We make association leaders think.
  He failed reality!
Today I got a call.
From a man named Angel.
Perhaps that was a sign.
The call was going to be out of this world?
“Hello…”
He launched into his pitch.
His team was going to transform our government relations efforts.
Huh?
I tried to stop him – he pressed on.
They knew how to get members involved.
Could build a grassroots [...]
  Register today.
Today I got an email from an acronym organization asking me to attend their program.
I have no idea who they are.
Their promotions don’t give a lot of clues.
Topics are pretty generic.
Tried to check their domain name.
The one in their return address.
Got a temporary page holder.
Still clueless about sender.
Just noticed graphics in the message.
I don’t usually [...]
August 31st, 2009 | Cynthia D'Amour | Comments | Continued
  At least in Atlanta.
I’ve been in Atlanta for 48 hours.
Some of the nicest 48 hours in a long time.
From the moment I arrived in airport.
To the present.
I decided to take the MARTA rails to my hotel.
Had two employees help me get my card.
The train was clean.
Fellow riders were welcoming.
My hotel arrival experience was the [...]
August 11th, 2009 | Cynthia D'Amour | Comments | Continued
   Do you know?
Today I got another email from an association I belong to.
Generic in nature.
Asking me to help.
They want me to recruit members for them.
They give me three reasons why I should do it.
To give back to the community
Gain visibility.
Get recognition.
Give back to community is biggest push.
It’s kissing cousin to “Do the right thing.”
Which [...]
  NOT!
I seem to have all the luck when it comes to membership renewals.
From letters from presidents.
To calls in spite of earlier threat of turning me off.
(It’s a wonder I still love being involved!)
Well it happened again…
Two weeks ago I got the basic renewal email – pay now.
This week I got another.
It asked, “Are you going to [...]
And I didn’t realize it.
Raindrop here.
IÂ live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs in it.
But over the winter, many of us stay inside more.
For months, I only saw the dogs that live across the street.
Recently dogs started walking their owners again.
I didn’t like seeing them near my yard.
I made a lot of noise.
Mom started barking at me!
Mom [...]
May 18th, 2009 | Cynthia D'Amour | Comments | Continued
  And it was all their fault.
Last night I checked out a new store.
Clothes were very cute.
In my colors.
And great styles for me.
Five sales clerks were in the store.
I was the only potential customer.
I had money in my pocket.
And saw a few things I would look really good in.
Unfortunately, the clerks deemed me not worthy.
Spread [...]
May 5th, 2009 | Cynthia D'Amour | Comments | Continued
 It’s just trash now.
This week we got six fliers from the same company.
Two individually rubberbanded to our porch handrail. (UGH!)
Four in our newspaper box.
But not delivered with the paper.
All from a pizza place from the next city over.
Why are they farming my neighborhood?
One of the best independent pizza places is a block away.
And a dozen other [...]
  But I did.
I have hit my fill for online communities.
I really don’t want to join another.
I’m happy with what I’ve got.
I don’t have any time to invest in others.
It’s more than just the time issue.
I’m tired of asking people to be my friend.
Many communities don’t have enough people to succeed.
Why make the effort?
I cringe [...]
April 4th, 2009 | Cynthia D'Amour | Comments | Continued
I’m sitting at my Jr. League meeting.
A woman at our table shared her concern.
Yesterday, James and I had a progressive lunch in Ann Arbor.
Walking back to the car we decided to stop at another place for desert.
He didn’t want his photo taken.
Yesterday afternoon the phone rang.
“I have your cell phone.”
  It’s my first local social media event.
I got inspired to attend this weekend.
Decoded for those of you not into social media:
 At the Gulf Tides Inn.
Earlier this month, I needed to get away to write The Lazy Leader’s Guide to Outrageous Results.
St. Pete Beach is one of our favorite places to go.
Today is Blog Action Day.
I had planned to talk about something else today.
I’ve got mixed feelings about the discussions.
hi i read... and email lists is the single biggest mistake in membership recruitment. In any given outreach Video quality is good, I feel this much better to read, and we all can view your expressions. ... Any ...
Posterous rocks! :-) 
thaaaaanks http://forum.r1o1.com/ Thanks, Elizabeth! Glad you're getting something out of the series. 
