Association Headquarters

Groups of the Future

By Chris Brown, CEM, CMP

Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978), born in Doylestown, PA, could have qualified to become a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of PCMA. The famous outspoken anthropologist (studying humanity) helped to document American and Western life over 50 years ago. She wrote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Our meeting environment is changing and evolving. The makeup of the people we manage is diverse. There are new boundaries, social networks, social norms and habits that dictate how they interact with us. You already know who they are: the stakeholders, owners, sponsors, venture capitalists, attendees, exhibitors, vendors, communications experts, marketing specialists, product managers, supply chain representatives, consumers, physicians, nurses, doctors of countless subspecialties – just to name a few.

So what will groups look like in the future? How will they act? What will make them tick? And just what do we have to look forward to when it comes to dealing with so many special interest groups all at once?

Research tells us:

The place for meetings will have to be more flexible. Maybe temporary energy fields, or walls made of clear, soundproof material. For if it becomes possible to “beam” Scotty to Room 407B of the Philadelphia Convention Center for the 10:00 a.m. session on Intergalactic Meeting Management 101, Scotty may find that his presence now exceeds the Global Fire Marshall maximum room capacity - what will happen then?

The interests of a group will bring people together from far away… and yes, even from planets and solar systems yet to be discovered. Did you meet the two nitrogen-breathing travelers from Valles Marineris’ Mars Base II in Seattle at PCMA? They were there!

The spirit that binds the group may appear as only temporary, but in fact will act as the permanent glue that cements cause and purpose for centuries to come. So strong in fact that the chips implanted in their brains will repeat the mission, vision, goals and objectives aloud whenever they “feel” like leaving the group all together. So non-renewal will be become something of the past.

And if this is not already enough, it will be a monumental challenge to schedule time to get the group to meet in one place at the same time. More than likely, the networking event or meeting will be virtually-based. That is, as a group member, your “interaction” will amount to uploading your SIG packets of data via StarBased InterNet Version 10, and a response will only take one-trillionth of a nanosecond waiting time. And you’re still in your pajamas.

Aren’t you glad you’re a meeting or event manager in today’s world? I sure am. Does this all sound so farfetched? When Jules Verne wrote about undersea travel in 1870 or world travel around 1873, people thought his stories were farfetched, too.

Chris Brown, CMP, CEM, is Senior Meetings, Exhibits, and Trade Shows Manager at
Association Headquarters, Inc., in Mount Laurel, N.J.