Barcamp Orlando 08 IZEA Geek Out After Party
So I went to the IZEA after party in the same office building that I had almost purchased a 1,000 square foot shell of an office that was only going to cost $200,000.00 at the time. (Which by the way was a STEAL, but the $500. a month condo dues and $100.00 per month per employee parking fees kept me out of downtown Orlando.)
At the door I met Tara Lamberson who is the VP of Marketing for MindComet and girlfriend of Ted Murphy (MindComet, PayPerPost, IZEA). She was handing out a business card that a web address for a site called FloridasBigSecret.com. At that time Pete Wright jumped in and told her that I was the guy that was talking about a Tech Association. She told me that they were starting an Interactive Marketing Association. I told her that I gave a presentation on the idea of a Tech Association and that I was only a Tech in the community involved, so I look towards the door and I see Ryan Price from Florida Creative’s walking in and I tell her that Ryan is also involved in the tech community and has another entity with such interest. I flag him over and introduce him to her. (Now, at this point of my whole “We Need a Tech Association” campaign, I still considered Ryan more of the enemy then a member. I knew I had the opportunity to get him involved and choose too; since I knew he had good intentions and not inviting him over would have been the type of business I was not interested in conducting).
We go off to talk some more and get drinks and find ourselves with her most of the night. During the conversation Tara was kind of talking out loud and throwing ideas around and telling me that it would not be a bad idea to be a tech association rather than an Interactive Marketing Association. While waiting for our drinks I found myself asking a question that came off a little rude, I did not mean to challenge her but more or less was trying to discuss the forming of the entity.
I asked her if she had been to Barcamp, user groups, Meetups, or any other tech associations. She said she had not and I had never seen her in any other Chamber events or around at any of the other many business social gatherings in town. Which to their defense, I am sure they do, they just travel in different circles then I do. I know for a fact that their techs do. (Many of my posts talk about running into Larry) So the question I asked was “How can you form a Tech association when you have not been to any of our events?” (Meaning Tara) Ryan was shocked that I had asked the question and made a comment on how I put it out there. Tara responded well and knew that I was not trying to attack her but more or less pose badly delivered question.
Later in the evening when Ryan decided to move on, we talked some more about how she was in the process of forming the board and actually had a meeting with a person on the upcoming Thursday. She even invited me (when the invitation was not extended after a later post by Robert Dempsey, thanks ROB! Just Kidding), and I told her that we should have meetings to get the other techs involved. During these conversations of a NOW Tech Association NOT an Interactive Marketing Association, she told me that she has gotten everything from the Interactive Marketing Association and we could use it as a guide to setup the Tech Association. Honestly, I thought this was great! We had a legal blue print in way. (Sorry Interactive Marketing Association) I told her that I wanted to make it clear that I did not want to be a President or anything. Just help to facilitate the creation of the organization. She said “Well I do!”. Then I realized what we were doing. We were creating an organization from the Top Down. This is typical and is how most associations would be set up. People with the time, money and statue have the drive to do it. I told her that I feel that we did not have the experience for this type of thing and I would rather see a panel that would interview someone to take on that job full time.
The conversation went on and I eventually moved on knowing that we were both missing out on other connections at the party.
I want to make it clear that I did not think the Tara was trying to take over the Association or plan it so that her organizations had control. I just felt that it was heading that way and if people did not get involved to help steer it then the only people that take action were forced to lead it.
Once again, I went home excited and full of passion for the possible creation of a Tech Association in Central Florida.
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