New This Year at the AAFCS Annual Conference & Expo!
Each year, we ask our conference attendees to complete a survey so that we can make the next conference even better. And, we’re putting your feedback to good use! Based on survey comments, here’s what we’ve done for this year’s conference to reflect your input and increase your return on investment.
You said: I’d like to hear more high-quality, research-based keynote speakers.
Three well-known and respected experts in their respective fields, including Dr. Michael Roizen, Cleveland Clinic, will be speaking at the Annual Conference on critical FCS topics: personal finance, poverty, and health. For more information, visit www.aafcs.org/meetings/10/speakers.html.
You said: I want to be able to attend more educational sessions.
You’ve got it! Not only will we be offering more educational sessions, but they are in 11 time blocks (versus five last year), which enables you to attend more sessions. To view the sessions, visit www.aafcs.org/meetings/10/ed_sessions.html.
You said: Please keep registration, hotel, and meal costs low!
You’ll be pleased to know that registration fees for members and students have remained constant since 2008; our conference hotel rates have been nearly the same for several years; and luncheon fees have been held at $30 for many years.
You said: Reduce the cost of meals for students.
A Pacesetter Dinner ticket for students is half-price ($30) this year. Don’t miss this elegant event where you can meet and learn from FCS leaders!
You said: Condense the Expo hours.
This year the Expo will only be open on Thursday and Friday. Be sure to include this in your conference schedule!
You said: Provide more information in the AAFCS booth.
Our booth has been totally reinvented to become “Association Central.” It will not only offer book and product sales and printed materials, but also brief sessions on AAFCS initiatives and programs from AAFCS program staff, as well as a self-serve kiosk with tutorials and the ability to access your membership record and update your profile.
You said: Reduce the A/V for general sessions to better manage costs.
While we’ll still have pizzazz, we’ll only have one projection screen for the general sessions.
You said: Hold the conference at a convention hotel rather than using a convention center.
All conference functions will be held in the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.
You said: We really enjoyed the University Reunions.
And we are bringing them back at our 2010 Annual Conference!
You said: Schedule fewer sessions opposite the Communities session so that more people can attend.
Our conference is jam-packed, but we have scheduled fewer sessions at the same time as the Communities session on Thursday morning. If you haven’t yet joined a Community, check them out at http://webportal.aafcs.org:8080/default.aspx.
You said: Streamline the program book information and make it easier to read and follow.
We’ve reduced the program book content (outside of session information) and made the type more readable. We’ve also added session locations to the program-at-a-glance.
"I have attended all of the annual conferences in the past 12 years and look forward to it very much. The value to me personally and professionally is great. What I have gained makes me willing to become involved, give back, and be a part of the conference."
- Kathy Norquist, AAFCS Development Committee Co-Chair
