Committee Events

I had a phone call with Brian Webb who is working with the events team this year around Sage Summit and more specifically working with associations and groups who may want to hold meetings during the event. It sounds as if there is meeting space (both classroom and show floor) that Sage would let us use at no cost. We would be responsible for food and beverage (which honestly is 99.99% of the cost) so I think the benefit to 90 Minds would be if we get very convenient space right at the convention center. Without Sage's assistance, we would be locked out of any rooms during the event at the convention area and probably any official hotels. We'd have to use an off-site hotel. So our decision is: - Do we want to hold an educational event in Sage space? - Do we want to hold a social event in Sage space ? - If so, what would be the topic(s), duration? - Would we want to use this as a recruiting type event - invite non-members? - Would we want to use this as an open type event and invite customers? The downside to using Sage space is that we would not be able to invite affiliate members who were competitors -- Acumatica, xTuple, SAP, APS. I could see this being a problem for a social event so we may want to consider using an off-property location for a social event. Educationally there may be some interesting things we could do - Affiliate update or ""I'm looking to do this with Sage 100"" type session - Reporting with Sage Intelligence (this seems to be one of those perpetual ""to do"" list items for customers) - Reporting with Crystal Reports - Upgrade tips and tricks These are just some ideas and certainly we don't want to create classes to teach customers to do work themselves and leave our members scratching their heads. We should get a start on these ideas ASAP so that we can go back to Sage with a request for space before they start to become booked Thoughts or comments?

I think we should dos something. a. I don't think we need to recruit members, for a number of reasons. b. off-site social would be beneficial. c. Our on-site event(s) should be aimed at end-users. I think we will benefit if more users understand what their partner's 90 Minds involvement can mean for the customer. d. One training session on SI could be good. The logistics would be killer: we do not want to be reliant on users getting their local installs correct. But if we can figure out how to get past that, and then some sort of canned training that gets them to an impressive reporting result, a dashboard and pivot table emailed to users -- well, they'll be impressed with 90 Minds.

I think we had a survey that showed our members are predominately not interested in customers direct involvement. Did I get that wrong? Do we want to hold an educational event in Sage space? - maybe, depends on Sage's terms and if Sage is somehow going to try and control the event or our group or the attendees Do we want to hold a social event in Sage space ? - no, too limiting. If you review the Affiliate FAQ and Webinar we held for them, I believe that we offered the affiliates a chance to participate in a 90 Minds Summit event, using Sage space would kill that chance and may result in less participation next year during affiliate renewals. If so, what would be the topic(s), duration? - besides those listed, Sage 100 User Security Methodologies, Tips & Tricks, including op system info. Would we want to use this as a recruiting type event - invite non-members? - maybe Would we want to use this as an open type event and invite customers? - no.

Do we want to hold an educational event in Sage space? - I don't see why not. Do we want to hold a social event in Sage space ? While we wouldn't be able to invite non-Sage affiliates, will they be there anyway? Maybe, maybe not. If so, what would be the topic(s), duration? I don't want to do a MotM-type event with multiple sessions. I think it should one, possibly two sessions. Maybe one day or two days? Would we want to use this as a recruiting type event - invite non-members? We've tried this in the past with minimal success (at least as far as I know). Would we want to use this as an open type event and invite customers? No. Moira is correct when the majority said no, do not include customers.

Do we want to hold an educational event in Sage space? We can a have a session. .. Can we charge for it to cover training/ food costs? Sponsorship? maybe to both. Do we want to hold a social event in Sage space ? No . I think off site would be great. I can get with the local people and start putting something together. Similar to last year. If so, what would be the topic(s), duration? I like your topics. maybe add manufacturing /inventory techiques or selling ""C"" help. or Upgrade tips and tricks Would we want to use this as a recruiting type event - invite non-members? Good question.. not sure Would we want to use this as an open type event and invite customers? NO

My understanding of the survey question about involving customers was that members don't want them at MOTM. FWIW, I completely agree with that sentiment. This situation is different, I think: a 90Minds-sponsored training event at Summit.

I think you can focus on partners or customers but not both.

Therese, that's a key point. We should first decide whether we want a customer or partner event, and what the goal to it would be. Then we can figure out the topic(s).

Off-site social event? - definitely. Customers? - We are not ready for this year until we decide the objective and how many of our individual customers are actually attending Summit. At some point is may be important for customers to attend a 90 Minds event in order to understand the power of the group and that they have the best of the best consulting with them. The event should be some type of presentations valuable from a general business viewpoint, but not too specific to software - probably more process. Again, doubt we know what we want to do at this point.

Let me know if anyone wants to chair a committee to plan for a Summit educational function. I don't believe we need to do much planning for free booze and food but if that's what we think our members want , our job is far easier. I promised Brian I would respond by the end of this week. Absent any hands raised I will tell him 90 Minds passes but thank you.

I will chair the committee if there are at least 2 others (a committee size of 5 would be best) to be active on the committee. I think the committee's primary goal would be create an on-site event of some nature. A secondary goal is an off-site social event, if the on-site event is non-social. Any other volunteers to help with this?

I'm willing to help.

I'm sure we're all seeing the same thing, but this is something to keep in mind: Already Making Plans for Sage Summit? Add Intermediate Scripting for Sage 100 to Your Agenda! http://tinyurl.com/zfmaho3

Offsite social - Yes Customers I think @JohnHoyt has a good point. * Are you thinking a session or two in the day and then social at night for a one day early arrival? * Does anyone know around what the % of members that attend MOTM and Summit to just members that only attend Summit? If Summit gets much more or different members than MOTM a Session on how to use Socialcast , Evernote and Dropbox for 90 minds. @MoiraGoggin did a great presentation at MOTM but I think she needed more time so that you can show them how to actually use these apps. I would help with the computer :) Just a thought.

We obviously have some things to work out. Come me in on the party planning... I foresee our event happening on one of the evenings and the other conflicts will likely be other parties.. Something to be aware of but my guess is that 90Minds party usually hold our own against anything else. I know thats the party I want to go to. :) Regarding the Summit sessions that is a different story. We need to determine when our 90Minds Sessions would held. Are they during the summit or they could be pre-summit.

Besides Robert, any more volunteers?

I will be happy to help.

Yes, I'll help.

I'll help too @JimWoodhead

Great. We have a committee of 5! Thursday at noon CT seemed to work ok for MOTM planning, so can we use that for our first session? Thurs, 3/10 @ 1200 CST. OK?

Not a good time. the admin team has another meeting at time. Can you choose an alternate time and/or date. (this week anyway)

The purpose of our first meeting is simply to agree on what kind of event we should do, when and where. Wayne must tell Sage Friday, so we should do this before that. Surely we can figure this out in less than 30 minutes? How about: a. immediately before or after the Admin Team meeting? or b. 1200 CT on Friday? or c. some other time tomorrow or Thurs? Please vote.

a. After the admin team or around 1:30 CT this Thursday.

Can everybody attend Thurs, 3/10, @1:30 CT?

Yes, Thursday 3/10/16, 1:30 pm CT, 2:30 pm ET, 11:30 am PT.

Good for me..

Sorry! I was at a meeting at the kids' school. I think I can make it work.

We don't need to come up with a firm plan by this week, just have an idea of whether it's a yes or no to Sage. Look at the map as you make decisions about any off-site meetings. I think Chicago is going to be a little busier and more challenging to get around for most attendees - especially those not used to urban traffic. I'll point Sage to Jerry as the contact for further discussions.