What is a conference? ___A conference is a gathering of people with a common interest or background, with the purpose of allowing them to meet one another and to learn about and discuss issues, ideas, and work that focus on a topic of mutual concern. __You are aware of the different types of conferences: ___Academic ___Professional association ___Training ___Issue- or problem-related Why organize a conference? You organize a conference because: ___There’s an issue that needs examining. ___The field needs a conference. ___Your organization or group wants to start an annual gathering. ___There’s a crisis or opportunity that should be addressed. ___You want to establish the legitimacy of the field. ___Feedback from the field or the community demands it. ___A funder requires it. ___You want to enlist people to advance the field, either through their work or through advocacy. ___It’s a matter of prestige, credibility, or credentials for you or your organization. ___It’s part of your job. Who might organize a conference? ___Professional associations and organizations. ___Government agencies. ___Coalitions. ___Individual organizations. ___Educational institutions. ___Advocacy or community activist groups. ___A group with a stake or interest in the subject of the conference. When should you organize a conference? ___When you want to educate the field, a particular group, or the public about an issue. ___When you want to gather people with expertise to address an issue that needs to be addressed, or to work on a problem. ___When new work in the field needs to be publicized. ___When you want to energize or reenergize people about their work. ___Annually, to bring the field, profession, coalition, or interest group together to learn, network, celebrate successes, and work through challenges. How do you organize a conference? You create an infrastructure by: ___Choosing an organizing team or committee. ___Appointing a coordinator. ___Setting up a communication system. You plan the conference by ___Agreeing on the purpose of the conference. ___Identifying your target audience. ___Setting a length and date for the conference. ___Planning the content of the conference. ___Addressing logistics. ___Clarifying coordination and troubleshooting. ___You publicize the conference. ___You register participants. ___You recruit presenters. ___You run the conference. ___You evaluate the conference.
