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.