.jpg)
Headed to Hartford, Chicago, or Atlanta? The spring Greek regional conferences can be both exciting and overwhelming. I've been to each of these conferences dozens of times, and they provide a tremendous networking and learning opportunity for the council and chapter leaders selected to attend and represent their universities.
If you're going to one of these conferences, this blog posting is for you. It's important to get a few things in your mind before you make the trip.
First, remember that you are likely going to your Greek regional conference on the funds paid by the men and/or women of your council. A trip to your regional conference is not a prize you have won. It's not a perk – it is a business trip. While you're sure to have some fun, your constituents are counting on you to learn some things that will benefit them when you get home. If you sleep through a session, emphasize the fun over the learning, or fail to take the educational opportunity seriously, you are wasting THEIR money.
You will meet some students whose Greek communities blow yours away, and others who shock you with how far their heads are up their asses. This is normal. Many students return from these conferences jealous of some Greek communities and thankful they aren't members of others. Remember that the goal of these conferences is to help Greek communities of all levels improve. Learn from those ahead of you, and help boost those who are struggling.
You don't want to be the last one to the showers each morning. Imagine how quickly the hot water goes in the hotel when four people in every room are taking showers. I usually shower the night before I go to bed so I know I'll get warm water. If you are jumping in the shower 10 minutes before the morning keynote, you're going to get a nice cold start to your day.
When you get to the conference sit down with the conference book, and divide out the sessions among your delegation. It's so much better to plan out your breakout attendance in advance. If you're looking in your book and making decisions at the last minute, all of your first choices will fill up and close.
Take that conference book and write your name and cell phone number on the front of it. If you lay it down somewhere and forget it, it will find its way back to you.
Take 20 minutes before the conference starts and find where all the breakout rooms are.
If you are on the sixth floor or lower, find out where the stairs are. Trust me. You'll spend half your conference waiting for the elevators if you don't. I usually call the hotel a couple of days prior to my arrival and request a low floor for this purpose.
Tell your friends back at campus to leave you the hell alone for the weekend. The time you spend furiously texting friends back home or logging on to check your Facebook account is an opportunity wasted.
Hurry to your breakout of choice. I mean it, hurry! Get in, get a seat. When you go to a breakout session, spend those precious minutes before the speaker begins talking to other students in the audience.
It's a good idea to seek out schools similar to yours. Tell them your problems, and let them share theirs. In your first couple of breakout sessions, identify leaders from campuses that share some of your issues and challenges. Then find time with them at meals and during break times to talk. Also, make sure to get their contact information so you can stay in touch after the conference.
Some of the conferences put the award applications out for display. You're really missing out if you don't find an hour during your visit to browse those applications and pick out all the great ideas found in them. I've literally seen people with their camera phones taking pictures so they can capture some of the ideas found in the applications from other schools.
Do not clump up with other men or women from your campus at sessions or meals. This is such a waste! Sit with strangers, or brothers/sisters from other schools. Stick your neck out, meet new people, ask lots of questions.
Use the opportunity to bond a bit with your advisor. Your advisor can get a lot out of this conference as well, networking with other professionals, so ask what his or her goals are for the meeting, too. Remember that any negative behavior by anyone in your delegation will reflect negatively on him or her as well.
Whenever you find yourself beginning sentences with, "At my campus, we..." stop yourself. You should spend more time asking questions and less time selling your own campus.
If a speaker or a presenter impresses you, track him or her down after the session and get some one-on-one time with them. As a speaker, I'll tell you, we love that. Don't be shy. Ask for our card, too.
Visit the exhibitors. Even if you aren't personally interested in their services, visit their table and learn about what they do. Thank them for the investment in the conference. You would not believe how much the conferences charge exhibitors for those tables, so please stop and say hello. The vendors won't bite you.
If you see a member of the conference committee, thank him or her for their good work.
