Author Archives: Carolyn

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  Relax, Refresh, Recharge!

  Posted on July 8, 2014 by Carolyn in Getting Away.

  I’m a multitasker, I admit it.  I make lists while reading the paper while listening to music while starting dinner.  I have at least 10 screens open on my laptop at any given time.  I always have a notepad or my phone handy to jot down notes pertaining to a project at home or work […]

  Post Tagged with downtime, off the grid, Recharge, Refocus, vacation
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  That’s What It’s All About!

  Posted on June 26, 2014 by Carolyn in Meeting Design, Networking.

  I saw a post on Facebook the other day about The Hokey Pokey (I’ll pause while you start dancing!). While it did recall images of silly Hokey Pokey sessions in elementary school and at kids’ parties, the last line of each chorus “and that’s what it’s all about” drew me back to meetings.  What is […]

  Post Tagged with connections, meetings, networking
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  Meetings in 2020 – a Student Perspective

  Posted on May 6, 2014 by Carolyn in Meeting Design.

  Recently I got to participate in the end of semester presentations for the Meeting & Event Management class at UMass Amherst.  Each group gave a short presentation on their project – to reimagine a current industry conference for the year 2020, thinking about what they would change to try and attract a younger demographic (their generation).  It […]

  Post Tagged with balance, generations, meetings
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  Guide or Guru

  Posted on April 1, 2014 by Carolyn in Facilitation, Leadership.

  I recently attended a meeting of the local chapter of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) to learn some new tips & techniques that I could use with my facilitation clients.  The presenter talked about many facilitation principles and one that resonated with me was the idea that a facilitator should be the “guide on […]

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  Mind Your RFPs & Qs

  Posted on March 10, 2014 by Carolyn in RFPs.

  Does anyone remember being told as a child to “mind your Ps & Qs?” There are several theories as to what this phrase means (Google it and see!), but growing up I knew it meant to mind my manners and be thoughtful about what I was doing or saying. This meaning can apply to RFPs […]

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  Teams Need Love Too!

  Posted on February 14, 2014 by Carolyn in Leadership.

  It’s Valentines Week and everyone’s talking about love.  I’m all for romantic love, but what about the “love” you give to your team? The best leaders get to know their team members and do little (and sometimes not so little) things to foster team spirit.  When you are part of a volunteer team this is […]

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  If You Build It, Will They Come?

  Posted on February 3, 2014 by Carolyn in Meeting Design.

  (I’m getting tired of the snow and eagerly awaiting Spring Training – so please allow me to indulge in some baseball references.) “If you build it, he will come” seemed ridiculous and far-fetched in Field of Dreams (if you’ve never seen the movie – add it to your Netflix queue!) and it certainly is unrealistic […]

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  Involve All the Senses

  Posted on January 2, 2014 by Carolyn in Meeting Design.

  When a colleague first asked if I wanted to attend an information session about olive oil, I was hesitant as I expected a dry lecture.   After I got the official invite for an interactive cooking session, my ‘maybe’ turned quickly into a ‘yes’! The class was held at Rustico Cooking (a cooking loft in New […]

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  Making a List, Checking it Twice

  Posted on December 22, 2013 by Carolyn in Risk Management.

  There is a first time for everything – last night it was hearing the words Force Majeure during a musical!  Disaster! – A 70s Disaster Movie Musical – a creative, fun off-Broadway show that incorporates 70s music with parodies of disaster movies (think The Poseidon Adventure meets Earthquake meets Jaws, etc.).    I was enjoying the […]

  Post Tagged with checklist, meetings, planning, risk
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  Meeting Manners – It’s All About Respect

  Posted on December 5, 2013 by Carolyn in Meeting Manners.

  In a “previous life” I worked for two companies that each had a push for Quality.  Being in a position that was decidedly not manufacturing, and since I didn’t work in a factory, I was skeptical at first.  As I learned more about Quality (yes with a capital Q), I was impressed on how it […]

  Post Tagged with Agenda, Etiquette, respect
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