help me help you help us

The use for IdeaJam for Lotusphere Best Practices has warmly been received by the community. I've been actively pushing aspiring abstract writers to the site instead of replying with support and an at-a-boy via email, instant message, or at conference cocktail hour. However, we need more action there. The deadline for session submissions is this Friday and I am sure that we could be contributing more.

Please take the time to weigh in on and contribute to the LS09 BP IdeaSpace. It's available 24 hours, 7 days a week, but we need you there by Friday!

Where's your name?

Vote!

Best Practices: Freshen up!

Working with Best Practices this year, I am hoping to bring in some fresh sessions and faces to the track. So if you've got a session idea that hasn't been seen before, then submit it! If you are new to presenting at Lotusphere, then I'd like to meet you. Either way, do not be shy about the call for abstracts. I can't tell you how many times I've already been approached via Sametime and email about some great session ideas (points for guessing by who first) and my answer to all of them is, get them in! And keep reaching out if you have questions!

However, if your session idea is a rehash of something given at another conference or previous year, then you should seriously rethink it. Go get a bedazzler and add some flash to that tired copy and paste job. I'm not looking for the same old song and dance and would much rather have attendees blown away with flashy rhinestone studs from someone wearing a jean jacket that says, 'Fresh!', than bring back what's expected.

Keep in mind, this track and conference is for you. Please be sure to put in something to get the best out. Even if you are not planning to present, post what you would like to see on in the IdeaSpace and comment on what is there.

I'm hoping this year to have the Best Practices track be at its best ever. We're off to a strong start with your help and IdeaJam. Thanks to everyone that is participating there. Be sure to keep it up!

Adopting Social Software in the Enterprise

Join the Lotus Greenhouse in this webcast on how real companies adopting Social Software today. In this webcast, you will hear how organizations are deploying Lotus Connections and learn some best practices for getting started with your own deployment. The lessons learned from early adopters will help you plan your companies successful deployment of Lotus Connections. The webcast will be presented by Chris Lamb, Senior Offering Manager, Lotus Connections.

We've been quite busy with these webcasts be sure to catch up, if you missed out.

Lotus Greenhouse Webcasts

LS09BP + IJ = 4U

For the most part, I see the Best Practices track as 'for the people by the people'. This track has grown over the years to become one of the most popular at Lotusphere because it cover topics and has has content that is relevant to you. As Chris pointed out yesterday, people are starting to put their plans together for Lotusphere 2009 sessions and no doubt if you are reading this you have peeked at the site and and had a look at the abstract submission form and may have even put your sessions in.

This year, I am suggesting we get social about this. If you plan on submitting or attending a session in the Best Practices track, then please head over to IdeaJam and write up what you would like to present or see at Lotusphere. No need to have a professional title and full on abstract there, I'm thinking more just a topic and a little detail on it. I think it would be great for the community at large to lay down what is important for us and what we are expecting from the Best Practices track.

Now for some disclaimers:
- IdeaJam is not an IBM site and is provided by Elguji Software.
- Having a top rated idea does not guarantee acceptance for Lotusphere.
- Posting a session idea on IdeaJam is separate from submitting an abstract at the Lotusphere site.
- Bitching is never allowed.
- You don't own any of the posted ideas.

IdeaJam - LS09 Best Practices Sessions

Lotusphere 2009 Best Practices

As Rocky posted yesterday, I am jumping in as the track manager for the almighty Best Practices track at Lotusphere. I'll get more into that in a bit. At this point, I just wanted to say thanks to Rocky and the Lotus community. Over the years, I've watched this track become the best and most talked about at Lotusphere and can't wait to continue that growth. To do this we'll need your help, so be sure to stay tuned and get ready!

read more: A track is born.