I was in New York last week to meet with PR, advertising and marketing agencies interested in ICUC Moderation Services. In total I did eight capabilities presentations and I’m very pleased with the reception I received and I’m looking forward to working with some great agencies on some exciting new projects.

I got to town late Wednesday night for meetings on Thursday and Friday. The first evening and most of the second was spent putting proposals together and planning the next day’s events.

This video was shot the second night when I was able to put the work down for a couple hours and take the deck out for a ride sometime around 9pm. I skated over to the UN building past the Chrysler building and then took a cab down to the Brooklyn Bridge. I skated down through the financial district to get a view of the Statue of Liberty. Much to my surprise there were fireworks on Liberty Island - this was a pretty righteous bonus.

From there I headed back North by ground zero and through Greenwich Village by the famous White Horse Tavern and eventually back up to the Empire State Building - where I was told to beat it - and finally on to Times Square.

I had fun shooting this, amazingly the camera was never stolen as I had to leave it alone a few times. Good thing it’s small I could hide it in bushes and under garbage.

I hope this makes you smile, maybe even laugh. Have a great Monday. :)

I’m back on the road so it seems like the perfect time to reflect on the past two weeks of solid Toronto time. I made some friends, met a lot of interesting people and had some very unique to Toronto experiences.

I’m a social person so I generally like running into friends wherever they may be. Out here friends are few and far between so what’s been great has been being lucky enough to run into people I’ve met through business. I’ve ran into more than one client of ours on public transportation - I’ve been told this is common in the downtown Toronto area. It’s a great feeling to see a familiar face. I’ve also run into people  on the side walk who I’ve been making efforts to speak with - those chance meetings are very valuable and just won’t happen in Winnipeg.

Living here has been easy, spreading the word of ICUC Moderation Services has definitely been a challenge. Talking about what ICUC does and the value of our services is an easy conversation to have because the value is easy to see – getting people to sit down and have that talk is where the challenge exists.

My job has been just as much about educating and informing as it has been about selling. We are in a unique space where our core competencies center around moderation when most people are talking monitoring – two very similar words with very different meanings and often used interchangeably incorrectly.  

When I’m out there sending emails, making calls and reaching out to those who work in social media I still come across, “we already have a monitoring solution” or “we don’t do monitoring yet”. I say, “that’s great, can we talk about moderation?”

To me it’s like being in a furniture store and saying to the salesman, “listen, stop showing me sofas - I already have a dishwasher.”

It’s a tough row to hoe but it’s getting better. It seems with every call I make and every day I spend talking about ICUC, our moderation service and our people powered solution the awareness grows.

The bottom line is I’m having fun and making progress and I get the sense most of ICUC – getting close to 150 of us by now – are having just as much fun as I am. 

I flew from Cincinnati down to Orlando to participate in the trade show aspect of this years NAA MediaXchange conference.

I arrived Friday afternoon and headed down to the Amway Arena to see the Magic and the Knicks play - the game was fun, I had a great conversation with the guy beside me as we watched the Magic run circles around the Knicks.

Saturday I meet up with Chuck Dueck - ICUC’s Director, News. Although I’ve talked to Chuck many times this was the first time I actually got to meet him in person. Not getting to meet your co-workers is an unfortunate side affect of an entirely virtual office.

Chuck use to race cars, something I did not know until I met him in Orlando. He invited me to come along to a dirt track an hour and a half North of Orlando for some racing on Saturday night. Initially I was hesitant to go along, mostly because of my own preconceptions about what happens at the track. In the end I did and was glad I went.

At the track I was really outside of my element. It was a new experience and I did not realize it would be as profound as it was. I found the racing to be entertaining but what I found more entertaining than the cars was watching the people watch the cars. It’s hard to explain, but if you ever get a chance to visit a dirt track on a Saturday night in northern Florida, I suggest you go - and then call me, I would love to hear about your experience.

The next day we visited a blues bar for supper, another great experience I was lucky to share with Chuck and his wife.

