
 ==============
 DIRECT CONNECT
 ==============

 THE MEETING WORKS - ONLINE SERVICE FOR CONVENTION PLANNERS
 ----------------------------------------------------------

Adult education has taken on a new meaning in the past few years. Basically,
people have begun learning about new fields, technical techniques, and other
tips and tricks of their chosen profession by attending seminars and
conventions. A number of companies have sprung up that do nothing but take a
traveling road show to different cities to demonstrate everything from TCP/IP
to how to sell air conditioners. Corporations often have entire in-house
meeting planning staffs. And yes, many computer magazines are now offering
their own meetings, conventions, trade shows, etc. We ourselves have rather
accidentally wound up in the convention business with the Online Networking
Exposition and BBS Convention.

Given the typically pricey registration for such two or three day educational
seminars - often priced between $800 and $1500 just for registration, you
would think they would go begging. Apparently not. For many of the popular
seminars, you either sign up early or don't get in. In many fields, this is
where the ongoing education is happening, and Universities are in general
woefully behind in offering up to date information.

John Mackenzie has not only noted the phenomenon of meetings, seminars, and
conventions, but he's put up a BBS titled THE MEETING WORKS at (212)737-6932
devoted to the esoterica involved in putting one on. The system is quite
colorfully done using Galacticomm's MAJOR BBS software.

According to Mackenzie, "The hospitality and airline industries do a fine job
of telling people where to hold meetings and how to get to them. But this
doesn't help those who give bad presentations in beautiful rooms after they
arrive. And, during these days of job elimination, meeting quality can be far
more crucial for the future of those who give them than those who come to
them. The Meeting Works goes beyond pools, palm trees and room rates to give
sales and association executives combat-tested information on improving
concepts and content before room lights go down, or exhibits go up."

The Meeting Works presently covers eleven areas:

 1) Sales meeting outlines and ideas
 2) Generic scripts and meeting modules
 3) Meeting themes
 4) Room survey and setup suggestions
 5) Tech tips on staging and equipment
 6) Exhibit case histories
 7) Sales and training seminar situations
 8) A writers showcase and idea bank
 9) Association meeting methods
 10) Sales awards and incentives, and
 11) A forum on interactive group decision systems.

Most of the files available online in categories 1, 2 and 3 can be modified
easily to meet different product and presentation needs.

A classified ad section sells space to meeting facilities and services, while
questionnaires poll buyer opinions. User feedback reports are available to
those placing ads. Writers and designers earn free time on The Meeting Works
by uploading copyrighted samples as showcase demos for potential clients.
Live, special interest "keyboard conferences" are another subscriber feature.
Color graphics files, showing trade exhibit setups and meeting room layouts,
will soon be added.

Major meeting organizations have been invited to appoint subject authorities
to answer subscriber questions. Mackenzie hopes The Meeting Works will help
planners increase their value to management by expanding the range of
contributions they can make to meeting conduct and content. THE MEETING
WORKS, 957 Parke Avenue, New York, NY 10028; (212)737-8910 voice;
(212)737-6932 BBS

