Comments on: ADM - What The Heck Are They Doing With Your Money? http://mwgblog.com/archives/2008/07/03/adm-what-the-heck-are-they-doing-with-your-money/ Michael W. Geoghegan's Weblog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:13:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Chris MacDonald http://mwgblog.com/archives/2008/07/03/adm-what-the-heck-are-they-doing-with-your-money/#comment-149620 Chris MacDonald Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:35:55 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/?p=484#comment-149620 Hi Guys I was just informed of the post, so happy to respond. Sorry to leave you with any impression that ADM is not active on several fronts. Allow me to address the funding concern. Just wanted to assure you that absent some non-profit association legal work, some minor fees associated with maintaining our members web service and post office box charges, no funds have been spent since spring, where we did use a moderate amount of money during the ad-tech event (things like printing costs for some physical banners, leaflet distribution, and some party items for the rooftop event held at Kiptronic. Absent that we have most of the member contributed funds in a secure Bank of America account, accruing interest. I believe we have approximately 70-75% of all member funds not spent. The next question is where we could apply these funds to continue leverage our industry. We are being extremely careful about making the right set of decisions. Many of the activities to date have been co-financed or supplemented by third parties (ad-tech for example graciously provided booth space in exchange for our ability to introduce our members to this valuable networking environment. Even though some project activities have slowed relatively, probably more due to the summer season than anything else, we are working on the following projects: -committee work to explore engagement as a factor to influence ad buys (early stages) -exploration of primary research opportunities, including how to possibly pay for these projects -documentation of terminology work to ensure we are all articulating from the same playbook (optional to consider, of course) -documentation templates to help publishing members close orders, including an insertion order, terms and conditions, and additional collateral Very shortly you will hear some interesting news relating to ADM helping members get in front of the advertising community. We are working very hard to consider some logistical challenges associated with this project so please be patient, we think it will be a winner (if we can get all the piece parts managed) :) It's great to know many of you care enough to wonder about ADM when it is not showing elements of public progress, that is very encouraging. For those of you who are a bit more pessimistic about ADM's impact, we look forward to showing perhaps you but certainly the rest of the world otherwise. Hope you all are having a peaceful, happy and productive Summer, feel free to drop me a line, I will try my best to be available to you to discuss any comments concerns or suggestions. Cheers Chris Hi Guys

I was just informed of the post, so happy to respond.

Sorry to leave you with any impression that ADM is not active on several fronts. Allow me to address the funding concern. Just wanted to assure you that absent some non-profit association legal work, some minor fees associated with maintaining our members web service and post office box charges, no funds have been spent since spring, where we did use a moderate amount of money during the ad-tech event (things like printing costs for some physical banners, leaflet distribution, and some party items for the rooftop event held at Kiptronic. Absent that we have most of the member contributed funds in a secure Bank of America account, accruing interest. I believe we have approximately 70-75% of all member funds not spent.

The next question is where we could apply these funds to continue leverage our industry. We are being extremely careful about making the right set of decisions. Many of the activities to date have been co-financed or supplemented by third parties (ad-tech for example graciously provided booth space in exchange for our ability to introduce our members to this valuable networking environment.

Even though some project activities have slowed relatively, probably more due to the summer season than anything else, we are working on the following projects:

-committee work to explore engagement as a factor to influence ad buys (early stages)

-exploration of primary research opportunities, including how to possibly pay for these projects

-documentation of terminology work to ensure we are all articulating from the same playbook (optional to consider, of course)

-documentation templates to help publishing members close orders, including an insertion order, terms and conditions, and additional collateral

Very shortly you will hear some interesting news relating to ADM helping members get in front of the advertising community. We are working very hard to consider some logistical challenges associated with this project so please be patient, we think it will be a winner (if we can get all the piece parts managed) :)

It’s great to know many of you care enough to wonder about ADM when it is not showing elements of public progress, that is very encouraging. For those of you who are a bit more pessimistic about ADM’s impact, we look forward to showing perhaps you but certainly the rest of the world otherwise.

Hope you all are having a peaceful, happy and productive Summer, feel free to drop me a line, I will try my best to be available to you to discuss any comments concerns or suggestions.

Cheers
Chris

]]> By: Scott Bourne http://mwgblog.com/archives/2008/07/03/adm-what-the-heck-are-they-doing-with-your-money/#comment-149613 Scott Bourne Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:32:58 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/?p=484#comment-149613 If the ADM were remotely legitimate don't you think they'd respond to this post? I too have been warning against getting involved with ADM since it was first announced. They appear to have little traction and furthermore, not only won't they tell us where the money has gone, they have accomplished little if anything to show for the investment they claim to have collected from members. If the ADM were remotely legitimate don’t you think they’d respond to this post? I too have been warning against getting involved with ADM since it was first announced. They appear to have little traction and furthermore, not only won’t they tell us where the money has gone, they have accomplished little if anything to show for the investment they claim to have collected from members.

]]> By: Rob Safuto http://mwgblog.com/archives/2008/07/03/adm-what-the-heck-are-they-doing-with-your-money/#comment-149609 Rob Safuto Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:27:00 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/?p=484#comment-149609 Chris MacDonald and Susan Bratton's names are listed as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee. Hopefully one of them will provide a bit of transparency on recent ADM activities by either commenting here or posting something the ADM blog. Chris MacDonald and Susan Bratton’s names are listed as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee. Hopefully one of them will provide a bit of transparency on recent ADM activities by either commenting here or posting something the ADM blog.

]]> By: Michael http://mwgblog.com/archives/2008/07/03/adm-what-the-heck-are-they-doing-with-your-money/#comment-149608 Michael Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:45:23 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/?p=484#comment-149608 Rob, It would seem that unfortunately my original thoughts - though criticized - were on target. I just wish the ADM could secure real leadership and move forward. It is a true opportunity wasted. Rob, It would seem that unfortunately my original thoughts - though criticized - were on target. I just wish the ADM could secure real leadership and move forward. It is a true opportunity wasted.

]]> By: Rob Safuto http://mwgblog.com/archives/2008/07/03/adm-what-the-heck-are-they-doing-with-your-money/#comment-149607 Rob Safuto Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:33:24 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/?p=484#comment-149607 A good question Mike. I asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago on FriendFeed. (http://friendfeed.com/e/2457ee98-8199-482d-a549-90acfe3de137/Association-for-Downloadable-Media/) Last year I advised the people I was working with to avoid this group. I recommended investing the time and money planned for ADM into building a stronger community and a better product. Unfortunately, I was overruled. My cohorts were afraid that if they didn't buy in (at the organizational rate of course) that they would miss the boat on something. Sadly it seems as though my instincts were correct. A good question Mike. I asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago on FriendFeed. (http://friendfeed.com/e/2457ee98-8199-482d-a549-90acfe3de137/Association-for-Downloadable-Media/) Last year I advised the people I was working with to avoid this group. I recommended investing the time and money planned for ADM into building a stronger community and a better product. Unfortunately, I was overruled. My cohorts were afraid that if they didn’t buy in (at the organizational rate of course) that they would miss the boat on something. Sadly it seems as though my instincts were correct.

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