A Catholic Mom at #CMC12 – Catholic Media Conference
By - Posted on June 20, 2012
Lisa Hendey and Roxane Salonen
For the past few years, I’ve watched wistfully as Catholic communicators from around the country gathered to attend the Catholic Press Association’s annual Catholic Media Conference. This year, I decided to take the plunge and find the funding to make attending a reality. I traveled cross country to Indianapolis and with a head spinning full of ideas, jumped in to the mix.
I’ll be honest. Sometimes, as a blogger, attending meetings like this one can be slightly intimidating. The attendees at this event range from Archbishops to Diocesan Directors of Communication. The bring a combined experience level and passion for their work that is both inspiring and infectious. But the truth is, the more time I spend working in the New Evangelization, the more I’m convicted that not only should we bloggers, podcasters, and social media enthusiasts use our tools to communicate the faith, but that we should do so with as professional an attitude as possible. So unlike most conferences I’m lucky enough to attend these days as a speaker, I am here primarily as a learner.
One of the early and likely most memorable joys of my time here so far has been spending time with my friend and fellow blogger Roxane Salonen, who has been a wonderful contributor here at CatholicMom.com. Roxane recently assumed responsibilities as the new Communications Director in her home Diocese of Fargo. We are sharing a room here, and comparing notes as both of us scramble to take in every last ounce of information we can find to help us in the important tasks God has laid before us. Last night we had a chance to meet and giggle and swap stories in person, to pray together, and to encourage one another after an online friendship that has been built over the past several years.
Also exciting was the chance I had to connect with the amazing trio of Brandon Vogt (The Church and New Media), Matthew Warner (flockNote.com) and Josh Simmons (eCatholic), who are here doing a day-long seminar on New Media. Not only are these guys my friends, they astound me with their passion and creativity and they are my colleagues on a daily basis. We may live and work in far flung cities, but we connect regularly to support, encourage and communicate with one another about how New Media technologies can be employed to share the Good News of the Gospel. Time spent with them in person not only fuels me creatively, but also re-convicts me about the higher standards I need to set for my work.
I hope to carve out a few moments of time to share more of this experience with you over the next few days. In the mean time, please pray for those of us who are here worshipping, working (and yes, playing a bit too) together. May our efforts be pleasing to God and fruitful in drawing others closer to Him too.
Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Hendey
You spoke right to my fears…intimidation. This was great to read and I am so happy that you are there!
I hope to go someday. Thanks for sharing. Love seeing all your tweets.
Oh, Lisa, wish I were there too! My editor asked awhile back if I wanted to go along with him and others from the Post, but I am teaching at a local “College for Kids” these couple of weeks and had to sadly decline.
I did, however, counter-propose that I could attend the CNMC in Dallas in August. It will be my first and I feel intimidated already for the new media crowd there!
Keep us updated on all the happenings.
Yay, Nancy! Looking forward to seeing you again at the CNMC!
Me too, Lisa!
Lisa, so glad you were able to make the trip and are now enjoying yourself! Looking forward to reading more updates. Godspeed!
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time!
It sounds like a wonderful conference! Although, it is tough to imagine you being intimidated. After all, you are such an inspiration to so many of us bloggers! The updates on twitter wonderfully allow us at home to follow along with all the great things happening in IN. The CNMC in Dallas can’t come soon enough. Have safe travels!
Dear Lisa, I am so glad Google Alerts alerted me that you’d mention our adventure together in your post, which I missed the first time because I was so busy having fun with you and the others! What a phenomenal time, and I just have to say, you definitely had a place at that conference. Of that I have no doubt. The chance to hang with you in person and, yes, even lose a few things in your presence (hey, we both got a chance to show one another a stressful moment of lost items) is something I am going to take with me as a highlight of summer 2012, perhaps the year 2012. Thank you so much for sharing with me the truth of who you are, which is one amazing person and friend.
Hi Lisa!
I really enjoyed your talk yesterday at the CMC! I was wondering if you could point me to a link to where I could download that Daily Social Media Engagement Worksheet? I wanted to work on it on the plane ride home later today!
Thanks!
Tracy
Tracy thanks for your kind words! I am working on a more generic version of that form and will have it uploaded here at the site tonight, along with the youtube video. Sorry for the delay but the one I shared with you was branded and I am having a hard time finding the original source. Appreciate your patience. Safe travels home!