Talk to the Hand - Page 2

[Marshall]

Having been passed over several times myself, might I suggest waiting to see if a similar proposal by someone else was approved. Then you can bemoan the Committee's choice of presenter, instead.

[zin1953]

Yep. Specialty coffee is nothing like wine, cars, theater & movies, restaurants, music, Scotch, bourbon, beer, or barbecue. It doesn't depend one bit on enthusiasts. It can get by supplying the coffee for the early bird specials at Florida dinner theaters.

Oooooh, cold . . .

(Didn't know Florida dinner theaters actually served coffee. Doesn't it keep them awake? Maybe it's cold-brewed toddy coffee . . . decaf.)

[zin1953]

SCAA to Dan:

Dan:

[John P]

In a world where web based marketing is becoming the norm, it would take much convincing to show this was a rational decision. Maybe Dan needs to show a little more leg next time.

[Marshall]

Dan, I just went back through the 2008 and 2007 brochures to see if they included any similar presentations. I found this from the 2007 Long Beach program:

Educational Sessions / Established Retailer Pathway /
Web Marketing: Creating and Utilizing an On-Line Identity

Saturday, May 5, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Room: 201 A
Presenters:
Chuck Elsholz - Alterra Coffee Roasters

Description:
The importance of using the Internet to communicate with the consumer is increasing every day. This presentation offers some insight and an experienced perspective to anyone who is looking into or already developing a Web site.

Chuck Elsholz. As the website manager for Alterra Coffee Roasters in Milwaukee, Chuck Elsholz maintains, promotes and administrates their website and web-based communications. New to the coffee community, his first experience with the SCAA was in 2006. From copy writing for the web, administrating a blog and wiki and optimizing Alterra's web presence, to manipulating art for online use, creating online forms and writing code for the site, Chuck has touched on many of the areas that any aspiring web entrepreneur will eventually deal with.

If you are curious about what Chuck said, you can download the audio here: http://www.allstartapes.com/conferences/conference_1113.shtml.

[HB]

Thanks Marshall, I will listen to Chuck's presentation when I have a free moment.

Your reference piqued my curiosity, so I checked out Alterra's website. They are very sharp looking! However, ironically, it includes rookie search engine mistakes that would qualify them for the "don'ts" examples I promised to present for my second session. In Chuck's defense, his presentation description did not specifically call out search engine optimization, which may be too technical for the run of the mill SCAA attendee.

[Marshall]

Just got back from the SCAA Strategic Planning meeting (2 full days with Board members and committee leaders in Long Beach). The 2009 "Conference" (now "Symposium and Exhibition") will be very different. I can't go into details, but the usual 150 or so presentations have been greatly reduced and will be included at no extra cost to exhibition hall visitors on the weekend. This will address the frequent complaint that full registration is too expensive for mom and pop store owners. It will also explain why so few proposals were accepted.

The three days before that will be devoted to advanced symposia designed for company leaders, with the speakers chosen by specific invitation by SCAA.