Random Connections and Thoughts

Three conferences down. Two more to go this month. Good times. A few connections and thoughts while catching up on some blog reading:

Don't Tell the Donor was kind enough to blog about my blogging from the past few conferences, in particular the Team Approach User Forum. As long as I've got battery power and a wireless connection, then I'll continue to post entries from the conferences that I attend. It's not quite like actually being there, but the more information you can spread the better.

Get well wishes go out to Doc Searls, who reminds us to obey the warning signs. I got to know one of the original blogfathers when I first started blogging back in 2001. From time to time we'll share an email or a link or a laugh. His advice this time is as wise as usual.

Seth Godin reminds us that an inbound call is the ultimate in short-term permission. It's also another contact point with your organization that shouldn't be wasted. How much would your email file grow by asking for a caller's email address while you're on the phone with them? How many simple contact information mistakes could be corrected by taking a few seconds to review them with the caller?

Beth Kanter posts about some Facebook insights gleaned from a college student at the University of Tampa who is working on a class project. If the web subverts hierarchy, then social media also tries to subvert it on a whole new scale. People want to find a way to get away from organizations so that they can get closer to other people. Disintermediation has hit nearly every aspect of our lives. The fundraising world won't be an exception.