ILTA Conference Blog

Welcome to the final day of ILTA 2011. There is a full slate of activities planned for the day, so take advantage of the many networking and learning opportunities.

Events for Thursday, August 25:     
Jan McInnis presents today’s keynote, Finding the Funny in Communications, in Delta Ballroom A at 8:00 a.m. Jan will cover humor and health, what’s funny in the business environment, developing humor quickly and guidelines for keeping yourself out of trouble when using humor. Her keynote address is followed by “Communications Unplugged: A Conversation with the Keynote” at 9:15 a.m. This interactive discussion gives you the opportunity to ask questions on how to find the humor in your office.

Happy Campers!

Our two BarCamp sessions will be half-day, fully interactive, semi-structured sessions, with small group conversations around Law2020^® topics (a.m.) and information management (p.m.). The BarCamps will be led by ILTA volunteer facilitators, and takeaways will be shared at the end of the event and published in a public wiki. Find more details in your conference journal and on the mobile app.

The LEDES Oversight Committee Bi-Annual Members Meeting will be held this morning at 9:15 a.m. in Bayou C. It is followed at 11:00 a.m. by the Decoding LEDES-UTBMS Code Sets. See the session agenda on the mobile app for details.

Vendor Bingo cards should be turned in to the member or vendor registration desk by 10:30 a.m. this morning! The drawing for valuable prizes is scheduled at noon today in the Exhibit Hall. You must be present to win!

Turn in your Trivia Game cards by 10:00 a.m. this morning. The drawing for the $500 prize will be held at dinner tonight. You must be present to win.

The Annual Meeting of the Corporation and our recognition of volunteer leadership is held today during lunch in Delta Ballroom A from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

Tonight’s Award Dinner

To close out the conference this evening, we will participate in the second annual ILTA’s Distinguished Peer Awards Dinner: Live from the Music City. This is an elegant sit-down dinner with attendees dressed to the nines. The event is located in Delta Ballroom A and begins at 6:30 p.m. This is a ticketed event (tickets are provided for member registrants and are available for purchase for guests and vendors). After dinner, our awards presentation will be emceed by comedienne Jan McInnis. After the awards presentation, we will conclude the evening with dancing hosted by a DJ, and quiet networking for people who want to visit with old friends or new. 

Save the Date for 2012

Mark your calendars for ILTA’s 35th annual educational conference to be held August 26 – 30 at the Gaylord National Resort in Washington, D.C.

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Keep the Evals Coming!

As always, your feedback on sessions drives the content development for next year. Please complete the session evaluations via the mobile app or on paper. Your input via the mobile app is anonymous. We’re getting lots of great feedback, so please keep the cards and letters coming in!

Bingo on Aisle Three

Members, continue to play Vendor Bingo in order to participate in the drawing for fabulous prizes. Today’s Globe has a list of the contributing vendors and their prize donations. Check it out! The drawing will be held tomorrow morning at 12:00 in the Exhibit Hall, and you must be present to win.

Events for Wednesday, August 24:     
Robin Crow presents today’s keynote, Rev-Elation: Rock Solid Leadership, in Delta Ballroom A at 8:00 a.m. Learn how anyone in any job can lead with enthusiasm, passion and purpose. His keynote address is followed by “Leadership Unplugged: A Conversation with the Keynote” at 9:15 a.m. Ask Robin questions and share ideas in this “unplugged” session.

There is no planned event for this evening; you are on your own for dinner. Enjoy the great restaurants at the Gaylord Resort or nearby, or have fun at the many vendor networking events that are planned.

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We hope you were able to attend our opening session yesterday. Chris Trimble provided great information on achieving innovation. A video of his presentation will be made available following conference, and we’ll provide the opening production video that featured the word combinations. Watch for announcements regarding the availability of these videos soon.

We had a great time in the Exhibit Hall last night, and hope you did, too!  Many thanks to our exhibitors for their support of ILTA 2011, and we extend a special thanks to those who got into the spirit of our Nashville venue by decorating their booths and their people .  And congratulations to the winners of our booth decorating contest:

First Place:      Traveling Coaches in booth 200/202

Second Place: Soundpath in booth 209

Third Place:     Advanced Legal Systems in booth 320A

Congratulations to all who attended Monday morning’s Fun Run/Walk. The winners in the various categories are listed in today’s Globe.

Can’t Scan?
Member attendees, if your barcode is cranky when a scan is requested, please stop by the registration desk and request a reprint of your nametag.

