Dilbert & Social Media
This Dilbert cartoon for today seemed oh-so-relevant for some initial wrapup of 3CMA’s Annual Conference and the many sides of social media that were discussed in Atlanta.
More coming soon…hope everyone had a grand time!
App-solutely Awesome!
This just in from Dave Bigos, 3CMA president…
We’re here in “Applanta” and having a terrific time. Meeting some great new members and reconnecting with old friends. The sessions were super and this tech-challenged old-timer is learning plenty of new tricks. Nearly 200 3CMA’ers made the trip to the conference and are now headed back to their work sites armed with powerful new tools to increase their communication arsenals.
Congrats also to this year’s SAVVY winners and runners up…It’s been a great year and was a pleasure to serve the organization. Best of luck to your new Prez, Shelly Schultz!
A Little About Dr. Scott Shamp (eGov General Session)
fYes, he usually is this happy.
Let me introduce you briefly to Dr. Scott Shamp, who will be giving the eGov General Session (Exploring Emerging Technologies) at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.
Dr. Shamp is the the Director of the New Media Institute (known around Athens as the NMI) in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. The New Media Institute is an interdisciplinary unit created to explore the creative, critical, and commercial implications of new digital communication technology.
I first became associated with Dr. Shamp when he was involved with launching what is believed to be the first wireless publicly-accessible wireless ‘cloud’ in downtown Athens way back around 2001. For something like $500, the NMI (established in 2000) cobbled together some routers, antennas, donated bandwidth, waterproof casings, and put together the WAG-Z (Wireless Athens, GA Zone) or ‘The Cloud’ as it would became known. Athens-Clarke County helped out over the years with placement of some of the antenna on lightpoles.
That’s when I also first heard Dr. Shamp’s favorite motto – “wouldn’t it be cool if…” and seen first hand how he takes his students and the community on interesting journeys to figure out some of those answers.
Since those beginnings, Dr. Shamp has also headed the Mobile Media Consortium at the University of Georgia to promote mobile media and wireless development with industry partners such as Intel, Nokia, Cingular, McDonald’s, HP, Turner Broadcasting, BelAir Networks, and iAnywhere. He’s also provided consulting services for several companies including Turner, Disney, UPS, Coca-Cola, and First Union.
In addition, Shamp holds a patent and trademark for his work in wireless and mobile media. During his tenure at the University of Georgia, Shamp has served as the Director of the Dowden Center for New Media Studies and the Director of Information Technology for the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
In other words, he knows his stuff in emerging technologies.
If you want to get a sense of the NMI and the kinds of things that Dr. Shamp is thinking about, check out the NMI’s website at http://mynmi.net/ (pay particular attention to the NMI Update section) or follow him on Twitter (http://twitter.com/sshamp).
He’s a great storyteller and full of energy, so we can’t wait to hear and see what he talks about on Thursday morning. Hope to see you there.
Atlanta Shopping
Most of your time during the conference will be spent at the W Hotel in midtown, but if you have a long break in between sessions or are spending an extra day in Atlanta, here’s a long list of places you can go to shop in the city.
Atlanta isn’t really known for its fashion, at least when compared to NYC or LA, and if you visit as a tourist all you’ll hear about is the malls and giant, chain-filled lifestyle centers. There’s nothing wrong with malls and shopping centers, but that’s not where you’re going to find the best shopping – in any city. Atlanta is no different.
My twin sister and I write a local style blog called AsianCajuns, so I’d like to think that makes me a little bit of an Atlanta shopping expert. At the very least, I can let you know my favorite shopping spots in the city.
Let’s start with the shopping in Midtown because that’s where most of you will be staying and exploring. There aren’t a lot of boutiques located immediately around the W Hotel, but there are a handful worth checking out within walking distance:
Drew Lewis Boutique, 933 Peachtree St.
Drew Lewis is a local favorite for fashionable men and women. They carry lines like APC and Rag & Bone, which I personally love, but can’t afford. Nevertheless, it’s fun to stop in and take a look around. To get there from the hotel, walk one block west to Peachtree St. and five blocks south.
Fab’rik Atlanta, 1114 W. Peachtree St.
Fab’rik is a popular southern chain with most items under $100. From the W Hotel, walk three blocks west to W. Peachtree St. and two blocks south.
Yes Home, 921 Peachtree St.
Check out this home store for fun interior decor and furniture as well as great accessories. Head one block west to Peachtree St. and five blocks south.
CB2 Atlanta, 1080 Peachtree St.
Yes, CB2 is a chain, but it’s not located in most cities so I’m including it on this list. CB2 is Crate and Barrel’s hipper, younger version with affordable knick-knacks and contemporary furniture. From the hotel, head one block west to Peachtree St. and two blocks south.
