable Site Selection”
• Mitchell Beer @mitchellbeer: Standards – The Aha Moment
• Elizabeth Henderson @ehenderson: “Ode on a Bedbug”

Thank you!


Judy

Powering Sustainability through Influence and Mentorship

Recently I attended the 2012 GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference in Montreal, Canada. As a GMIC Member, I look forward to the annual conference as a way to "reconnect, realign and reinvigorate". The energy at the annual conference is palpable, as like minded individuals gather to share information and their vision for the future of the sustainable meetings industry.

One of those individuals is Richard Aaron, President of BizBash Media (and recently appointed Vice Chair of the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Foundation). Richard brings with him a wealth of experience in the event industry and is acknowledged as "one of the foremost experts in pioneering the modern event industry". As the President of BizBash Media, Richard Aaron manages over 30 tradeshows, conferences and award shows annually in 9 markets for the organization.

Richard Aaron is an educator, lecturer and sought after speaker and I was fortunate to spend some one on one time with him during the conference.

In this interview, Richard provides valuable insight about using influence to further the message of sustainable meetings and events, and the importance of mentorship.

Got Bl!nk?

It is amazing what happens in airports….

Last November, two gals….let’s call them Elizabeth and Judy, were sitting in the Vancouver Airport having a wee bite to eat before catching their respective flights home. They had each attended EventCamp Vancouver ECV11 and were both still glittering (a la Edward Cullen of Twilight) from the experience.

EventCamp is about experiencing new things; having the freedom to try new things in a safe environment, and as a result it had created an exciting thought pattern. Let’s just say that the synapses were firing on all cylinders.

Ideas were flying fast and furious in amongst bites of food (and yes…there may or may not have been wine….) and as they parted to walk to their departure gates, it was agreed, “Let’s talk about this some more…”.

Fast forward to the new year and Judy gets an email from Elizabeth, “So….let’s talk more about that great idea”.

And so we did and…..

Bl!nk was born.

Blink – To close and open one or both of the eyes rapidly.

A blink of an eye takes 300-400 milliseconds…or about 1/3 of a second. Think about it….33 percent of that second is given over to complete blindness (eek!)

We….as humans…blink an average of 15,000 times per day, which means that we have our eyes closed for approximately 5,250,000 milliseconds per day (seriously? Wow!)…which calculates to 5,250 seconds per day.

Blah, blah, blah…I know…I am getting to my point

Based on my mathematical calculations using an extremely sharp pencil and the Google search engine, this means that, on average, we (humans) spend over an hour each day blinking.

Really?

Honestly?

That’s wild isn’t it!

So……my question to each and every one of you is…

“Do you ever wonder what you miss?”

New for the 2012 GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference! Bl!nk Presentations have been introduced. These rapid fire presentations lasting between 2 minutes and 5 minutes will be threaded together through the use of Weavers (no yarn will be harmed by using Weavers).

The Bl!nk Presentations have been introduced so that we can get to know one another in different, meaningful ways and as a result, find connections that we didn’t know existed. These presentations are about what we miss…what we don’t see!

Are you attending the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference? If so…perhaps I can interest you in a Bl!nk Presentation.

We are looking for those who are willing to share some “magic”. Share something about yourself: what inspires you, what you are passionate about. Excite us with stories of your success; empower us with stories of overcoming adversity; all in the realm of sustainable meetings and events of course!

The format is as follows:

Single presentations lasting between 2 minutes and 5 minutes; the use of power-point and video may be used to support the presentations.

The session(s) will be high energy and fast moving!

So…..are you interested? Click here to link to the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference website to read more about how you can participate in Bl!nk.

Hurry! Deadline is approaching.

Judy

I’m a realist with an optimistic ♥

Pretty profound isn’t it. Say it with me again, “I’m a realist with an optimistic heart”.