WTF with WiFi?
An important issue to be aware of is that WiFi technology is unfortunately very susceptible to radio interference, and when there are large numbers of WiFi devices within the same general area, the radio spectrum can quickly become saturated which causes WiFi to fail or become extremely slow. Cellular-based service tends to be much less susceptible to this issue.

As a result, we ask that if your mobile device has 3G (cellular) service, please continue to use your 3G service during educational sessions so that those with laptops or tablet devices that don’t have 3G capability will have Internet access via the resort’s WiFi service.

We hope that future enhancements to WiFi technology will improve this inherent weakness of WiFi when a large number of devices attempt to communicate within a confined area devices attempt to communicate within a confined area.

Plenty of iPads for Rent
We have a supply of Apple iPad 2 tablets for rent. The Apple iPads are the WiFi only model. The rental fee provides use of the tablet through Thursday afternoon. The rental fee is $50, and conference registrants can secure their iPad rental at this link. The iPad tablets must be returned by 4:00 PM Thursday. If you have additional questions, please contact Clay.

Events for Tuesday, August 23:     

Tom Koulopoulos, a three-time ILTA keynote speaker and business visionary, presents Rev-Elation: A New Value Proposition for IT-Based Innovation in Delta Ballroom A at 8:00 a.m. His keynote address is followed by “Innovation Unplugged: A Conversation with the Keynote” at 9:15 a.m. Using a combination of hands-on workshops, open dialog and a few simple innovation tools, Tom will help you move beyond the dream of innovation to make it a reality.

The Exhibit Hall opens today! The grand opening is at 10:30 a.m. in the Ryman Exhibit Hall B. Enjoy a themed snack break, and members, get your Vendor Bingo cards stamped!

The Sharon Swartworth Leadership Seminar will be held today in Governor’s B. The first session will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., and the second will follow from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

This evening’s meal and networking event, the ILTA County Fair, begins at 6:30 p.m. in Delta Ballroom A, Delta Foyer and Patio.  Begin your experience at the old-fashioned County Fair ticket booths, and enjoy all your favorite carnival games. Come partake in casino games, bingo, karaoke, high-striker, and learn to two-step with our line dance instructors. Don’t forget the concluding raffle for great prizes! This is a ticketed event.

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 The educational program at ILTA 2011 was developed by ILTA members. We will ask you to help us evaluate the program by completing the very short evaluation forms after each session you attend. If you’re using the mobile app, you can complete the session evals on your PDA! Click here to get the mobile app setup prior to your arrival.  Following conference, you’ll receive a link to an online evaluation of the entire conference experience. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us and will assist next year’s Conference Committee in improving the program for ILTA 2012.

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Before I touch on today’s activities, I want to highlight our ILTA 2011 Mobile App.

The ILTA 2011 Mobile App provides access to the conference agenda, speaker details, attendee list, Gaylord Resort info, Interactive Exhibit Hall, the latest ILTA news and much more. It’s available for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry and Android devices. For Apple and Android devices, please visit the App Store from your device and search for ILTA to download this free app. BlackBerry users, please visit http://conference.iltanet.org/mobile from your BlackBerry to download the app. Laptop users and alternate mobile devices can use the mobile web version at http://m.iltanet.org.

Updates! Updates! You will receive notices within the app that “Updated data is available” each day. These data updates include new registrants, session changes or corrections, speaker updates, news updates, etc. To ensure you are viewing the most recent information, please OK these data updates. Normally they process quickly, but if you skip the updates for several days, the next update will take longer to process.

Our mobile app program was also updated to a new version as of 8/15/11. This important program update fixes an issue with Session Polls (surveys). If you have any questions about the ILTA Mobile App, please visit the Ask ILTA desk across from the member registration area in the convention center.

Events for Sunday, August 21:
Registration takes place in the Gaylord Conference Center, beginning at noon. ILTA members can proceed to the Delta foyer (level 2), vendors and consultants register in the Ryman area (level 0). There will be many staffers on hand to make the registration process quick and easy.

ILTA members can meet from 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in our “Communities of Interest.” With several hot topics providing the backdrop for this networking opportunity, it’s a great way to start ILTA 2011 and gain even more value from your overall experience. Check your Conference Journal (obtained at check in) for meeting rooms and topic areas.

The Speaker Meet and Greet will take place from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Delta Ballroom B for a brief orientation and networking. This is a must-attend for speakers!

The Conference Orientation for ILTA members will take place from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Delta Ballroom C. Navigating conference and maximizing the value of your attendance can be daunting no matter how many times you’ve attended. Let us give you some tips and tricks to make the most of your conference experience — and another great opportunity to meet your peers!