Georgia Tech Square, at the intersection of 5th and W. Peachtree St.
It’s a bit of a hike, but a nice little shopping and dining destination in midtown. It’s also the home of the closest Waffle House if you get a late night craving for breakfast food. From the W Hotel, head four blocks west to Spring St. and nine blocks south.
The best Atlanta shopping can be found in its neighborhoods. My favorites are Decatur, Little Five Points, Virginia Highland and West Midtown.
The City of Decatur is only six miles east of downtown Atlanta and accessible by MARTA. Just take the east line to the Decatur exit and you’ll end up in the middle of over 100 shops and restaurants. My favorite Decatur shops include Vivid Boutique, Squash Blossom, Rockit, Heliotrope, Mingei World Arts and Boogaloos.
Little Five Points is considered Atlanta’s alternative neighborhood. There isn’t a MARTA station close by so I would recommend driving if you have a car, taking a cab or the bus. Little Five has some of the best vintage and second hand shops in the south and a great place to find cheap, crazy gifts for friends and family back home.
Virginia Highland is essentially a long road of great shops and restaurants. Like Little Five Points, the easiest way to get to this neighborhood is by car and parking can be a little tricky during lunch and dinner time. VA Highland has a great mix of clothing and home boutiques as well as pubs and high-end restaurants.
West Midtown is the up and coming shopping and dining district in Atlanta. It’s predominately made up of the well-designed White Provision development and is home to some of the city’s newest and hippest cafe and restaurants. Because this area is so new, you’ll find an unusual mix of dive bars like Northside Tavern and upscale shopping like Sid Mashburn. West Midtown is a relatively short cab ride from the W Hotel and well worth it.
If, after all of this, you’re still tempted to do some mall shopping I would recommend Phipps and Lenox five miles north of the W Hotel in Buckhead. Lenox has every mall store you could possibly think of and Phipps has every high end, designer store you could possibly think of.
Even closer to Midtown is Atlantic Station, a newly developed live, work and play lifestyle center about one mile west of the hotel. You’ll find stores like Dillards, Z Gallerie, H&M, Express and other big chain heavy hitters.
So get out there, walk a little, spend a little and help support the local Atlanta economy. Drop me a line if you find a great boutique that I forgot to mention!
Coming in on Tuesday?
For those of you who are coming in today, please know that there will be 3CMA greeters in the W’s Lounge/Living Room from 6 – 7 p.m. to give you a proper Southern welcome.
Check out Matthew’s blog post re: things to do in Atlanta and also Sandi’s Restaurant Romp post list for dining options. Visit with other early attendees and get started networking early.
Welcome to Atlanta and welcome to 3CMA – Southern style!
Welcome to the South, y’all!
When the conference day is done, get out and explore our great city and Southern hospitality.
For a bit of culture while you’re here in Atlanta, check out a great exhibition of artist Salvador Dali’s late work of more than 40 paintings, plus film, sculptures and photographs–many never before seen in public. The exhibit includes work Dali created in the last 40 years of his career. The High Museum of Art is an easy five-minute walk from the hotel, and Thursday evening discounts are available after 4. Reserve your tickets online.
For sports fans, our Atlanta Braves are home for a pivotal series against the Cardinals Thursday evening, and you can catch the action at Turner Field – home of the 1996 Olympic Games. Buy your tickets online.
News junkies can get an inside look at the global headquarters of CNN here in Atlanta with a 50-minute studio tour featuring the Control Room Theater, Special Effects studio and Interactive News Desk section. Reservations are accepted Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest with over 8 million gallons of water – the top Atlanta attraction, right in the heart of downtown.
Miss Deep South, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Industrial Northeast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Texas and Miss West Coast take to the stage to compete for the crown of Miss Glamouresse at the 14 th Street Playhouse directly across from the W Hotel. Each night the audience decides the winner in a hilarious musical spoof of beauty pageants the New York Times calls screamingly funny.
If you’re visiting Atlanta from outside the South, you’ll have a hard time finding a Pepsi here. Featuring our hometown “pop” the World of Coca-Cola is the only place where you can explore the complete story of the world’s best-known brand and taste over 60 different Coke beverages from around the globe. There is also a fully functioning bottling line that produces a free 8 oz. glass bottle of Coca-Cola for each and every guest.
After sitting all day in sessions, it will be great to get out and get some fresh air and the blood pumping. Join me for a run each afternoon in Piedmont Park, Atlanta’s Central Park with more than 180 acres. It’s just one block east of the hotel and great for walking, skating, running or just people watching.
There is a ton to do here for everyone, and I hope you like exploring our city as much as we love living here!
Don’t Forget the Great Pin Swap!
Every city/county/town/agency has one – that special pin depicting your community’s seal, logo or special event. Bring your pin(s) to the conference and participate in the 3CMA Great Pin Swap.
