Tips for a Successful Conference

Preparing for the Conference Bring a significant number of business cards with you to exchange with exhibitors and colleagues. When you arrive, be sure to review the packet for any session changes or room changes. Check daily at the Registration/Conference Activity table for any updates. Check out the map that is included in your conference registration packet. Take a tour of the conference area beforehand. Plan which sessions you want to attend ahead of time and have backup plans in case any are full or cancelled. Check the NEACRAO website for any updates. Re-evaluate when you get to the conference – schedules or your interests may have changed since the brochure was published. Plan to attend other conference activities such as the receptions, luncheons, membership meeting, and exhibit hall. In addition to networking, you can learn a lot outside of the sessions. Schedule time for yourself. Balance your conference activities and leisure time Tips for First Timers Volunteer to sit for an hour at the Registration/Hospitality Table - it is a great way to meet other attendees. Plan to attend all First Timers events. Save Money by eating at all of the receptions....also a great way to Network. Carry your tickets for meals, etc. in your nametag pouch so you have them when you need them. The nametag pouch is also convenient for carrying eyeglasses or money so that a pocketbook doesn’t have to be carried all the time. Have a question during the conference? Drop by the registration/hospitality desk. You can also assume that anyone wearing an Executive or Committee Chair ribbon is easily approachable. Dress code for the NEACROA conference is business casual Wear comfortable shoes. Meeting People Plan in advance -- call colleagues from colleges you deal with (perhaps people you have only talked to on the phone) to determine if they are coming to the conference. Plan on meeting for lunch or dinner. If you know them well, consider car-pooling to the conference. Stay around after an interesting session and talk to others who are waiting to ask questions. If you have common interests, suggest talking about it further during the break or at lunch or at a scheduled event. After dinner, come back and hang around at the social events; it's a great way to meet people. Go to the special lunches; join folks at a table and you get a chance to talk to them. Don't eat alone in your room; don't be bashful -- it's pretty obvious who's from the conference -- while waiting on line for a table, strike up a conversation -- invite them to share a table. Convince a colleague to come to the conference, even if only for a day (NEACROA offers a lower/discounted daily rate) Easy Icebreaker questions: Hi, I’m (name) from (school). What school are you from? How long have you been at your school? What area do you work in? Attend any good sessions? How does your school do (some policy/procedure of interest)? Exhibit Hall Visit the Exhibit Hall even if your school isn’t currently in the market for something – it’s a good way to find out what products, services, and technologies are available for future reference. If you are genuinely interested in an exhibitor’s products, let them know who they should contact for follow-up. Enter the drawings for the exhibitor gifts – the odds of winning are better than in the casino!

Travel Security

• Use your business card or office address on luggage tags. This avoids advertising that your home might be empty.
• For checked luggage, put contact information both inside and outside. If the outside tag gets damaged on misplaced luggage, the inside tag will give the airline/train/hotel staff the information to contact you.
• Remove your name badge when leaving the hotel so you're not an obvious out-of-towner.
• Verify safe walking/jogging routes with the hotel concierge.
• Just is case, check where the emergency exits are in the hotel even though you probably won't need the information.

Getting the Most from Sessions

• Read the descriptions for sessions carefully since Titles do not always accurately reflect the material being presented. For example, many computer related topics do not include hands-on instructions.  Some sessions are designed for the audience to share information; many of those are called cracker barrel or roundtable sessions.
• Arrive for sessions early to get a good seat.  Some sessions tend to be very popular and space for seating may be limited.
• Although we do not encourage you to leave a session, it is not impolite to discretely leave the session and go to another session that may be more meaningful to you. However, if you know that you will be leaving a session early, it is always a nice gesture to advise the speaker in advance and to sit near the exit door.  In that way, the speaker knows that this is not a negative critique of their session.
• Do not ask for handouts before the session begins.  Handouts are reserved for those attending the session.  Extra copies are left at the registration desk.  If you are interested in more than one session that meet at the same time, contact the speaker directly at their home college after the conference.  Speakers always enjoy sharing information.
• Do not leave sessions after the formal presentation.  The question and answer period serves as a forum for the exchange of information that is sparked by the presentation and often provides meaningful clarity.  If an attendee adds information that is useful to you, learn what college they are from so that you can follow-up with details.
• Fill out the surveys and turn them in.  They are a powerful tool and are all reviewed.

After the Conference

• Apply what your learned. Share your information; even if you’re not required to formally present, you’ll retain the information better if you discuss it with your co-workers. Look for opportunities in your office to try some of the new ideas.
• Keep connections. Follow up with colleagues, presenters, and exhibitors you met. If you have a question after the conference for someone, call or email them. Getting to know new peers is one of the great benefits of NEACRAO.
• Consider volunteering. NEACRAO is a volunteer organization that depends on the many members who work on committees. If you would like to find out about NEACRAO committees, seek out the committee chairs or any executive member. They can tell you what the committees do and how to volunteer. Committee work is a great way to make new friends and contacts.