The Grand Ole ILTA Reception runs from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This traditional kickoff to our conference week will give members and vendors a chance to enjoy connecting informally with ILTA friends. This event sets the mood for the week in true Nashville style! Our conference kick-off reception begins in the pre-conference areas of Delta Ballroom A & B, including the outdoor patio. You can’t miss the gigantic guitars that mark the entrance and the unique Nashville musicians. Members and vendors have a chance to enjoy connecting informally with ILTA friends. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Tickets are required for the beverages (tickets are provided with your conference badge available at the conference registration desks). Pull up a seat at a faux, full-sized piano or enjoy the sunset on the Delta patio. This event evokes “Nashville” both visually and musically, as we celebrate our inaugural visit to this legendary city!

The registration desks are open till 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evening and open at 6:00 a.m. on Monday.

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And speaking of getting started on the right foot, join us on Monday, August 22 for a Fun Run/Walk starting at the Delta Portico (5k run / 3k walk). Registration for the event opens at 6:00 a.m., and the event begins at exactly 6:30 a.m. Each participant will receive an accurate time over an accurate distance. We will have a course layout and markings to show your way. For more information and registration, click here.

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Start your ILTA 2011 experience on the right foot at the ILTA Conference Orientation at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday in Delta Ballroom D. This orientation is for any attendee, from a first-timer to a seasoned alumnus, who wants to get the inside scoop on places to go and things to do at conference. We’ll move from the orientation event to the opening reception!

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If you’re scheduled to speak at ILTA 2011, you’ll want to attend the speaker “meet and greet” on Sunday evening from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Delta Ballroom B. It’s where you’ll meet your onsite session monitor (to facilitate your experience) as well as fellow panelists, if you’re part of a presentation team.

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Spanning all four days, a full track of sessions provides a forum for vendors to demo their state-of-the-art products and services. This track is located in Canal E in the conference center. For a list of featured vendors, see the Conference Overview, and for session descriptions and speakers see the Detailed Session Agenda. The information is also available in the Digital Program Guide and via our mobile app.

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Exhibit Hall: Join us in our Exhibit Hall (Ryman B3 and B4 on level 0) where over 200 leading providers of legal technology will be on hand. Their fabulous booths are staffed by the vendors who support ILTA throughout the year. The Exhibit Hall has its grand opening on Tuesday morning, August 23, at 10:30 a.m. and remains open on Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and on Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. There is ample time to visit the exhibitors during conference, as we’ll have several extended breaks in the area.
 
Company Profiles: Our Exhibit Hall features a vast array of vendors who offer products and services to the legal market. Check out their profiles in the Digital Program Guide, and plan to visit those with whom you have relationships; and make a point of visiting some of our newer exhibitors.
 
Grand Ole ILTA Vendors!: Monday evening has us enjoying the night life in the Exhibit Hall (Ryman B3 and B4) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The area will be transformed into ILTA’s Vendor “Hall of Fame” where members can meet with our exhibitors and get acquainted with their products. Attendees will stroll from one music scene to the next and make stops at exhibitors’ booths while enjoying local food and drink. This is a ticketed event, and all badge holders will receive a ticket at registration. Guest tickets are available for purchase. The evening pays tribute to our favorite musicians and entertainers. Bring your camera — you never know who you might run into. Was that Michael Jackson or Garth Brooks I just saw? This event is sure to surprise all who attend.

No one under the age of 18 is admitted. Vendor Bingo cards will be available starting Tuesday morning at the Exhibit Hall Grand Opening.

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You can now view our digital program guide! This guide provides information on sessions, speakers, exhibitors and all resources available at the event. The “fully digital” version allows you to access additional content via hyperlinks, print specific pages or create a downloadable PDF from the site. It is optimized for viewing on screen and is not intended for print.

Its primary advantage is that it allows you to have access to these resources anytime from a Web browser. Additionally, you can view a more traditional PDF of the session details and print those pages that are required for your planning.

If you rely on paper documentation, it’s best to print your information before you arrive, though we do provide print stations so that you can take advantage of the various ways to print content once you’re on property. It’s best to plan ahead and map out your strategy, as we know there are multiple sessions in each time slot that will vie for your attention.

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The resort property is vast and just down-right confusing without a little help from your navigational friends, those who’ve “been there, done that” when it comes to getting lost. Here are a few tips to assist your circumlocution.

