SIM Vision: To be recognized as the community that is most preferred by IT leaders for delivering
vital knowledge that creates business value and enables personal development.
SIM Mission: SIM is an association of senior IT executives, prominent academicians, selected
consultants, and other IT thought leaders built on the foundation of local chapters, who come
together to share and enhance their rich intellectual capital for the benefit of its members and their
organizations.
SIM AZ Marketing Committee Meeting Minutes
IT Partners office at 6939 South Harl Avenue, Tempe AZ 85283
Friday, June 17th, 2011 7:30 AM
1. Attendees were Deborah D, John Hurley, Bob Lindquist and Joe Larntz
2. Discussed functionality of LinkedIn for SIMAZ communications.
The survey function may need to be supplemented with Survey Monkey or Constant Contact.
Either application can have a link on the SIM AZ Group site within LinkedIn.
The plan is for a September formal release of LinkedIn as a communication channel. A one
page primer with one or two sentences addressing each type of functionality will be created
prior to the September SIM AZ meeting. Also, the marketing research study being prepared
will ask for LinkedIn ambassadors to monitor LinkedIn. Two or three would be optimal and
Board member involvement would be beneficial. Ambassadors would monitor comments
and drive thought leadership.
Deborah will check with Michael Sperling on the September meeting being sponsored by
InfoSol regarding leftover funds. These could be used to provide SIM members with an
electronic book on LinkedIn to supplement the primer.
Group rules need to be created for SIM AZ and can be copied from another LinkedIn group.
What are the top 10 rules used by other groups? Events for other organizations can be entered
under “Events” in LinkedIn with any promo codes needed. Deborah will check with Kevin
to enter the events provided at the June SIM AZ meeting.
3. Review of New Member On-Boarding Process gaps and next steps
Deborah will add information regarding VP of Membership ability to decline membership for
non-qualified applicants without Board review and the addition of a Mentor and current member
assignment for new members. The member packet will also be noted as electronic. Need to
create email membership packet for distribution to new members. Joe Larntz will create a Visio
flow diagram of the process. Each member will be assigned a mentor from the Board and
introduction to two other SIM members through LinkedIn. Deborah will contact Board regarding
mentoring. The Marketing Research Study will request members to volunteer participation in
welcoming and assisting new members to the organization.
4. Reviewed Marketing Research Study (survey). The Constant Contact member list does not
contain all members. We need a list from the VP of Membership containing email addresses to
research members missing from the list. Deborah will contact Brian for a list. Joe is modifying
the research study with feedback from the marketing committee and will incorporate with an
introduction and provide a copy for Board review prior to sending out to members.
5. itSMF Summit in October – The Board would prefer to not purchase a Silver or Bronze exhibitor
package for the summit but wait for availability of a free table for SIM AZ marketing. The
marketing committee has concerns about the perception of SIM AZ by C-level executives and
the possible damage to the organization reputation. Are we providing value to the organization
by not actively participating with other organizations? The marketing plan will be submitted to
the Board in June with discussion regarding the marketing budget. There will be proposals
included on funding options.
6. The marketing committee will provide final feedback on the 2011 Marketing Plan next week.
7. Action items:
Deborah
 Contact Brian Knapp for membership list with email addresses.
 Draft primer for LinkedIn functionality.
 Submit Marketing Plan to the Board with a letter requesting feedback on funding
propositions and target membership based on demographics.
 Discuss September sponsorship with Michael Sperling to see if there will be unused
funds that could be reallocated for the purchase of LinkedIn functionality electronic
books for members.
 Contact Kevin Sauer to enter other group events into LinkedIn using Events functionality
 Interview Dustin Fennel for June newsletter.
 Update new member on-boarding process with discussed changes.
Joe


John

Compare membership list with Constant Contact list and request missing member
information from Brian Knapp.
Complete marketing research study with any additional input needed from committee.
Will provide final feedback on Marketing Plan.
To be completed:
 Create group rules for the SIM AZ group
 Prepare New Member electronic packet content
o Welcome letter
o Upcoming Program Schedule
o Standard form to enter assigned board mentor name and contact information and
two members and contact information to welcome new member.
8. Next Marketing Committee meeting
Friday, July 15th or 22nd at 7:30 am by conference call
Thanks, everyone!