Will you be attending the ILTA Conference for the first time? Our records show that 20% of you will be first-time attendees, so you’ll be in good company! We’ve put together this list to help you get the most out of your first conference experience.
- Attend the orientation session held on Sunday, August 23, at 6:00 p.m. in Maryland C (Conference Center). You’ll get the inside skinny on how to navigate the week.
- Attend your regional meeting on Monday, August 24, at 5:15 p.m. (consult the program guide for specific locations). You’ll benefit by making personal connections with your “local” volunteer leadership and peers who work in the same part of the country as you.
- Attend as many group meals and events as possible. Placards on the breakfast tables will identify your region – again, it’s an opportunity to meet folks who share your geography. Placards on the lunch tables will indicated various Peer Groups – it’s an opportunity to network with your peers who are faced with the same project challenges. And the evening socials are fabulous networking events.
- Visit the exhibit hall – it might seem overwhelming at first, but planned breaks and events in the hall provide time throughout the week for you to acquaint yourself with many top-tier providers of services and products to the legal market. Vendor Bingo is great fun, and there are good prizes to be won!
- Map out your session attendance early by any of the methods provided online, and stop at the registration desk or the “Ask ILTA” desk at any time to get your bearings.
- Find a buddy – if it all seems a bit overwhelming, stop a volunteer leader (identified by colored ribbons) or a seasoned conference-goer (the “black” ribbons indicated 10 or more conferences attended), and their friendly guidance will get you safely to the end of the week.
- Speaking of ribbons, wear your first-time attendee ribbon proudly! Conference can be exhausting, but you will leave with a full brain and professional relationships that will enrich your career for years to come.
Check out the Conference Committeee interviews and our Profiles in Leadership for more priceless tips! You can use the links on the right to filter. See you soon!
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Filed under: 2009 Conference
