Maximize Your NAYDO Conference Experience

By Michele Goodrich, former NAYDO Council member and Senior Consultant at Donor By Design Group

Each year, YMCA leaders rate the NAYDO Conference as one of their most important career development experiences.  The comments made on the post-conference evaluations repeatedly express appreciation for the great opportunities to network with colleagues, practical take home ideas and best practices, and the sense of renewed enthusiasm they have gained at the conference.

So, here are a few suggestions for you as you plan for your attendance at the 29^th Annual NAYDO Conference on Philanthropy – so that you and your YMCA get the most from the conference.

1. Coordinate – Study the conference brochure (find it on line at www.naydo.org to download a copy if you do not have one).  Talk with others from your YMCA who will be attending and plan together to coordinate workshop attendance so that you have representation at as many of them as possible.
2. Seek Advice – Ask those from your YMCA who have attended the conference in advance to recommend workshops based on their experience with the presenters.  Consult with your supervisor, board chair, and/or development team to find out what workshops they recommend based on your experience and professional development needs.
3. Plan Ahead – Set up a meeting with your supervisor, volunteer development committee, and/or staff team for about one week after you return from the NAYDO Conference.  Be prepared to share key learnings and insights with them from the conference.  In addition, make some specific commitments as to what you will “put into action” in the short term and the longer term as a result of what you have learned.
4. Network – While it is great to experience the NAYDO Conference as a team from a YMCA Association, it is even more valuable to meet new colleagues from around the country.  Take every chance to sit with someone new, attend receptions, participate in the “Networking Experience PLUS on Thursday morning, and get up early on Saturday morning for “Hot Topics” table discussions.  Bring a supply of your business cards to share and collect cards from others.  Once you return to your office, you can build a contact list of colleagues you can email regularly when you are looking for new ideas, seeking out someone who has already resolved a dilemma similar to one you are facing, or just to share encouragement
5. Pass it on! Tell your colleagues who are NAYDO members that they can experience the conference in real time through Twitter, Facebook, and blog postings sent out via email.
6. Have Fun! Most of all maximize your NAYDO Conference experience by having fun and enjoying this great opportunity to share, learn, and celebrate!

What suggestions do you have for other people prepping for the conference?

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