Next Generation Event

Thanks to Meetings & Conventions Magazine

It's always great to be recognized, but it's especially great when you're recognized by others in your own industry. Meetings & Conventions Magazine just published a list of event planning blogs to watch and Next Generation Event was among them.

Click here to see who else made the list.

Some Changes to Make Things Easier for You

I made a couple of changes to the blog last night that I wanted to let you know about:

1. At the left, I have replaced "Online Reads" with three different lists to make it easier to find the resources you are looking for: Event Reads, Green Reads and Tech/Media Reads.

2. I added a search function powered by Lijit. Make sure you try it and let me know what you think!

Event Planning Section Now on Alltop

I am very excited to pass along that Alltop is now covering Event Planning.

Since Alltop started a few months back, it has been my go-to site when I am looking into a new subject. My recent wine post was actually inspired, in part, by what I was reading in its wine section.

Take a look and discover new event planning sites and ideas!

next generation event influencing the New York Times?

Okay--so that may be a stretch. But two Wednesdays ago, I started "Green Noise," a series that highlights several items I want to share but simply do not have the time to elaborate on.

And today from the New York Times: That Buzz in Your Ear May be Green Noise.

Coincidence?

Probably.

The article defines green noise as "static caused by urgent, sometimes vexing or even contradictory information played at too high a volume for too long." What is better? Local or organic? A hybrid they had to ship from overseas or a small, traditional car that was built not far from where you live?

Who knows? The consumer certainly doesn't, and not necessarily for lack of trying. There is simply an overwhelming amount of information out there. So if you are offering a green option, don't just tell them it's green. Tell them why you chose that option over another. Do the research for them and lay it all on the table.

My Own Little Domain

It is official: you can now access this site from www.nextgenerationevent.com.

Green + Tech = Future

Those of you who frequent my site may have noticed some changes this weekend. After over a month of blogging on green events, I decided that what I'm really talking about is the future of events. I think it was my recent post on the airline industry that really hammered it home for me--like many industries, the events industry is looking into the face of its future. More green, more tech and, generally, more innovation. What an exciting time.

Expect more green, but also other forward-thinking events ideas and technology.

Organic Not Without Drawbacks

Sometimes, going green has its pitfalls. It's true, I'm afraid. Sometimes, you'll take a bite out of that apple and you'll get a worm.

And I mean that literally. But swap out apple for pear. Over the last couple of years I have been making small transitions in my personal life to be more environmentally responsible. Recently (upon learning that the production of organic produce creates far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional production), I made the switch and rarely go conventional (unless it is local).

On Friday, I bit into a tasty pear to find I was chewing part of a worm. If that wasn't bad enough, on Saturday I was washing some organic lettuce to find a long green caterpillar (dead, thankfully--I think little kicking legs would have put me over the edge). I thought this was a tomato pest (which it is) so I have no idea why it was washed out of my lettuce, but there it was. A little green reminder that my lettuce had not been sprayed with pesticides.

After years of conventionally grown food, these unknowns that organic brings can be... disconcerting. Expect the same of all your green efforts. The unknown is daunting and not everything can be perfect your first go-round, but you'll learn something.

I learned to cut my organic fruit into sections before eating it. What have you learned?

Off to San Francisco

Depending on time and wireless availability, I'll be offline for the next several days as I am heading to San Francisco for an event. Though the event is not green, I will be making the trip to the "as green as it can be" (or so I understand) Ubuntu in Napa (yes--I realize that the additional travel to Napa is not so green, but in my defense, it will be my first trip there). Ubuntu basically combines two of my favorite things, good food and yoga, and, according to the NY Times, does it very well. It considers the impact of its building, its food, its wine and its employees.

There Is No Going Back

Yesterday afternoon, I came across this list of top 10 trends. The first item on the list is GREEN. This list came at an interesting time. I work for a conference company and for the last several weeks, myself and two colleagues had been brainstorming the greening of our conferences. We unveiled our ideas and requested more at a team meeting yesterday. When I came back to my office, I found this list, confirming what we already knew: we need to go green or die. OK--so maybe we wouldn't die this year or even in the next couple of years. But we would eventually die. And why not be ahead of the curve? I have this image of us running to catch up with our competitors, but we can't because we're all trying to drag Xerox boxes full of course books printed on non-recycled paper behind us.

Over the last few weeks, I did a lot of research and uncovered an interesting fact: it is kind of hard to learn about greening conferences and events. Not that there isn't any information out there. It's there, but you really have to look for it . There's nobody (who I could find) who is out there doing all the work for you. I'm hoping to funnel all green ideas through this site. I don't claim to be a green meeting expert, but I am working on green initiatives for our conference company and I fancy myself a pretty good researcher. It could just be a good match.