Atlantic Regional CURAC Conferences -Randy Barkhouse Association of Dalhousie Retirees and Pensioners (ADRP) -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) 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 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) 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 Must be A 2-way Street –Give something (participate) to get something (helpful ideas to use in your own association) 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 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 –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 Lessons Learned –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 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?