In the race up to our annual meeting in Memphis, I was startled to find in my inbox a link to Nathaniel Whittemore’s post “The Conference is Dead…(Does Anyone Care?).”
Well, I care.
We’ve spent countless hours over the past year working to welcome more than 500 foundation executives and trustees to an event that we proudly think of as the premier gathering of philanthropic leaders in the South. It’s been that way for 40 years and we’ve not seen much drop off in this year's attendance in spite of the dire predictions about meeting budgets, travel restrictions and too much to do.
Whittemore goes on to explain that what he really means is that “the conference model we have today - keynotes, plenary sessions, networking breaks, etc - is dead. And good riddance.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I’ve spent the last week planning for several face-to-face gatherings of our members and have given a lot of thought to the content of these events, always mindful of the best ways to serve our members. We’re constantly talking about how to make meetings fulfilling for members – What do they want? What do they need? What will inspire them? How best to facilitate sharing? And reviewing what I know to be true about our members -- grantmakers:
They’re smart – working for the common good -- whether it’s the arts, health or education -- takes know-how and the ability to perceive the interconnectedness in communities. No ostriches here.They’re accomplished – most of our members came to the field after significant achievement in other fields.
They’re lonely – that thing about “you’ve had your last bad meal?” True. It’s also true that many grantmakers work alone and straddle the sometimes uncomfortable space between their grantees and their trustees. There aren’t a lot of people in the community that have their kind of job.
They’re challenged – it really is harder than it looks.
They’re very busy.
So, what I’ve learned is that all we really have to do is get them in a room together and provide useful tools for them to get the most out of their time together. From each other. Not from talking heads.
So here’s our pledge: we won’t have plenary sessions or panels or keynotes in 2010 unless they are knock-your-socks-off good. And we’ll always provide the open space for you to learn and share, be nourished and inspired, have fun and get the professional value you expect from us when you’ve taken the time to come together.
Dead? Or deal? What do you think?
Save the dates and don't miss SECF's 2010 Conference on Investing for Foundations at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Atlanta and the Family Foundations Forum at the Charleston Doubletree in the Historic District, May 2-4.
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