AgWired

At today’s NAMA Chapter Leader’s Workshop participants got to hear from several “experienced” (not old) members who have worked in leadership positions. Greg Ehm, Two Rivers Marketing, for example spoke on leadership succession.

The theme of the workshop was “The Secret Formula of a Successful NAMA Leader” and everyone got a signed copy of Roy Williams book, “The Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads.”

Besides Greg, another NAMA leader on the agenda was Frank Timberlake. You know shy Frank. He toughed through it with wit and wisdom. Frank talked about membership and said that programming is all important to the chapter. One of the things he said that I liked was how important a good meal can and should be to a good NAMA program. We’re all in the business of food and fiber after all.

I think there were over 40 people in the session which is very good turn out.

If you come by the ZimmComm/Truffle booth here at the NAMA convention and listen to one of our podcasts you’ll get a set of ZimmComm retractable ear buds.

These are in limited quantity so make sure you stop on by.

It’s Wednesday and today is when the convention kicks into high gear. I’ll be meeting up with Ned and Aaron in the trade show to set up later this morning. I’m going to stroll around and get some more photos and hopefully some interviews to post later.

The NAMA board meets this afternoon and I’ve got to make an appearance there too so there’s lots more to come.

Somebody has to judge the student marketing competition. Here’s a few of them who were gathered together earlier this evening to learn more about what they’ve gotten themselves in to.

They all got to meet for an hour at the top of Reunion Tower here next to the Hyatt Regency.

I wish I had more to report but I was just kind of in and out on my way to dinner a couple levels below.

After dinner tonight with the Ag Media Summit group Ned, Aaron (Truffle Media Networks) and I stopped by the trade show area to check things out.

This is the lower level area in front of the trade show room which you can reach by going down stairs 1 level from the lobby level. Today the down escalator has been out which means stairs or elevator.

I think we’re set up fine but we’ll be working on our booth tomorrow during the day prior to the opening of the trade show after the Best of NAMA Awards.

It’s a little dark in Monduel’s for the iSight camera on the Mac but it’ll work.

We’re just hanging out here and chatting with our friends in agrimarketing.

If you think this is a good idea let me know and maybe we can set up an AgWired meetup at a location near you.

I think this might be my last post for a while. I should spend more time talking and less time posting.

The AgWired Meetup is in progress and we’re seeing some good early activity.

Here’s Ned Arthur (left) and Aaron Gilbertie hanging out before we got started.

I’ve got my Mac with me here in Monduel’s and will post as often as I get a chance to.

The golfers for the ABEF tournament got off to a good start this afternoon.

Even with the clouds and chilly breeze I’m sure they’d all say they prefer to be out on the course. In fact, the sun did finally come out.

I won’t be at the tournament dinner/awards tonight but will try to get some photos from it. I’m pretty sure Sherry Pfaff (left) and Kathi Conrad (right) here will have some pictures for me.

If I have my numbers right there are 48 people playing golf.

The student marketing competition process has started with the various chapters doing practice sessions.

Here’s the University of Guelph group in their room right when they were getting started.

They’re actually part of CAMA, the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association and we welcome them to the U. S.