Transcript Atlantic Regional Conferences

Atlantic Regional CURAC
Conferences
-Randy Barkhouse
Association of Dalhousie Retirees
and
Pensioners (ADRP)
Six Atlantic Region CURAC
Conferences
Have Been Held
• Our Motivation
– Can Focus on Regional Concerns
– More Members Can Attend
– Alternative/supplement to National with
increased local participation and less expense
($20 registration plus travel cost)
Why Not To Hold A Regional
Conference
• Could Diminish National Conference
Rationale
• Regional Conferences Consume Energy
to Organize and Host That Could Be Used
on Purely Member Association Interests
Requirements for a Regional
Conference
• Must be A 2-way Street
– Give something (participate) to get something (helpful
ideas to use in your own association)
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Birds of a Feather Principle
Inexpensive to Host and Attend
Single Day
Rooted in Active Associaions, Not a Susbstitute
for Them
Include National CURAC Participation
Organizing Committee
• Large Enough to Do the Job
• Small Enough to Stay Focused
• Preparation No More Than a 5-Month
Process
• Meetings Every Two Weeks
• Chair, Treasurer, Program, Sponsorship,
Venue, Food, Registration, Web Site
Atlantic Regional Conferences
• Lessons Learned
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An event champion is essential (e.g.Tarun Ghose)
Draft a budget and stick to it
More roundtable, featured speaker on main theme
Long breaks for post session discussion
Make next host identification a core agenda item
• Permanent steering committee of assoc. presidents?
– The ideal venue is
• AV-equipped Classroom with adjacent reception and dining
facilities
– Web site essential for pre-conference documentation
(map, program, registration)
– Official languages service can be a challenge
5th Atlantic Conference
October 1, 2011
• As ADRP Head I was co-host
• Disclaimer
– I was shielded from most of the conference logistics.
– Also was pre-occupied a bit by being on the Organizing Committee for
an Overlapping International Athletics Event
• No performance enhancing drug process at a regional conference
– Geraldine Thomas of SMURA looked after the facility procurement,
catering arrangements, and most on-site services in the Sobey
Business Centre.
– I may have understated conference hosting effort as a consequence
Atlantic Regional Conferences
• Questions?