Acronym

When you think of education at ASAE and the Center's Annual Meeting, the first thing that likely comes to mind are, of course, sessions. We're attending Annual to get top notch education - learning labs, general sessions, thought leaders sessions, etc. I myself am looking forward to attending learning labs on how to market government relations as a member benefit, as well as on the value of trade associations to the international community. These are new areas for me in my professional career, and I am sure that these sessions will make me a more effective director of membership.

That being said, my education at Annual will go beyond attending sessions and then sharing my new knowledge with my colleagues back in DC. As association members attending Annual, we have the unique opportunity to step out of our daily work as association professionals and directly into our members' shoes as attendees. From stepping on a shuttle to the convention center, to browsing the ASAE & The Center's newest publications, to attending networking events, to printing materials, and so on, we can observe the details of an convention with a member's eyes. In doing so, we can take our own experiences from all aspects of our time in San Diego and enhance own annual meeting planning.

On my end, I'm going to keep an eye out for how ASAE & The Center sets up its membership booth in the exhibit hall, and also keep my eye out for other eye-catching exhibits. I'll apply my observations and reactions as an attendee to how my association will set up our own booths at industry trade shows and our own conventions and meetings (yet another new challenge for me).

What are some of the aspects of the Annual Meeting that you will be keeping an eye on to apply to your own association?