from the publisher Small Is the New Big W e’re noting a trend toward tiny compliance meetup events — and we’re totally here for it. Big compliance conferences have their place — and we’re packing our bags for a few right now — but it’s hard to ignore the obvious charms of a laid-back, intimate, semi-impromptu local meetup. And from what I’m hearing, the appeal is spreading. Just this week, I heard from three people seeking planning advice and publicity help for cozy local gatherings. We’re talking groups of a dozen compliance folks, maybe a few more. Their plans included meetups at local coffee shops, watering holes or restaurants with nothing on the agenda besides compliance camaraderie, authentic connections and real-time relationship-building (zero sales pitches and no cringe-y icebreakers). Is this right-sizing trend a collective sigh of relief in a post-Covid world where we crave the warmth of real, un-Zoomed faces? Maybe it’s a reflection of tight T&E budgets that make cross-country (or cross-continent) jaunts to conferences hard to justify. Or maybe it’s a subconscious yearning for authenticity in an age where artificial intelligence seems to loom over every human interaction, threatening to make the genuine feel quaint. Whatever the why , the phenomenon itself is worthy of a toast (with artisanal coffee or craft cocktails, take your pick), and so is the new buzzword associated with these small group gatherings: community-building . Forget “networking” and the dreary affairs the term evokes. If you’d like to attend a small-scale event in your area, why not start one? Take the plunge, plant your flag and host one. And let CCI help tell the story of what you’re creating. We don’t only want to report on these gatherings; we hope to spark them, support them and — when we can — sip something in solidarity. Interested? If you’ve got something local in the works, add it to CCI’s event calendar to help spread the word . We raise a toast to the compliance community, a group that’s proving, one small gathering at a time, that maybe, just maybe, we can find that elusive “real” in a world that feels increasingly virtual. May your conversations be lively, your connections meaningful and your community spirit unbreakable. Cheers to building something together, something sparkly and magical — something decidedly human. Sarah Hadden Publisher, CCI Magazine & CCI Media Group
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