Here’s a sneak preview of the innovative
REAL Rally, which will set the pace
for the 2009 NSA Annual Convention.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
old on tight, folks: July 19, 2009, will on the innovative, the forward thinking, the
be anything but your average lazy potentially groundbreaking, and it’s magical
Sunday drive. Playing off the rapid- to see how much content you can bring in 18
fire format of the renowned TED minutes,” Michel says. “That’s the same chal-
Conference, the NSA Convention’s lenge we’ve put to our panel, all of whom get
first-ever REAL (Real Education and Learning) 15 to 18 minutes. In the age of You Tube and
Rally will feature nine speakers and nine Twitter, there’s a premium on speed and rel-
diverse perspectives in four hours, in lieu of evance for our audiences. You don’t get the
the general session’s customary dual keynotes. luxury of a big buildup or drawn-out history—
“We were looking for new ways to deliver you need to jump right in.”
relevant content at the convention, so the idea To ensure adherence to the time frame, a
of doing a TED-style format was intriguing,” giant counter will be positioned in plain view
says Convention Chair Sarah Michel, CSP. of the audience and the speaker, and emcees
“Particularly with the economic times that Ed Tate, CSP, and Vanna Novak will give brief,
we’re in, we felt a tremendous responsibility one-minute intros between speeches.
to deliver measurable return on investment.” After the REAL Rally, a networking lunch
Why emulate TED? For 25 years, the will solidify the morning’s messages. “Unlike
TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) the usual format, there are no presenters or
Conference has brought together the world’s program; it’s all about making connections
most fascinating thinkers and doers, who and relationships,” Michel says. “It will give
are challenged to give the talk of their lives people an opportunity to put some of Keith
in 18 minutes—to an audience limited to Ferrazzi’s connection strategies into play.”
a thousand people who’ve paid $6,000 per To underscore the information presented in
ticket. Invited presenters at the three-day David Nour’s Rally talk, sessions focusing on
2009 TED included Bill Gates, who notori- social media and marketing concepts will be
ously released a container of mosquitoes into sprinkled throughout the Convention.
the room to illustrate a point about malaria, Michel notes that the overall format reflects
while NSA member Joachim de Posada, a desire for NSA to mix things up a bit and to
Ph.D., spoke about the Marshmallow provide more opportunities for members to
Principle, which defines the relationship of connect and collaborate. “We have a role in
success and delayed gratification. helping the economy—we are the ones who
The REAL Rally, which will kick off at 8: 30 make meetings successful,” she says. “Our
a.m., is designed to create a similar crucible hope is to have people come out of a session
for ideas within the NSA audience by present- and start mindmapping and brainstorming, so By Jake Poinier
ing speakers with nine wildly different styles that they’re ready to implement ideas when
of platform skills. “TED is always focused they return home.”
