Not trying to suck up to Tim here, but I attended one of the conferences last year, and as long as I'm involved in my kids' schools I will try to go to these conferences. I learned SO much! It's not just the formal sessions, although they were wonderful, but all the networking you get to do. I guess because of that, I would prefer more than one day since a lot of the networking went on at the end of day get together (I went to the Chicago conference). Then we were able to go to dinner with new friends and talk some more! In several cases, we've continued to e-mail each other and share ideas, frustrations, and just have somebody to talk to who understads that this is a hard job! Tim mentioned the exhibitors helping to fund the conferences, and I want to suggest that everyone visit the exhibits if you go to a conference. I learned about a lot of products and gathered a bunch of new ideas, so that was a very valuable part of the conference as well. Maybe PTO Today asks them not to, but I didn't think the exhibitors were really giving us big sales pitches. They were very helpful. I do worry, though, that a one day conference might be so packed that there wouldn't be as much chance to visit the exhibits.

Thanks Tim, that helps a lot!!!

Hey Academy --

I wouldn't change your elections. No need to, in my mind.

If you're like most groups, then come next March you're going to know (with 80-90% confidence) who's going to be heavily involved in leading your group next year. You may not know what title they'll hold (some may not even hold a title), but you know that these are the people who'll be doing 90% of the leadership work and decision-making going forward.

Those are the people who'll benefit most. I'd put it out there to that crew and see who's interested. We've had groups bring 11 people. Lots of groups bring 3-5 people. Lots of leaders come alone (and then bring a whole crew the next year!).

Hope this helps.

Tim

Originally posted by Rockne:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by momof3byz:
I am a first time President this year of our PTC - Secretary last year - and no one from our school has ever attended one of the PTO Today conferences. We are located in a NW suburb of Chicago so I definitely want to attend this year but why are the conferences held at the end of the school year versus the beginning? I considered going last year but didn't know if I would even be on the board for this school year to go at that time.

Hey momof3boyz --

I'm a dadof3boyz. Why end of year? Couple of factors there: 1. Gives us most of the school year (using our several difft tools, like the magazine, this site, etc.) to get the word out to folks. It would be really tough to get people to an August/September event, as its so hard to reach people in the summer months; and 2) exhibit hall factors. Our exhibitors make it possible top have our events at such a reasonable pricetag, and the fall is simply crazy, crazy for them. Without them, we'd have to charge 3 or 4 times as much per attendee.

All that said, we continue to explore options for getting parent group leaders together in different ways at different times. Stay tuned...

Tim </font>[/QUOTE]Tim, who would you recommend to attend the conference. We would go to the one in Philly and it is in May a month before elections for the new officers for the following year. Should the existing officers go or should we hold elections early and send the new officers as an incentive or should be just open it up to anyone? Thanks. :confused:

Never thought I'd have anything to contribute to this topic and forgive me if I'm way off base, but it appears to me that the timing of the conferences should fall within about the same time frame as officer elections (just like PTA conventions) Having them at the end of the year will give plenty of time (all summer)for newbies to impliment and refine the things that they have learned before they really feel the crunch of a new year. April and May seem like the perfect months to hold them.

momof3boyz - I am in the SW suburbs. Small world.

I also was curious on why they are at the end of year, especially since we change officers. That is the reason I did NOT attend last year - was not sure what my leval of involvement would be. I would be much more interested in late summer/early fall when everyone is getting excited again.

Tim - have you considered two sessions a year (spring and fall)?