ACPA wants us to Mingle


Posted by Eric Stoller on 08 Feb 2010 / 0 Comment


ACPA wants us to use a MingleStick at the Annual Convention in Boston in 2010

Slightly hidden, due to a minuscule font size, within the recent ACPA eCommunity email update was an interesting question: “Are You Ready To Mingle?” Intrigued, I read the rest of the “mingle” text:

Are You Ready To Mingle?
Engage in real life social networking at the Boston 2010 Annual Convention. This new and innovative technology enables attendees to simply ‘click to connect’ at the event and then share their online profiles after the event.

With over 4,500 ACPA members expected to attend the Annual Convention in Boston, the MingleStick may provide an interesting means for folks to exchange contact information. Instead of business cards, attendees can use the MingleStick to exchange electronic profiles. This is slightly similar to the iPhone Bump app. I predict that there will be a lot of digital mingling at ACPA.

The MingleStick plugs in via USB to your computer, uploads its data to the MingleStick website and allows you to browse your recent connections. An individual’s profile information is dependent on what they have included in their public MingleStick profile.

MingleStick digital mingling at ACPA Annual Convention in Boston 2010

I’m co-presenting a session titled “Wise and Connected – Demystifying Social Media for SSAOs and Directors.” I have a feeling that we will end up polling the room to see who is using a MingleStick and whether or not they are including their Facebook and Twitter accounts on their public MingleStick profiles.

What do you think? Will you engage in digital mingling at ACPA via a MingleStick?

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Written by Eric Stoller


  • http://www.garyalanmiller.info/ Gary Alan Miller

    I'm more of a Poken guy than a Mingle Stick guy. :) See: http://www.poken.com/

  • Deb Taub

    Where do these fine Mingle Sticks come from?

    • http://www.thesabloggers.org/ Student Affairs Collaborative

      We used Mingle Sticks at an APCA conference and the company (Mingle
      Stick) will give them out to the conference attendees for free (or
      built into conference cost), and then they make the vendors pay for
      their sticks and stick accessories.

      The value of replacing business cards is great!

      My challenges with the idea are:

      1) You have to sign up to their website to add/grab data you exchange
      2) It used to not work with Mac Computers (that might have changed by
      now)
      3) It was yet another device to carry around

    • http://blog.swiftkickonline.com tomkrieglstein

      We used Mingle Sticks at an APCA conference and the company (Mingle
      Stick) will give them out to the conference attendees for free (or
      built into conference cost), and then they make the vendors pay for
      their sticks and stick accessories.

      The value of replacing business cards is great!

      My challenges with the idea are:

      1) You have to sign up to their website to add/grab data you exchange
      2) It used to not work with Mac Computers (that might have changed by
      now)
      3) It was yet another device to carry around

      • http://ericstoller.com/blog/ Eric Stoller

        According to the MingleStick website, the sticks are supposed to work on Macs (a huge consideration for me too).

        Also, ACPA is pre-selling the MingleSticks for $15 before the start of the conference. ACPA is getting some of the proceeds of the sale.

  • http://www.DelSuggs.com Del Suggs

    These Mingle Sticks were extremely well received at the Fall APCA Conferences. Students love gadgets, and there was a lot of networking going on between students, staff, and associates. It has a bit of a 'fun' factor for students, I think.

    Here's a quick video that pretty clearly shows the concept:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjCP89zitiY

    I was skeptical, but became a big fan when I saw them in action.

  • Carolyn Golz

    If I were attending ACPA, I would use Mingle Stick. And, I would include facebook and twitter profiles. But, since I'm not attending… I will, however, be attending NASPA. :)

  • http://www.minglestick.com/ Bradley Blinn

    Hi Eric, my name is Bradley, VP Marketing with Mingle360. Thanks for writing this blog post. I just wanted to drop a line and say hi. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at 703-425-0402 x511. I'm happy to answer any questions that you (or others) might have. If you want to contact me, our online form reaches me as well: http://www.mingle360.com/contact_us.html

    With the event in March, Mac compatibility should be available as well as the major tie ins to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, MySpace, etc.

    I am writing this comment from an AFLV (Association for Fraternal Leadership and Avalues) event in St. Louis, MO. Just wanted to say “hi” and thank you for the write-up.

    Mingle360 can work with a variety of organizations and event organizers for implementing our technology at an event or venue (per the comment by tomkrieglstein)

    Thanks again and perhaps we can touch base.

    Regards

    Bradley

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