Conference Tips from Gayle Gossen, Tor Chap

• Many events concurrent at conference – continuing education and socializing events - opportunity for leaders of the association to meet and conduct association business
• Most sessions are included in cost of registration – some have additional costs usually because of equipment, food, speaker fees
• Online planner effective and helpful

• SLA has evolved for me – education, networking (socializing), free stuff, job opportunities, sightseeing - what it is not – place to sleep or be bored

Saturday

• Registration
  • Check out booth promoting next year’s conference
  • Goodies!
• Continuing Education
  • ½ day or full day
  • developed by Divisions (therefore subject matter) as well as HQ (CLICK U)
  • cost effective way to increase knowledge – excellent opportunity for professional development
• Division board meetings
• City Tour (6-9pm)
• Open Houses – news division is famous!

Sunday

• Registration Cont’d
• Continuing Education
• Leadership Development Institute – get involved – check it out
• Administration cont’d – Division board meetings, etc.
• Some networking breakfasts/lunches
• Exhibits (12 -6 ) – usually a reception from 4-6
  • Excellent way to see new products
  • Low pressure
  • Goodies
  • Support the exhibitors – tremendous cost to them – necessary in your life
  • Floor plan is online – plan your most important visits but leave time to browse

6 – 7:30 – first keynote speaker - Gwen Ifill, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer / Washington Week

Open Houses – note IT division has a mystery author this year – competing with Social Sciences division

Monday

• Conference sessions start – each division has 10 time slots to present they feel will be of interest to you
  • Sessions run from 7:30am – 9am, 9:30 – 11am, 11:30-1, 1:30-3, 3:30-5
• Career connections
• Exhibit Hall 10 –
• 1:30-3 has been set aside for you to see some exhibits

• 3:30- 5 – SARC awards – our Toronto students usually get some attention!

• Pre-receptions and receptions – no excuse not to eat!

• Canadian Reception 5:30

Tuesday

• Copy of Monday except Annual Business Meeting from 9:30–11
• Administration meetings, etc – chapter cabinet
• Awards reception from 8 – 10 – Toronto Chapter's Juanita Richardson will be honoured

Wednesday

• Times change a bit
• No Exhibit Hall
• Conference wrap up from 11 – 12:30 with Walt Mossberg, author of the Wall Street Journal’s “Personal Technology” column
• Don’t go home – there are still sessions! 
• Executive board meeting

Thursday

• The tours

Insider Tips

• The chapter of the host city has a booth to recommend to you where to eat to get your dry cleaning – ask them anything – they are local
• The reality is that you will do less than you plan to do – so really prioritize your needs – what do you want from this year’s conference?  A new job?  A question answered?  To make some new friends?  This will help you plan your time as to when you should go back to your room and rest
• Canadian dollar is very strong – you can bring home $200 worth of shopping duty-free!
• Leave time for yourself.