The Community Roundtable

Empowering global community leaders with research-backed resources, training, and tools.

Save the Date! TheCR Connect 2018 is Next October!

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Imagine me sharing this news while standing on my desk, jumping up and down:

TheCR Connect 2018 will take place on September 30 – October 2, 2018.

Hooray!

And even better news? You can lock in 2017 pricing (and use up any 2017 budget you might have leftover!)

Here’s what attendees said about TheCR Connect 2017:

  • “I appreciated that the Connect doesn’t try to be like other conferences. It was great to be free from the vendors trying to sell to attendees.”
  • “More valuable than other conferences I’ve attended recently – both in terms of quality of info, and networking.”
  • “Well done. You’re in tune with challenges I face as aa CMGR, when the rest of the organization is focused on their own challenges….”
  • “Helped me see that some things we’ve done/are doing are really good (yay!) and that we need to invest properly to take this beyond where it is now. Very glad to have met some terrific people, too.”
  • “I liked how the conference was organized and how it incorporated the members and real-life use cases.”

We’re offering members of TheCR Network the first chance to register, and a special discount. Register by December 31st and you’ll lock in the 2017 Early Bird price of $650!

Members visit the Network to register. 

Three Reasons You Should Attend TheCR Connect

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Our annual community management workshop – TheCR Connect –  is coming up soon. TheCR team is busy planning another amazing event – and time is running out for you to join us.

We know you have lots of ways to spend your budget – and that your time is at a premium. If you’re still on the fence about attending Connect here are three reasons why it’s a great decision.

  1. The Agenda

    Unlike some events you will not be just sitting in a seat listening to “experts” talk at you. From interactive panels on fixing trust and community careers to small group roundtables covering launching advocacy programs, choosing a community platform, community migration, using social learning concepts to onboard new employees and more you’ll be an active participant in the action. Add in lighting talks from community practitioners on cracking the engagement code and telling your community story, deep dives into the Future of Community with Rachel Happe and plenty of time for networking and you’ll walk away enthusiastic and inspired.

  2. The People

    At Connect you’ll never struggle to make small talk, or walk into a room and think “Ugh, who will I talk to?!” From thoughtful cohort groups to intended participant collisions we make sure that you find the people that can help you – and that your expertise is highlighted. We want you to come to Connect with real community challenges to solve – and we’ll help you meet the people that have faced down those problems already and can offer advice, strategies and solutions. Plus we’ve got two great parties planned (signature cocktails, anyone!?)

  3. The Take-Aways

    If you’re interested in maybe taking some notes and going back to your team and saying, “Eh, it was fine…” Connect is NOT the event for you. Our goal is to have you walk away with new community connections, big ideas for ways to improve your work and real, tactical plans for immediate implementation.  Our deep dive community workshops include sessions on Community ROI, Community Strategy and Rewards & Recognition (Gamification) that will not only get you thinking, but help you plan for the future of your community.

Registration closes on September 8th – don’t miss your chance to attend TheCR Connect 2017. 

Learn more or register now. 

 

Throwback Thursday – Event Insights and Highlights

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By Amy Turner, The Community Roundtable

This time of year is always busy for us here at The Community Roundtable as we gear up for conference season. The relaxed days of summer are long gone and we turn into road warriors with a jam-packed schedule of conferences, events and workshops.

Group shot from TheCR Connect West in January 2016.

As we look ahead to the events we are hosting and presenting at over the next two months (including TheCR Connect!), it’s helpful to take a step back and reflect on our insights and learnings from events and conferences attended in the past. Because as we all know, it’s so crucial to step away from our computers, online networks and virtual connections every once and while to have meaningful, personal and engaging conversations with each other.

This week’s #throwbackthursday post focuses on events, highlighting key insights and observations learned from our journeys over the years.

  • Emergent Learning in Networks and at Conferences – For several years during the 2000’s online community professionals gathered together annually to share and learn from each other. Recognizing that online community practice continues to evolve, a group of Bay Area community managers felt the need to revive the unconference tradition to gather together online community and social media professionals to share their collective knowledge and real world experience to address today’s pressing topics.
  • Community in Real Life – We were recently reminded about the power of taking online communities offline and this is an approach we strive to embrace here at TheCR. This short – but effective post – summarizes the important “how’s” and “why’s” of connecting in real life.
  • Why Conversations Matter And How Things Need to Change to Support Them – Moderating and talking with panelists at a Gilbane Digital Content Conference gave Rachel some fascinating insight into where we are now and where things need to go to really support enterprise-wide conversations.
  • To Event Or Not Event? – Learn about Jim’s love/hate relationship with planning events over the years. He’s experienced first-hand how exhilarating it can feel when it all comes together and the vendors, speakers and attendees start connecting on the show floor and in the conference rooms. But the internet came along and changed the game.
  • For TheCR Network Eyes Only – Live Internal Event Blogging and Engagement Tactics – Are you a member of TheCR Network? Check out this exclusive discussion thread inside the Network about how to live blog and engage with employees back in the office or the field while you’re onsite at an event.

Want even more #throwbackthursday action? Check out all our throwback posts!

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