Monday the trade show started and went until Wednesday. It was interesting to see the various reactions of the people who stopped by the booth. From, “Why would I pay you to do that?” to “Thank God I found you. Please, please help.” Guess who of these two people generally had the larger online community.

Keith came down for a day to speak at the conference about the benefits of having user comments professionally moderated. His talk drove home the point of consistency: consistency in time the comments will be viewed, taken down, or responded too and consistency in moderation guidelines. All very important - if not the most important - things when news organizations are attempting to grow online communities and in turn online readership.

Wednesday the show ended mid afternoon and Chuck invited me to go for a drive with him and his wife down to the coast. I had never seen the Atlantic Ocean so I was more than willing to go along. It was beautiful and exhilarating and another moment I will remember for years to come.

The visit to Orlando was a success in many ways. ICUC has new business and many new contacts and an understanding of the MediaXchange event. And I have a much better understanding of our company, I have a much better understanding of the pain points of the news industry and I have two new friends where I use to have two distant co-workers.

What does ICUC see at NAA’s mediaXchange?

April 13th, 2010 (8:32am) Dustin Plett

As people passed the ICUC Moderation Services booth at mediaXchange yesterday afternoon I found myself imagining what a similar trade show would have looked like in the past. When traffic slowed I let my mind wander…

It was easy to imagine groups of men and woman standing in front of the latest printing press technologies and endless aisles of paper and ink suppliers. I imagined pens, pencils and pads of paper. I imagined typewriters and eventually micro-cassette recorders and finally digital recorders and computers and word processors. I imagined what this would have looked like only five years ago when the thought of putting content online for free seemed risque and ridiculous and no one except a few kids from Harvard College had ever heard of Facebook.

When I would snap back to reality I would see the people I had imagined, only a few years older, but instead of excitement there was a general sense of unease and trepidation. This is not the same universe that surrounded the print media world only a few years ago and everyone in attendance is keenly aware of this.

I watched as many people who have been in the journalism field for many years walked up and down aisles with blank looks as they passed booth after booth of tech solutions to help monetize everything from new content, to outsourced content, to re-purposed content. And software solutions that promised to add value to publications by supplying endless amounts on data on readership location, readership engagement and reader sentiments.

I felt sorry for the old guard who had made this the proud medium it is today and who now seemed to be on the outside looking in. And truth be told that time they remember, that simpler time, is something I envy a little.

However, that feeling of longing for a simpler time is always replaced by the excitement of what is happening before my eyes. News is reaching more people and becoming more accessible than ever before – that’s exciting. And I can appreciate when you take the tangibles out of an industry that hinged on a deliverable that was always held in two hands it does seem bizarre. But it doesn’t have to be scary.

For the new journalists and the men and woman entering this industry in a variety of capacities there is enthusiasm about being on the cusp of something new and grand. There is excitement in being a part of something – or a time – that will be looked back on as a revolutionary time for the industry.

ICUC Moderation Services is enjoying this ride and we love being a part of giving every single reader a voice. We invite all those attending this year’s mediaxchange event to join us in welcoming in this new era of truly social media. ICUC Moderation Services is a small piece of the puzzle but we can’t help but to think professional reader comment moderation is – and will continue to be – an integral part of any successful newspaper’s online property.

If you want to talk social media and find out how effective moderation can enhance your online properties consistency, value, and bottom line come find me at the ICUC Moderation Services booth on the trade show floor.

This is a short video showing everything I own (except the truck).This is 99 per cent of what’s going to make the trip to Toronto with me. In a way this is nice because it will make the move a lot easier but it another way it makes me wonder - have I made the best investments?

You might be asking yourself, but what of a dresser - the truth is I don’t have one. The one in the video is borrowed. And the bed, it was cut in half to get it into where it is now and is so uncomfortable it’s still questionable whether or not it will make the trek.

But I’m curious to know what you think. I think the total value of all my “stuff”, not counting my truck, is around $2,500 - what do you think. Is this wishful thinking? Not that possessions matter but if I had to list assets at this moment it would be a very short list.

