Pulse Legacy Archive March / April 2012

end notes FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! @LynneMcNees Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. Pinterest. Email. SMS. Voicemail. PHOTO © TIFFANY BROWN S top the madness—how are we supposed to juggle all of the new and “improved” ways to communicate? Is all this technology really making us more efficient—or more socially connected? Years ago, when I established my Facebook account, it was to connect with friends I have not seen or heard from. Very quickly I found lost high school and college friends, it was fun—for a while… It did not take long for my accounts to become blended and intertwined with all my colleagues and business friends—which is another element of being connected 24/7. Is there ever a time we can truly unplug? One thing is for certain, the ever-changing web will continue to bring us new ways to connect, interact and share. As we try to manage the deluge of new communication tools and platforms, it is important to focus on what medium works best for us and our audience. Before I jump on to the next big thing, I must ask myself if I really need to be there. Perhaps my time is better spent focusing on improving the communication outreach that is already in place. Don’t get me wrong—a variety of ways to consume and share information is a good thing. Blog, Bookmark, Flickr, Digg, Foursquare, Instagram and Google+ to your heart’s content. In fact, ISPA provides a variety of ways for our members and prospective members to obtain and share relevant content based on personal preference. What is important though is to be mindful of what is meaningful amidst the noise. Scrambling to jump on every new social media platform without a plan may leave you with too little time to communicate effectively with your audience in a truly meaningful way. Let’s embrace the new tools available to us thoughtfully while we challenge each other to find ways to unplug—now, wouldn’t that catch your “Pinterest”? Healthy blessings, —LYNNE McNEES, ISPA PRESIDENT P.S. The latest American Disability Act (ADA) compliance regulations may soon impact your spa as it is expected to take effect on March 15, 2012. Be sure to visit experienceispa.com to learn more about the compliance regulations. 64 PULSE ■ March/April 2012

Pulse Legacy Archive March / April 2012 | Page 66