These words were spoke by Dr. Karl-Henrik Robért during his presentation at the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference that I recently attended. Dr. Robért is the founder of the Natural Step and has worked with well-known organizations such as IKEA, McDonald’s, NIKE, Scandic Hotels, and Electrolux to help them pioneer sustainable solutions and transform their organizations. Dr. Robért is one of Sweden’s foremost cancer scientists and is a frequent speaker and author on sustainability. Amongst his many accomplishments, in 2000 Dr. Robert won the “Blue Planet” prize, which is often described as the Nobel Prize for ecological sustainability.

What I am really saying….he knows his stuff.

I admit I was smitten. It was a heavy subject, but his easy-going speaking manner and sense of humour enabled us to travel on the journey with him. I felt like he was speaking directly to me. Afterwards, while discussing with another attendee about how much impact the presentation had, I actually started a sentence with, “when Dr. Robért was talking to me…” which of course wasn’t true. The general session room was packed with 250 plus attendees, but he made us feel like he was speaking directly to each of us individually.

I wanted to take notes, but I was so engaged in his presentation that I put my pen down and simply listened.

What did I learn from Dr. Robért? I learned so much, but these stood front and center:

• Ask for advice – When you really need to engage someone and want him or her to be a partner in your process, simply begin the dialogue by asking for advice. By doing so, you are demonstrating that you are willing to listen. Follow that conversation up with….
• "Yes, and….” – shows collaboration of the idea/conversation. No longer are you two opposing sides, you are now sharing information respectfully. It builds trust and acceptance. (Jenise Fryatt of Icon Presentations and founder of Eventprov also introduced this term to us during her fabulous opening presentation. The term was used often through this conference)
• It only takes 10% - 15% to create a paradigm shift – A paradigm shift is a change from one way of thinking to another and once started, goes rapidly. It can happen with as little as 10% - 15% of the population acting as change agents.

Each year that I attend the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference, I walk away inspired, invigorated and with a spring in my step. This year is no different.... Thank you!

Judy

Birds of a feather...

I just returned from Edmonton where I was fortunate enough to have lunch with Michael O'Mara from the Shaw Conference Centre. Michael is a fellow GMIC member and it was great to connect with him post GMIC Denver Conference.
One of the advantages to belonging to organizations such as GMIC is that you are given the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. As always, I love hearing what is happening at the Shaw Conference Centre and being so impressed by their sustainability programs. They show leadership and vision!

Birds of a feather DO stick together!


J

97% Diversion Rate!

I just heard that the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference that yours truly just attended in Denver this month was able to achieve a 97% diversion rate! Only 3% went to the landfill. Congratulations organizers, a job well done!

Day Two of GMIC Conference

On the steps of the Capitol Building in Denver, right at the point where we were one mile above sea level.
Well Day Two has come to a close and everyone who attended the 2010 GMIC Conference is making their way home hopefully to put into practice all that they have learned.

My goal in attending the conference was to re-energize my passion and commitment for green meetings and to make connections. I did accomplish those goals and will return home with a renewed sense of purpose.

As Annie Leonard said, we have to make changes in the way we live our lives. Lets make that change!

J

Day One at the GMIC Conference

Well, day one is behind me at the GMIC Conference in Denver. The event opened with a keynote from Annie Leonard who was fabulous! If you don't know who Annie is, she created "The Story of Stuff" and she is a great speaker and so passionate. Really enjoyed her presentation.

I attended quite a few sessions and met alot of interesting people. I had a great time at lunch visiting with Stephanie Shrewsbury from the University of Kentucky. They are busy getting ready for the World Equestrian Games and really working hard at greening the event. I wish them the best of luck!

I also met Jan Tolle MacDonald from Travel Alberta. She is the Regional Manager for the US Midwest and she is such a nice person. She took a liking to my Olympic lanyard with the Canadian flag on it, so I made a deal that I would trade it for something from her tomorrow before the end of the conference.

Connections and networking.....that is the name of the game! Now I am resting up for a full day tomorrow. I may even get to do a little site seeing!

J