Network and resources for meeting planners.
Another career I never knew existed. I just assumed whoever needed the meeting did the running around and elbow grease part. I guess you can hire someone to do anything, if you stop and look.
3M has a site with meeting resources too. Cartoons too.
International Association of Facilitators.
Facilitation is a profession rapidly taking its unique place alongside those of consulting and training. The International Association of Facilitators was formed by a group of professionals desiring an avenue for interchange, professional development, trend analysis and peer networking. A formal association was proposed and adopted at a networking conference in Alexandria, Virginia, in January, 1994. More than 70 people signed on as charter members. Since then, the IAF has grown to over 1300 members in more than 20 countries.
The IAF encourages and supports the formation of local groups of facilitators to network and provide professional development opportunities for their members. Regional groups from around the world are invited to become affiliated with the IAF to help promote the profession of facilitation as a critical set of skills in the global society of the 21st century.
Translation: Facilitators are the ones who plan the meetings. This is their clubhouse.
The Facilitator, published by Susan Nurre, is a newsletter for facilitators. A very nice site, with articles and lots of links to groups, including some in Canada.
Planners Web This really is a neat site. Anyone in any kind of planning business should park here awhile.
So, for those keeping track… there are self-employed careers for women as virtual assistants, life coaches, event planners, organizers and now meeting planners (facilitators) too. No doubt there are others. I’m looking forward to stumbling upon them. 🙂 True, I could actually seek them out but that would spoil the suspense and the feeling of finding a lost treasure at the thrift store.