CONFERENCE CENTER AND OTHER MEETING ROOMS:

Once you arrive on property and get settled in your hotel room, study the property map to determine your location relative to the Conference Center. If you were greeted by our Welcome Committee on Sunday afternoon, they likely pointed out to you where the Conference Center is located.

When you checked in, the hotel provided you a map of the property with a black line drawn to indicate where your room is located relative to the front lobby. That’s your first indication of where you are in relation to everything that surrounds you.

Take some time to explore the property. Really walk the place and find some major navigational landmarks (the Cascades Lobby; Delta Island; the Magnolia Lobby, etc.). These are “sign posts” to assist you as you move about the property during the week.

Because the property is quite circular, it is easy to turn left when you should turn right as you exit your room. Once you’ve determined which direction you need to go to get to the Conference Center, place a sticky note on the inside of your hotel room door – a simple arrow pointing left or right to remind you which direction to walk as you exit your room. (Sounds silly, but you’ll thank us later!)

Wrap your head around the numbering system used in the conference center:

Bottom floor is Level 0 –– the Exhibit Hall, ILTA Bistro (for breakfast and lunch) and various session rooms (anything labeled Ryman) are located on Level 0

Middle floor is Level 2 –– ballrooms and session rooms labeled Delta or Governor are located on Level 2

Top floor is Mezzanine – this one will be trickier, so heads up – you can find access to Delta Island from the Mezzanine level; session rooms labeled Bayou and Canal are located here; and if you’re looking for rooms labeled Belle Meade, Cheekwood or Hermitage, these are on the Mezzanine level of the Magnolia Section.

GENERAL PROPERTY LAYOUT:

The carpet (look down!) is color-keyed to each section and corresponds to the colors on the property map, your room key, etc. Likewise, the guest room numbers are prefixed with codes that identify the sections. Study these colors and codes to assist you if you’re lost.

As you explore the property, be mindful of “shortcuts” that aren’t so obvious as you look at the map. For example, there might be an elevator that is different from the one in which the bellman delivered you to your room that is perfect for cutting out a couple dozen steps as you move toward the Conference Center. And there is a central corridor that traverses the Delta Section –– that is likely to be your best route if you’re located in Cascades, Delta or the Garden Conservatory.

LOOK FOR ILTA BLUE!

We’ve placed abundant signage to assist you; watch for the ILTA conference logo in our signature “light blue.” There are wayfarers on property, identified by their blue golf shirts, to assist you.

HELP A FRIEND

Once you become an expert at navigating the property, share your knowledge with your friends.

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After you’ve gotten settled in your room, proceed to the conference center (signage points the way). Member registration is on level 2 of the conference center (Delta lobby) and opens at noon on Sunday.

The name badge you receive should be worn at all times during ILTA events, and it is your pass to the sessions and Exhibit Hall. Don’t leave home without it!

Please understand the importance and value of your event tickets. They are the equivalent of cash and should be safeguarded. If you need to purchase additional event tickets for a spouse/guest, you can do so at the member registration desk in the Delta lobby (level 2) or at the exhibitor registration desk on level 0 of the Ryman conference center (near the entrance to all meals).

We hope you’ll arrive in time to participate in our Communities of Interest from 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. on Sunday. If you’re a speaker, be sure to attend the Speaker Meet and Greet at 5:00 p.m. in Delta Ballroom B. And whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned veteran, it’s always great to get some navigational tips at the Conference Orientation beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Delta Ballroom C.

Our Opening Reception begins at 7:00 p.m. in Delta Ballroom A.

If you arrive late on Sunday or Monday morning, please check in at the member registration desk so that you have a breakfast ticket. The desk is open till 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evening, and it opens at 6:00 a.m. on Monday.

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If you are staying at an overflow facility, please note the very active status of rooming at this time. We have some rooms opening up at Opryland and Radisson, so anyone who would like to move should complete the link below to be added to the waitlist.  Please check the cancellation requirement at your current hotel to ensure you don’t get charged.  http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22CT99THWQ8/

We’re very excited about our registration numbers, as we’ve crossed the 1,200 mark with our member attendees, and that’s a healthy increase against our final number from last year, which was 1,134. More peers, more great ideas, more rev-elations!

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Casual attire is appropriate for all activities at conference. The evening socials do not require any fancy garb, BUT for our “big” awards dinner on Thursday evening, some will dress up for the event. At Monday evening’s Exhibit Hall opening, ILTA’s Vendor Music “Hall of Fame”, many of the exhibitors will decorate their booths and wear costumes in recognition of the theme. Please note that the session rooms can get cold; you might plan to bring a light jacket or sweater.

