R&D: What does it mean in your organization?

There are certain terms that businesspeople tend to throw around a lot. Terms that don’t really mean anything if you really think about:

“Synergy”
“Aha Moment”
“Paradigm”
“Thought leader”
“Strategic partnership”

Another one you hear a lot is “R&D”. It’s usually a generic term that I dislike, but we have been using it a lot around our office lately – not to mean research & development, but to mean something else: Rip off & Duplicate.

Now before you go calling a copyright lawyer on me, let me explain. This version of R&D is how the non-profit world works. There are no new ideas in non-profit organizations. Ideas are circulated around, finessed, finagled, and made to work for each different organization. These people have been recycled and recreating ideas, projects, and events for years.

I’ve been working on getting my “IOM” certification for several years. It’s a certification that doesn’t mean much to most businesses, but for Chambers of Commerce, it’s the Institute for Organization Management, and it’s kind of a big deal. Every year for 4 years, I spend a week at the Midwest site, which happens to be in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin, with a class of about 30 other Chamber and Association professionals from all over the country. It’s a chance for us to share ideas, learn from one another, and gain knowledge to bring back to YOU, our members.

I have made some great connections through Institute, and I’m looking forward to returning this year for my 4^th and final year. But the best part of Institute has been the emails that our class circulates the other 51 weeks out of the year. We ask questions of each other; we ask for feedback; we share successes and commiserate losses. Ideas get tossed around, and everyone weighs in on what they have done that worked and what didn’t work for them. When our staff first started talking about putting on Savor the Flavor of Waukesha County last year, I went to this group of friends and colleagues and I got some great suggestions, feedback and advice.

I’m attending an event in a couple of weeks that another large Chamber of Commerce in the area is presenting. I called their events manager to make sure it was ok with her. Her answer: “Of course! You know you never have to ask to attend any of our events!” The event they are doing is one that I’ve considered presenting for our members, but I want to see how they do it first. She even told me that if I want to get together with her afterwards, she would love to sit down with me and talk about what has worked for them in the past.

Her attitude really encouraged me. She knows that I’m coming to check it out and see if it would work for our members. Even though we have a lot of mutual members, she welcomed me, knowing that there are no new ideas in this field.

What about in your field? Do you work for an organization that is the trendsetter, constantly coming up with brand new ideas and new ways of doing things?

Not to be critical, but I kind of doubt it… I would be willing to bet that you do your own version of R&D every day!!

_______________________________________


PS – I mentioned Savor the Flavor of Waukesha County. There are still tickets available, but they are going fast! Don’t miss out on this food tasting event, unique to Waukesha County (but not completely unique!) Click here to see the participating food vendors and sponsors, as well as to buy your tickets!

Also: Visit www.unsuck-it.com to learn ways to get rid of that pesky business jargon!)

Once upon a time…

Post written by Carolyn Hahn, Director of Events & Public Relations for the Waukesha County Business Alliance. Carolyn also serves as head story-teller at the Alliance office. Read more to learn about how she earned that title.

Once upon a time in Waukesha County, the Chamber held a big fancy black-tie ball every year. It was known as the Mardi Gras Ball, and all the princes and princesses (and businesspeople) throughout Waukesha County would attend. It was a wonderful occasion to get dressed up in a tuxedo and a fancy gown and spend the evening hobnobbing with the other princes and princesses (and businesspeople) in Waukesha County. The food was delicious, the decorations were exquisite, and the networking was plentiful.

The event was a fundraiser for the Chamber. It gave the budget a boost so they could continue offering all the programs and events that the princes and princesses (and businesspeople) had come to know and love. Companies and organizations of all sizes throughout Waukesha County sponsored the event and purchased tickets for their employees and colleagues to attend. Hundreds of people turned out for such a wonderful affair, and always bought lots and lots of raffle tickets for fabulous prizes.

Eventually the Chamber saw the need to mix it up a little. They moved away from the Mardi Gras theme, and instead chose to feature a different country each year. Greece, Italy and Ireland were showcased, and the Chamber even gave away a trip to Italy as a raffle prize one year! The location changed periodically, but at its core, the event remained the “who’s who” of Waukesha County.

In 2008, princes and princesses (and businesspeople) were cutting back and saving dollars, and the Chamber, ever striving to meet the needs of their princes and princesses (and businesspeople), decided not to hold the black-tie ball. The princes and princesses (and businesspeople) were eternally grateful to the Chamber, but expressed a deep sadness that they didn’t have the opportunity to spend an evening hobnobbing with the other princes and princesses (and businesspeople) in Waukesha County. They missed the delicious food, the exquisite decorations, and the plentiful networking.

During that time, the Chamber also went through a change and became the Alliance. The Alliance, responding to the wishes of its princes and princesses (and businesspeople), created a new event, now known to all as Savor the Flavor of Waukesha County. The princes and princesses (and businesspeople) rejoiced, thanking the Alliance for providing such a wonderful opportunity that better met their changing needs.

Savor the Flavor of Waukesha County provides a chance for the princes and princesses (and businesspeople) to get dressed up (in cocktail attire, not black-tie), sample delicious food from member restaurants throughout Waukesha County, admire exquisite decorations, and continue networking with other princes and princesses (and businesspeople). They sample, taste and enjoy foods from restaurants they have never tried before, relax and enjoy an evening out on the town, and buy raffle tickets for amazing prizes, all while supporting the Alliance.

Savor the Flavor of Waukesha County will return to Waukesha County on Saturday May 21, 2011. At Merrill Hills Country Club from 7:00-10:00pm, princes and princesses (and businesspeople) can enjoy the company of others, make new connections, and taste their way through some of Waukesha County’s finest restaurants.

The Alliance hopes to see all of the princes and princesses (and businesspeople) of Waukesha County there!

And they all lived happily ever after. The end.

_______________________________________

As a prince, princess or businessperson, I hope you will attend Savor the Flavor of Waukesha County! Click HERE to purchase tickets.

If your organization is interested in sponsoring the event, please contact me at chahn@waukesha.org.