ASAE addresses UnTech 10

By Joan Drammeh

UnTech 10, the unofficial conference that was held when the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) canceled its 2010 Technology Conference & Expo due to a blizzard in Washington, D.C., was a grassroots effort that attracted 500 total attendees — 75 in person and 457 via Webcast. Although the ASAE had no official involvement with the unconference, the association was pleased with the results.

“It’s one of those organic, spontaneous happenings that worked to the benefit of those that could participate,” says John H. Graham, president and CEO of ASAE and The Center. “UnTech 10 was free and hopefully people learned and got something out of it.”

Insurance was one of the major factors prohibiting the ASAE from participating in or sanctioning the unconference but, the main reason the association didn’t have any involvement was control.

“We didn’t want to be responsible for something that we were not going to be able to manage or control,” says Graham. “It was being done by third-party vendors who happened to be there because they were already onsite for the meeting. The people who participated were happy with it because of the nature of the event. I think they would not have had that experience if we had walked in and said we’re going to take this over.”

In the wake of snowmageddon, Graham says there are things the ASAE could have done better. “Having a game plan for after the cancellation is something that we could have thought through more carefully. But I’ve been in this business almost 40 years and I’ve never canceled a meeting like this. It’s not something that happens very often.”