Comments on: Planning a conference http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/ A librarian, writer and tech geek reflecting on the profession and the tools we use to serve our patrons Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:59:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bob Dale http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-176509 Bob Dale Wed, 30 May 2007 20:47:11 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/#comment-176509 One of the intersting things about planning a wedding is that you have a whole bunch of emotion and family politics wrapped up in it also. Not so with planning a convention. Bob Dale Photographer www.dalestudios.com One of the intersting things about planning a wedding is that you have a whole bunch of emotion and family politics wrapped up in it also. Not so with planning a convention.

Bob Dale
Photographer
http://www.dalestudios.com

]]> By: dave free http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-40933 dave free Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:19:55 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/#comment-40933 This was my first CIL (or any other ITI) conference and I too thought it was great! There was at least one program I wanted to see pretty much every time slot and the pacing was great for relaxing, hitting the exhibits and meeting folks between sessions. I really just left the hotel to eat so as long as there's food etc. in Crystal City I'll be happy. Can't wait until next year. This was my first CIL (or any other ITI) conference and I too thought it was great! There was at least one program I wanted to see pretty much every time slot and the pacing was great for relaxing, hitting the exhibits and meeting folks between sessions. I really just left the hotel to eat so as long as there’s food etc. in Crystal City I’ll be happy. Can’t wait until next year.

]]> By: Cindy http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-40909 Cindy Mon, 27 Mar 2006 16:31:58 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/#comment-40909 I used to organize conferences and can tell you that there are so many details that go into them that most people may not realize. Sometimes you don't have a choice when booking an event's dates. The venue where you want to hold it may only give you certain dates for a number of reasons (for example, you may get a higher or lower priority based on the size of your event, how many hotel rooms your attendees will bring in, etc.) I thought CIL 2006 was extremely professional. The sessions were informative (e.g. not marketing platforms) and the speakers were well-prepared. They mixed up the show in a way that brought people into the exhibit hall on a regular basis, thus meeting the needs of their vendors. They were generous with the food (often an area where conferences cut back, not realizing how much it really affects people's moods with an event!). The cybertours, dine arounds, and evening sessions brought even more value to the event. I think they did a great job! I used to organize conferences and can tell you that there are so many details that go into them that most people may not realize. Sometimes you don’t have a choice when booking an event’s dates. The venue where you want to hold it may only give you certain dates for a number of reasons (for example, you may get a higher or lower priority based on the size of your event, how many hotel rooms your attendees will bring in, etc.)

I thought CIL 2006 was extremely professional. The sessions were informative (e.g. not marketing platforms) and the speakers were well-prepared. They mixed up the show in a way that brought people into the exhibit hall on a regular basis, thus meeting the needs of their vendors. They were generous with the food (often an area where conferences cut back, not realizing how much it really affects people’s moods with an event!). The cybertours, dine arounds, and evening sessions brought even more value to the event. I think they did a great job!

]]> By: Meredith http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-40859 Meredith Sun, 26 Mar 2006 21:40:35 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/#comment-40859 Well that's nice to hear. ;) We all missed you at CIL, Steven! Well that’s nice to hear. ;) We all missed you at CIL, Steven!

]]> By: Steven Cohen http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-40848 Steven Cohen Sun, 26 Mar 2006 20:16:47 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/#comment-40848 There was a lot cold water at PLA... ;-) There was a lot cold water at PLA… ;-)

]]> By: Tombrarian » Regrets of a Naysayer http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-40832 Tombrarian » Regrets of a Naysayer Sun, 26 Mar 2006 15:37:40 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/03/26/planning-a-conference/#comment-40832 [...] I also failed to consider how difficult it is to pull off such an event.  I think Meredith's analogy to a 3-day wedding for over 2,000 people is an apt one.  Jane Dysart, who does such a great job coordinating CiL, explains some of these difficulties and her decision to move to Crystal City in a recent post.  Computers in Libraries is the best organized conference I have ever been to and the great planning is one of the reasons I keep coming back.  I'm never confused about what is going on when, always have great sessions to choose from, and always have plenty of breaks to eat, visit the exhibits, or hang out with some of the great people.  And since I do think it's the best run conference I've ever been to, I'm certainly willing to give the organizers the benefit of the doubt as to their choice. [...] [...] I also failed to consider how difficult it is to pull off such an event.  I think Meredith's analogy to a 3-day wedding for over 2,000 people is an apt one.  Jane Dysart, who does such a great job coordinating CiL, explains some of these difficulties and her decision to move to Crystal City in a recent post.  Computers in Libraries is the best organized conference I have ever been to and the great planning is one of the reasons I keep coming back.  I'm never confused about what is going on when, always have great sessions to choose from, and always have plenty of breaks to eat, visit the exhibits, or hang out with some of the great people.  And since I do think it's the best run conference I've ever been to, I'm certainly willing to give the organizers the benefit of the doubt as to their choice. [...]

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