Your mission? Collect as many pins from other cities, towns, counties, or agencies throughout the duration of the conference. Wear them proudly on your badget, your jacket, baseball hat – your choice.
Not only do you have a reason to interact with someone you don’t already know – the attendee with the largest pin collection at the end of the conference wins a prize.
Calling All 3CMA First Timers…
Calling All 3CMA First Timers…
OK, first of all, if you are reading this blog post today, I have one question: What are you doing working on Labor Day weekend!?! Maybe I should ask myself the same question…
For me, the answer is, “getting ready for next week’s conference.” Planning for the 3CMA’s 2010 conference in Atlanta has been a blast. From the initial brainstorming sessions to writing for this blog, I have genuinely enjoyed the extra interaction this year with my colleagues from around Georgia. And true to 3CMA-form, I’ve gotten ideas for things we can do in Athens that I plan to blatantly rip off from said colleagues.
Thinking about this, I wanted to write today to give another plug for the Restaurant Romp. Yes, I know it is a big leap to go from “ideas for improving communications in Athens, Georgia” to “FOOD.” But, stick with me, the connection is there, I promise.
If you think about conferences, probably the first image that comes to mind is sitting in a (frequently very cold) room listening to a speaker. That is undoubtedly one of the best educational aspects of 3CMA, but it doesn’t allow for a tremendous amount of interaction. When it comes to networking and getting to know other people who face the same challenges you do every day, the Restaurant Romp will be an extremely close second as an educational experience and, in some cases, a bonding experience. San Diego Street Scenes, anyone?
So, for all you first timers (and veterans, really), please take some time to select a restaurant and sign up online. Restaurants are filling up fast and with 30 first timers, we really want to meet you. Think about it: Some of us have been coming to 3CMA for over 10 years now. Without all you new people, we’re going to start getting really bored. We need your fresh, new energy and your ideas. Most of us have already siphoned off the best of what the veterans have to offer. Plus, who will we tell our war stories without you? So, you’d really be doing a big service to the profession… Think of it as community service.
Online sign-ups will be available until noon on Tuesday, September 7. Go to http://www.3cma.org/index.aspx?nid=524 to sign up online. After Tuesday, old school sign-ups will be available on a big bulletin board at the conference. Jonathan Baker from CitySearch Atlanta will join us for the Welcome Reception and then your lovely hosts will gather you to head off into the night. If you have any questions, I’ll be lurking around the bulletin board Wednesday during breaks. See you in Atlanta!
Recycle Your Festival T-Shirts To Benefit 3CMA
This just in from Rosemary Taylor, Communications Manager for the City of Johns Creek, GA:
“Faster than a city council meeting! More powerful than a news conference! Able to leap the internet in a single bound! Look! In the W Hotel! It’s a miracle! It’s a blast! It’s the 3CMA National Conference T-shirt Exchange.
OK…so I’m not Superman, but I bet if you’re like me, you can always use another t-shirt – especially one created by your talented 3CMA colleagues from the other side of the country.
If you’re from California, you could be really cool and go back home after this year’s conference with a t-shirt displaying a blues fest in Georgia…or a 10K run in New Y0rk…or a parade in Florida. And just think…someone from Alabama, or Ohio, or Kansas could be proudly wearing that “Santa Monica Pier Fest” t-shirt you brought.
That’s the idea behind the 3CMA National Conference T-Shirt Exchange, so make sure to put a few t-shirts from your favorite local event in your suitcase and bring them to Atlanta next week. When you arrive for registration, simply drop them off at the nearby “T-shirt Exchange” area, and then stop back during the conference and pick out something that catches your eye.
And remember…you don’t have to be Superman…just a 3CMA member…to truly appreciate the marketing magic of a great t-shirt. Plus, the small fee goes towards 3CMA – a great cause!
Rosemary Taylor, Communications Manager, City of Johns Creek, GA
- Johns Creek Founders Day t-shirt up for grabs!
Welcome For First-Timers
It looks like we have about 30 first-timers attending the upcoming conference. We want to welcome you to Atlanta. Gina Snider, Public Information Officer for the City of Newnan, GA remembers her first time and shares some helpful hints here:
The Welcome for First Timers, at 12:05 on Wednesday, Sept. 8, is our way of saying hello and making you feel like you are a part of something fun and exciting! I remember my first time to 3CMA back a few years ago in Kansas City. The Welcome let me see there were a lot of “newbies.” It made me feel better knowing I was not the only one!
You get to introduce yourself to other PIOs that are in the same boat as you. It lets you know what to expect during the conference and who to ask if you have questions. Most importantly, it lets you see faces that will become familiar throughout the week.
It is all about networking and learning, so go and have fun with it. See you in Atlanta!
Gina Snider, City of Newnan, GA