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Fun Run/Walk — Join us on Monday, August 22 for a Fun Run/Walk starting at the Delta Portico (5k run / 3k walk). Registration for the event opens at 6:00 a.m., and the event begins at exactly 6:30 a.m. Each participant will receive an accurate time over an accurate distance. We will have a course layout and markings to show your way. For more information and registration, click here.
 
Golf — ILTA’s 2011 golf tournament will be held on Sunday, August 21, with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. The tournament will be held at The Hermitage Golf Course on the President’s Reserve. Transportation will be provided from the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. This is a “Captain’s Choice” scramble tournament with lunch provided and, as always, loads of fun throughout. Trophies will be awarded to the top teams, and valuable prizes are yours for the winning! Register at 13th Annual ILTA Golf Tournament.

Apart from these sponsored events, you may wish to spend some time in the pools, in the fitness center or in the beautiful spa.

Spa Goers will enjoy a 10 percent discount on services. The Relâche Spa is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some pampering. Mention ILTA when you make your reservations to take advantage of the discount, and book early to get your preferred times!

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Our ILTA 2011 Trivia Game provides an opportunity to explore our technologies and learn about ILTA member resources. It’s a great way to increase your peer network and have a chance at the $500 prize to be awarded on Thursday evening (you must be present to win). Pick up your game card at the member registration desk on property.

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Sunday’s opening reception, Grand Ole ILTA sets the mood for the week in true Nashville style! Our conference kick-off reception begins in the pre-conference areas of Delta Ballrooms A & B, including the outdoor patio. You can’t miss the gigantic guitars that mark the entrance and the unique Nashville musicians. Members and vendors have a chance to enjoy connecting informally with ILTA friends. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Tickets are required for the beverages (tickets are provided with your conference badge available at the conference registration desks). Pull up a seat at a faux, full-sized piano or enjoy the sunset on the Delta patio. This event evokes “Nashville” both visually and musically, as we celebrate our inaugural visit to this legendary city! 

Monday’s Vendor Reception sees our exhibit hall transformed into ILTA’s Vendor Music “Hall of Fame”, where members can meet with our exhibitors and get acquainted with their products. Attendees will stroll from one music scene to the next and make stops at exhibitors’ booths while enjoying local food and drink. This is a ticketed event, and all badge holders will receive a ticket at registration. Guest tickets are available for purchase. The evening pays tribute to our favorite musicians and entertainers. Bring your camera –– you never know who you might run into. Was that Michael Jackson or Garth Brooks I just saw? This event is sure to surprise all who attend.

On Tuesday evening, we kick back and relax at ILTA’s County Fair. Begin your experience at the old-fashioned County Fair ticket booths on each side of the Delta Ballroom Foyer (Level 2). Every square inch of the Delta Ballroom A, outdoor patio, and pre-function space is filled with booths for all your favorite carnival games. You’ll enjoy the entertainers who will stroll the fair, and there’ll be casino games, bingo, karaoke and the ever popular high-striker. Enjoy all your county fair favorites from popcorn to barbecue, cotton candy, steamed corn, turkey legs and yummy sweets, all while enjoying the great music coming from the main stage. Minnie Pearl will be stopping by to emcee along with some great Nashville youth entertainers. Of course, our band backing them up will be able to play all your favorites and keep the dance floor hopping all night, along with our line dance instructors. And don’t forget the concluding raffle for great prizes! This is a ticketed event (tickets are provided for member registrants and are available for purchase for guests and vendors). Sponsored by LexisNexis 

Wednesday evening provides you an opportunity to relax and enjoy the amenities of the property or keep the momentum going at one of the many vendor networking events. There is no planned ILTA event for the evening.

To close out the conference on Thursday evening, we will participate in the second annual ILTA’s Distinguished Peer Awards Dinner. This is an elegant sit-down dinner with attendees dressed to the nines. The event is located in the Delta Ballroom A (Level 2). This is a ticketed event (tickets are provided for member registrants and are available for purchase for guests and vendors). After dinner, our Awards Presentation will be emceed by comedienne Jan McInnis. Individual peer awards, organization awards, vendor awards and Region of the Year award will be announced and presented. After the awards presentation, we will conclude the evening with dancing hosted by a DJ, and quiet networking for people who want to visit with old friends or new. Sponsored by TOSS Corporation.

Member registration fee covers all conference meals. Guest tickets may be purchased onsite. Our policy prohibits minors from being present in our conference venues.

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