It's about time

I thought it was about time I got my blog up and running. It was meeting up with my great friend Angie Konrad yesterday that was the trigger. She showed me her blog and told me how all sorts of people had been mentioning it to her. So I am going to forget my initial worry about typo's and spelling - which my chief proof reader and dear partner John will tell you is very poor - and get going.

I am busy now trying to find a venue for the next '100 Great Ideas for Member Recruitment & Retention' day in September. Mark Levin, the US guru is coming over and we will be sharing the platform together which is very exciting. I am also planning two more - one on generating revenue and another on how associations can make the most of IT to enhance the membership experience. (I have a strong interest in the Internet because I was involved in marketing the Internet back in the early 90's when most people had not heard of it. It has been fascinating watching it develop.)

This week I have also finished putting the finishing touches to a membership benchmarking survey. It will be great to have some meaningful UK statistics to talk about. I did however have to trim it back - I developed far too many questions - so will have to stagger its release and am planning more detailed surveys once the initial one gets going.

I had a really great Sunday last weekend. My sister Shirley and friend Jane entered our second relay triathlon in Nantwich up in Cheshire. I started off with a 500 m swim, then Jane did a 20km bike ride and my sister finished off with a 5km jog. I was a great atmosphere - and I would highlighly recommend entering one. They are great fun, it is a wonderful atmosphere and it gives you something to aim for. My time was just slightly faster - 11 mins 59 secs - so that was good. The only downside is I get awful goggle marks around my eyes which take all day to disappear when I practice - so no training on days when I am delivering training!

Off to relax at the brine baths in Driotwich tomorrow - time to give myself a treat!