Meeting Support Institute

When we say tools, we mean "anything we can do for or bring to" the meeting to influence the content side of it (learning, networking, motivation).
These tools can be concepts, people, creative, technical or technological tools.

Five large groups of tools are CHATTY tools:
C Concepts: - formats, techniques, methods, processes- theme, slogan, communication
H Human: - stage facilitators, speakers, actors, - backstage technicians, ...
A Art: creative, look&feel, design, photography, video
T Technical: Equipment AV, set, flipcharts, pen & paper, post-it notes
TY TechnologY: - computer related / specialty tools- internet related / on line activities

These groups include all potential tools and services one ould deploy at meetings or conferences.

A meeting architect is an individual that focuses on the potential meeting objectives, the meeting formats and designs, and the conceptual and practical building blocks to construct a meeting for better learning, networking and motivation in the participant population. A meeting architect also knows how to measure the meeting results up to its Return on Investment.
The meeting architect works in four (IDEA) phases:
- Idintifying meeting objectives
- Designing the meeting to support these objectives
- Executing and guiding the meeting towards its objectives
- Assessing the meeting results compared to the objectives
The meeting industry that exists today (2007) focuses mainly on the tourism and hospitality side of meetings: Travel, lodging and F&B. The meeting industry is professional in creating the shell where meeting architecture wants to help in building the substance.

The Meeting Support Institute website has evolved into an interactive 2.0 website where meeting objectives play a central role. By registering to this website you get access to information about technology and all other tools to improve Learning, Networking and Motivating at meetings. This site is intended to be an open platform where all the Meeting Support Institute enthusiast can share their thoughts.

The 2008 PEC-NA was different, in many ways.
For the Meeting Support Institute, it offered many opportunities and insights. Opportunities to share the vision and member information and insights in new technology and other innovations and ideas like visual facilitation, the Shark Tank, a book on informal learning, etc. And of course, especially the people made it worth while. Getting together with some friends is great: Ib Ravn, the Author of ‘the Learning Meeting’ (and doing his so needed missionary work), Joan Eisenstodt, this PEC speaking on Q-Storming™, Tyra Hilliard who is back at the George Washington University and many more.

And to top it all of, you meet new people.

The MPI conference in Houston is called Meet Different. A lot of novelties are introduced.

1. This highly innovative conference is supported by Log On, a Meeting Support Institute member. John Dudink is providing on site support for all MPI members. The tradeshow, the networking, the program and more is available to all participants’ mobile phones. Mexico (as destination for meetings) is sponsoring the service.

The Meeting planner with a focus on the content of meetings has a challenge: the numbers are eating away the focus on content. Imagine a corporate conference of 250 participants: getting all 250 in the room on time and on budget is a lot of work. Providing the right menu including all kinds of special requests and allergies can be overwhelming. To do a good job for 20 participants and spouses is already a lot of work, I know from experience. Making that happen for 250 is close to a full time job for several weeks. These larger participant numbers take so much time and energy to plan logistically, that the content soon floats out of focus. This is normal, even natural and I guess all of us would have the same tendency. How can you work on content when 250 participants are asking you a thousand questions? 250 adult professionals all behaving like children that need to be kept by the hand for even the smallest things. Meeting planners will all testify this can be the case.

Effective networking is one of the main goals for participants to events. This new technological badge helps them do this with almost normal name badges turned into a smart, easy to use networking tool.  The interactive badge is programmed based on the participant’s personal preferences. Whenever a participant is within 8 meters of a person with matching preferences, both their badges will light up in the same color. A relevant person to meet is identified. An interesting conversation can start. To be launched in 2008: more news on www.meetingsupport.org

 

A meeting architect is an individual that focuses on the potential meeting objectives, the meeting formats and designs, and the conceptual and practical building blocks to construct a meeting for better learning, networking and motivation in the participant population. A meeting architect also knows how to measure the meeting results up to its Return on Investment.
The meeting architect works in four phases:
Analysing meeting objectivesDesigning the meeting to support these objectivesExecuting and guiding the meeting towards its objectivesMeasuring the meeting results compared to the objectives
The meeting industry that exists today (2007) focuses on the tourism and hospitality side of meetings: Travel, lodging and F&B. The meeting industry is professional in creating the shell where meeting architecture wants to help in building the substance.