Why I loved Connect09, and why there won't be a Connect10

The last Connect was, in my opinion, the best Connect.

I loved that the panelists didn't always agree, and that the audience participants jumped in with questions, counter-examples, and support. I loved connecting people who have things in common and wondering what they'll do next. As always, I loved the student team, which did a great job with planning and social media (above from left: Erica Holland, Hannah Keating, Allison Brill, Lesley Anne Dickerson, Jason Davis; not pictured: Kristin English, LIzzy Nephew and Debbie Ebalobo). Of course I loved the help (both money and people) that Porter Novelli so generously provided again this year. The weather let me down, but I loved that the broken water main on campus didn't kill the event. Perhaps most of all, I loved that in the end the conference broke even.

And that last reason is the primary reason there won't be another: I'm tired of worrying about money. I know it's common "in this economy" (my most hated phrase of the '00s), but the truth is that for too many nights I sat awake worrying about it -- we didn't reach the bare-bones break even point until about 10 days before the conference, not counting all the people who kept cancelling for very good reasons of their own (fortunately counterbalanced by a slightly larger number of late registrants). 

Money isn't the only reason, though; when I started with Connect07 I'd never planned an event that big and knew I could learn right along with my students. After three times, I'm past that. I also wanted to learn from the best by inviting them to Athens and making everyone else pay for it: mission accomplished. Also, the sad truth is there's a big opportunity cost here, such that every hour I spend on the conference is an hour that doesn't go toward other things I'd like to try. And, let's not forget Josh Hallett's admonition at Connect08 that it's time to have conferences on public relations, not PR and social media, because social media is part of it all now. Thus, this year's unofficial theme: Integrating Social Media and Traditional Public Relations. But what it really all boils down to is that I've faced the fact that I'm just a worrier and Connect gives me too much to worry about.

I want to thank all of the wonderful people who attended or spoke at any of the three Connects, all the students who worked on the event over the years, and the Grady staff -- Diane Murray and Karen Andrews, not to mention our sponsors, Grady College, Jackson Spalding (Connect07) and Porter Novelli (Connect08 and 09) who truly made the conference possible. Special thanks to Kaye Sweetser, whose class started the blogging-tweeting-flickring tradition that gave Grady students invaluable hands-on experience, and to Constantin Basturea, Paull Young, Josh Hallett, Katie Paine and Kevin Dugan, who spoke at the first Connect for low or no cost and then went on to help promote and secure other fine speakers for the rest. The best thing about the conference was meeting them and other amazing people in the PR-marketing-social media sphere.

There won't be another Connect, but there will be lots of other chances for professionals, educators, and students to interact, and I hope to take advantage of all of them.

Comments

[Kevin Dugan]

This is like George in Seinfeld, when he made the perfect joke in a meeting. You get up and walk out...leaving the room wanting more.

Congratulations for really making a difference with this conference Karen. I think everyone involved got something out of it, regardless of where they sat.

And most importantly, there will be more chances to interact. I look forward to that. Until then "shush!"

[kdpaine]

I couldn't agree more with what Kevin said. You really made a difference with Connect -- setting the bar very high that few conferences have met since. It still ranks up there as one of the most fun conferences I've ever attended.

[Karen Russell]

Thanks, Kevin and Katie. As I keep telling everyone, if Connect was just that one day, I'd do it every day!

[Mihaela (Dr. V)]

Sorry to hear this was the last year of Connect - but thank you for the previous years. It's been an amazing conference, and some would say (and I agree) it took conferencing to a new level. Thank you.

[Phylecia]

Aww, so sad! As part of the first team who organized connect07 as our senior capstone class, I definitely learned a lot. Not to mention that through the people I met and things I learned, it shaped my career as a PR professional. I knew I wanted to work with a PR company who early on integrated social media in their campaigns. It was a lot of fun and it was great to finally see students, teachers and professionals all in the same conference. :)

[Karen Russell]

Thanks, Mihaela and Phylecia! I'm glad you each made it there. I enjoyed getting to know each of you a little bit because of Connect.

[Toby Bloomberg]

Karen - Sad to hear that this is the last Connect. I feel honored and extremely fortunate to have joined you this year. The model of including students, practitioners and academics in an energy charged environment where people are comfortable to disagree/agree and learn together will be part of your legacy. My wish would be that a forward thinking, innovative company would step up to the plate and underwrite the entire cost. It's a win on so many levels.