Sorry for the radio silence the last few days. Life after surgery was a little rougher than I expected. But now with the day of departure finalized and the countdown on expect the traffic to be quiet busy. I have secured a road trip companion for the drive out to Toronto and have been in contact with a few different landlords and other plans such as what to pack and what to leave are taking shape. Expect updates and expect news! I’m excited and I hope I can somehow infuse you with some of that excitement.

Have a great night, I’ll be in touch soon!!

Before I go… I just got a text from a friend here in Winnipeg. It reads, “I’m going have to find 3 new friends to make for you once you leave.” I text back, “why 3?” He responds, “A serious man, a really funny man, and a dude willing to drive for 20 hours straight. I’m screwed.” That just made my day!

This is kinda fun. This is a video Jenette Martens and Lisa Rowson did as a class project in creative communications a few weeks back. This is the same Red River College program I graduated from last year.

I hope it makes you laugh a little!

Anyone who’s following my journey to Toronto on dustin2TO.com must have noticed it’s now March 1 and I’m still not in Toronto. I wrote about setbacks a few weeks back that would delay my leaving for a few weeks and today those setbacks were dealt with.

I needed some surgery to remove a couple lumps in my chest, not the most glamourous think to talk about but something my doctor felt needed to be dealt with before I left. I had surgery this morning at around 11am here in Winnipeg and it was a great success. I feel really good now, but that might have something to do with the T3s. The doctor removed about 1lb of material - sexy stuff?

To say I’m relieved would be an understatement. They will of course send off the tissue just to make sure it’s nothing worse but I know in my heart that it’s nothing anything more than I reminder to take better care of myself.

With this now out of the way I can say for certain I will be in Toronto in the next few weeks. I have two follow up appointments in the next two weeks and then I’m gone. I will begin packing as soon as I regain use of my arms for lifting. Until then let’s find a place to live. I’m serious Toronto, if you know of an apartment within walking distance of Liberty Village let me know - if I move in the free burger offer still stands.

And to everyone who sent me notes of support over the last 24 hours I appreciate. The excitement for Toronto has really been renewed by having this surgery put behind me. I’m smiling from ear to ear. Have a great night.

This video is of downtown Vancouver. It includes the Olympic cauldron, the Olympic rings and party central - Granville and Robson.

The mood was incredible, the atmosphere was happy, the random outbursts of the singing of O’Canada was inspiring. It was truly an incredible experience.

The time on the street where the crowd is the biggest near the end of the video is immediately after Canada’s victory over Russia in Olympic hockey.

This is a quick montage of the events so far on the way to Vancouver. This trip has become more than just a way to see my sister before I leave for Toronto, it’s become a last hurrah of sorts.

Jason and Will, the two guys on this trip are both friends of mine from college in Winnipeg. But now, the same thing that brought us together has lead to us going our separate ways. Because of my education through the program we were in together I got a job with ICUC Moderation Services and this has given me the opportunity to move and experience Toronto

We are having a great time so far and I imagine the good times will continue in the days to come. Follow the adventure even closer by following me on twitter @dustinplett.

I said the other day I wanted to visit as much of my family as possible before I move to Toronto and this is me making good on that statement - I’m driving out to Vancouver to visit my sister.

I wanted to introduce you to the people who I will be traveling with on my trip to Vancouver, my two friends Jason and Will. Will who wanted to visit the Olympics and Jason who has never been on a road trip, and wanted to experience it, are joining me for this leg. I will post a video to give you a better look (with more light) at these guys tomorrow as we drive across the prairies but this should give you a good Idea of the atmosphere of the trip thus far.

If you happen to be reading this and are in Vancouver drop me a note, let me know what’s happening aside from the obvious.

