People really do need each other in order to succeed. Association membership can be one of the most important investments you can make professionally, and attending conventions and events is important.
Your time is valuable. So are your financial resources. That being the case, why should you invest the time and money in attending an association convention? Couldn’t you have just as much impact professionally by participating in something like social media?

Social media is important, of course, and doing it well can be vital to career development. But there is just no substitute for seeing people face-to-face and talking to them. MTADA provides a valuable way to get you in a room with other people, learning from each other; the resources they provide can strengthen you professionally as well. You might be surprised at the number and variety of resources available to you through an association event.

The Pitch for Professional Development

The top reasons why convention attendance should be a must-do item on your list include the following:

Contacts, contacts, contacts: Everyone talks about the importance of networking, but many people don’t understand what networking really is. It’s an intersecting of friendships and acquaintances, some strong, some weak, and it isn’t something you lock in your desk and expect to keep fresh. If you know someone and never call them or have any regular contact with them, there’s always a chance that your friendship will starve a slow and lonely death. More than likely, you will begin to slide away from each other. On the other hand, relationships that benefit from regular feeding will thrive. A cell phone call or a blog entry is better than nothing. But don’t you want to raise the bar just a little? A convention is a great excuse for getting together. Share a lecture, a meal, a laugh. Done right, it will build you professionally. It might also be fun.

Feeding your brain: How long can you expect to stay at the top of your field – or even just get there in the first place – if you don’t ever put yourself in situations where you can get a lot of different information from a lot of different sources in a short period of time? There’s a collective synergy that can only come to life when you have many competent, professional people all in the same room, ready to talk shop. Don’t fool yourself: search engines can never replace personalized, expert information delivered in real-time. You’ll learn about trends, legislation, and important issues by becoming a member and actively choosing to participate.

The Game Plan

To get the most out of any convention, you need to start ahead of time.

• Do the research. You want to get an idea of what the program will be so you can make the best use of your time. You should also read any available publications to figure out the important players and what people are currently involved in. Figuring out where to spend the time might be a challenge; you may have to make some difficult choices. Which speakers will teach you the most? What subjects could have the most benefit for your life? Who are the most important people to meet?
• Focus on being more extroverted than usual. Arrive early, stay late, and look for opportunities to meet people. If you are shy and talking to strangers is hard for you to do, focus on making it easier for other people to talk to you. Strangers don’t have to stay strangers. Getting into a genuine conversation can happen with remarkable speed once you identify some common interests. At the same time, be polite, but make sure you continue to circulate. You will be in many different social situations while at the convention. Each one is an opportunity for another new conversation.
• Pay attention to the professional information presented. Education is a privilege in all of its forms. What you learn during a convention may significantly change or enhance your career direction.
• Bring business cards, and exchange them with others. It’s easier to reconnect later with someone if you do.
• Keep initial conversations light. The first time you talk to someone is probably not the time to talk about your childhood dreams and aspirations. Instead, ask questions about subjects of interest to you, such as finding out major employers in our field, ways to get involved, and skills to focus on for improvement.
• Take advantage of discounts and handouts. There may be product and service exhibits that would help you, and the convention cost may be lower than it would normally be.

After the Convention

The convention should continue to benefit you after you leave:

• Your association may offer professional services to members. You may also gain access to directories and journals.
• Seasoned professionals may decide to mentor you.
• Put the knowledge you gained to work and continue to collect more insight as you progress forward.
• Most importantly, look for service and leadership opportunities where you could benefit others, then make sure you give these opportunities your best efforts. You might write and publish articles, serve and eventually lead committees, influence legislation, and become one of the must-meet attendees yourself.