Acronym

As I sit in the lower level of the convention center (which looks great, by the way) considering the flurry of activity that is sure to commence in this very building in just a few short hours, I feel a tremendous sense of peace and calm. As many of you can attest, preparing to attend this event is, in some cases, a full-time job unto itself. Trust me, I know.

This is my first time attending ASAE & The Center’s annual meeting and exposition, and I have responsibilities. As the incoming vice chair of the young professionals committee and a 2009-2011 diversity executive leadership program scholar, much of the next several days will be booked with various meetings and networking opportunities. I know you can relate.

My recommendation, as I sit here in what is surely the quiet before the storm, is to not forget your purpose for attending this year’s event. Whether it be to meet a certain number of new people, get more information about a particular product or service, pick up a new book or find a solution to challenges currently impacting your association, just do it (wait, I think I’ve heard this somewhere before).

Following are my specific recommendations for maximizing your conference experience:

• Jot down a list of personal and professional goals you’d like to accomplish before leaving Toronto (you have no excuse, there’s note paper in your conference bag);
• Review it before leaving your hotel room each day (and don’t forget to check in on it during breaks and meals);
• Select at least one goal to zero in on each day (and think big, this is the place to get things done);
• Seek support from your association colleagues (they’re friendly and all around you) should you encounter roadblocks to achieving a particularly challenging goal;
• Cross off your accomplishments as they’re completed; and
• Don’t forget to pace yourself (Rome wasn’t built in a day).

If you’ve previously attended Annual, what other advice and suggestions do you have for us newbies? What do you know now that you wished you would have known then? Are there any other tips or tricks that could enhance our conference experience?