A quick run down of the now “for sures” about my move to Toronto:

• I will rent a place
• I will try hard to live close to where I work and a little further from downtown than I would have originally liked (the new ICUC Moderation Services office is on Mowat in Liberty Village and I would love to be able to walk to work)
• I will drive out to Toronto with my truck, roughly 2,400km. I wont sell it until I’m settled - think of it as a safety blanket
• I will be living in Toronto by April 1 - don’t be fooled, this is no joke!
• I will try to see as many friends and as much of my family as possible before I leave - I have a sister in Vancouver, that might be tricky
• I will leave on Friday, March 26 at the latest - I’m not sure if I will drive state side or take the Canadian route over the lakes. Suggestions?
• I will arrive in Toronto on Sunday or Monday, March 28 or 29
• I will likely travel alone but let me know if you’re down for a road trip
• I will immediately begin to look for a place to move into by April 1 - is this too little time, let me know your thoughts?
• I will visit my brother in Ottawa on the days between finding a place and moving in
• I will move in April 1, maybe second if the place has to be cleaned or something else
• First day in the new office will be Monday, April 5 at the latest. Hooray!!

Am I missing anything? Do not hesitate to let me know if you see glaring flaws in my plan. Also, does anyone know of places renting near Mowat for a reasonable price? Let me know if you have any leads, if you find me a place I will take you out for the best cheeseburger money can buy!

Yesterday I helped my boss and president of ICUC Moderation Services move some electronic equipment into his new house. I hung out there for a few hours and watched as he and his wife positioned and put away items as they arrived - plates, couches, etc.

Today as I was riding the hill at Asissippi I was day dreaming about how my move would be different. I have always been fairly mobile and because of this I haven’t gathered a great amount of possessions. I have the usual things, backpack, bed, computer, TV - but beyond that not a whole lot. Then it struck me - there are a lot of things I need before I move!

The things I need are mostly associated with what I do in the kitchen. I don’t have any cookware, I don’t have cutlery, I don’t have dishes. This has all of a sudden made me a little nervous. When I get home from the weekend I will be making a list of things I have and don’t have and do some research into what is more efficient - buying here in Winnipeg or waiting until I get to Toronto.

If anyone has the items I listed for the kitchen that they were just going to throw out anyway let me know! Also, if you know of something I will need but I don’t know it yet feel free to let me know.

I’m at a crossroads in my own mind. I feel as though I have only two options when it comes to moving to Toronto and I am having a very hard time deciding what to do.

In my mind I’ve divided all possibilities into two categories, the right/responsible way or the my/fun way. The right/responsible way would see me sell my truck, get a mortgage, buy a condo, and make sure everything was prearranged and organized for my arrival in Toronto. I would live in a nice place with nice neighbors and nice furniture. The other way, the my/fun way would see me work the next few weeks, finish what I have to do in Winnipeg, load up my truck and drive out to Toronto. I would maybe leave on a Friday morning so I would get there on Saturday, find a cheap apartment to rent, find someplace to store the truck and get to work.

Some might say the second scenario sounds scary but to me it sounds far less scary than the first. After two years in Toronto I would have less equity with the second plan but I would have more money in my pocket. But on the first plan I would appear more mature - I guess?

I’m looking for some help here, please don’t hesitate to offer me your suggestions or encouragement one way or the other.

This blog was created to document my move from Winnipeg to Toronto and you might wonder what this video has to do with any of that. In my experience I’ve found that the more someone knows about someone the more they care what happens to that person. I feel a video like this does a lot to help people see who I am as a person outside of my professional life. I firmly believe that without an understanding of me as a person no one will care I’m moving to Toronto or that I’m leaving Winnipeg.

This is short video of snowboarding on the prairies with my buddy Payton. I was thinking of making a video that really showcased my prowess on a snowboard but this seemed to make more sense. I feel anyone can enjoy this short video not just people who ride.

It’s been a tough week for me and this was just what I needed to let off some steam. It was a great evening and I will miss these times with friends. When it comes to skateboarding or snowboarding I love finding something no one has tried before or thought of trying - I think this video demonstrates that.

If you skate in Toronto let me know, I would love to meet someone who could show me the spots or even someone just to skate a curb with some Saturday afternoon.