Here in Atlantic Canada we have had several associations and networking groups come and go. The latest iteration is a Social Media Meetup. This group is bringing in people from several fields, such as training, IT, marketing and Web 2.0. I think that the future is bright for associations that decide to collaborate to compete. Join one association but attend meetings of other associations. Cross-pollination is the norm in a networked world. My advice to ISPI is stay true to the research but embrace other groups and work together, before you become irrelevant to the connected knowledge worker.

Like you, I get much of my professional development through my blog and other social media.

I can be very analytical, and so ISPI’s focus on data and on research appealed to me. I had the good luck to attend, very early on, a workshop on programmed learning that had been designed in part by Geary Rummler and Dale Brethower. Some time later, I learned job aid design, front-end analysis, and instructional design principles from Joe Harless.

The local chapter had hundreds of members, and provided me a way to learn from and share with people who at least in theory valued a similar, how-do-you-know approach.

I absolutely believe that in-person exchange is potentially the richest venue… but I also know it’s nearly impossible to make that happen when you’d like.

This relatively new mode of engaging with others isn’t foolproof, as you know. Clay Shirkey made that point in one of his talks: we’re in early stages, trying things out, seeing what works and what doesn’t.